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David
Shapell College Building Dedication
The Gala "Shapell Family Reunion"
By Rabbi Joel Zeff
Monday, December 30, was a day to remember in the history of the David
Shapell College of Jewish Studies and Midreshet Rachel v'Chaya. Over the last
several months, the campus of the David Shapell College of Jewish Studies
has undergone a substantial remodeling "face-lift". As you may recall,
eight years ago the David Shapell College moved, for the first time,
to its very own building, thanks to a very generous gift from the Shapell
family. That move saw the complete interior remodeling
of the old Neve Shoshana hotel into one of the most attractive and comfortable
Batei Midrash in Jerusalem. The exterior of the building remained somewhat
drab until now. Today, the exterior is refaced with a very
attractive Jerusalem stone, as well as an eye-catching ceramic tile.
A striking pergola finishes off the effect. The entire project was designed
by Shapell's alum, David Collins.
Monday turned out to be a sunny winter day in Jerusalem as hundreds
of alumni, current students, faculty, Mr. and Mrs. David and Fela Shapell,
their children, and a busload of their relatives and friends came to
dedicate our newly renovated campus. The theme of the day was "Family,"
for not only was the Shapell family present, but all of those participating
represented the "greater Shapell family." Every speaker, from Rabbi
Karlinsky, to current student Joel Lynn, to alumni Dan Polisar and Anna
Werrin, stressed the warm and caring relationship between the faculty
and students, and between the students themselves - a feeling and bond
that is maintained even after the student has left the formal framework
of our institutions. In a sense, we are all members of the extended
Shapell family. This point was movingly brought home by a beautiful
album filled with photographs of the young (and not so young anymore!)
families of our alumni, spanning the nearly three decades of our existence.
The morning was capped off by a gourmet dairy lunch prepared by our
very own kitchen staff under the able guidance of our resident chef,
Yehuda Chaimowitz. As one who likes to eat well, I can attest to the
superb quality of that meal which easily matched that of the finest
Jerusalem restaurants. At the conclusion of the repast we were treated
to an especially inspiring "dessert" consisting of remarks from the
Deputy Prime Minister of the State of Israel, Mr. Natan Sharansky. Mr.
Sharansky praised us for our unique atmosphere of tolerance and respect
fo r
individuality and saluted the Shapells for their substantial contribution
to the State of Israel and the Jewish people. This was a "not to be
missed" event and "kol hakavod" to all those involved in its planning
and execution, especially Rabbi Karlinsky, Yehoshua Looks and Rabbi
Yehuda Aaronson.
(left to right) Rabbi
and Mrs. Karlinsky, Rochelle Shapell Wirshup, Fela and David Shapell,
Irv Shapell,
Jennifer (granddaughter of David and Fela Shapell), Ben and Susie Shapell
(Photo by Dr.J. S. Fishman)
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