New Dawn in Beit Shemesh: The Story of Kollel Ohr HaShemesh

When my wife, Rebbetzin Marcy, and I packed our bags in July and boarded a flight to Israel, we were filled with great anticipation. After more than three decades of building Torah and community in Dallas, we were ready to plant new seeds — to establish Kollel Ohr HaShemesh, a center of Torah learning and growth in the rapidly expanding city of Ramat Beit Shemesh Dalet 4.

But as any great endeavor begins, so did ours — with challenges that tested our resolve.

The plan was simple: arrive early, settle in, and open the kollel in time for the Elul Zeman. Reality, however, had other ideas. Our shipment was delayed, government offices were moving at their own pace, and the shul that had promised to host us suddenly became unavailable. For a brief moment, it seemed the kollel might have to wait.

Then, Hashem’s hand became visible.

Between meetings and furniture deliveries, we continued interviewing promising candidates, both in person and by phone. Just before Elul began, a small, makeshift shul — literally a tent — upgraded to a modest caravan. It was far from glamorous, but it was perfect. With walls that could barely hold the sound of Torah learning, Kollel Ohr HaShemesh was born.

We opened with 18 exceptional yungerleit, instead of the original 12 we planned for — each drawn by the kollel’s unique vision:
a blend of Talmud in depth, practical halacha, and the timeless wisdom of mussar and the Ramchal.

The kollel quickly became a place not just of study, but of growth and connection.

Rebbetzin Marcy simultaneously launched N’shei HaKollel, a vibrant women’s network for the kollel wives, combining learning, inspiration, and social connection. The enthusiasm was immediate. The women’s group became an anchor of joy and unity, strengthening the foundation of the kollel itself.

As word spread, our phones began ringing — daily. More and more high-caliber yungerleit wanted to join. Within weeks, the kollel had grown to 27 dedicated members, including Rabbi Rafael Brandeis, a warm and brilliant talmid chacham from Switzerland, who now leads our afternoon seder.

Soon, our humble caravan could no longer contain the sound of Torah echoing from within. We began searching for a larger home — and once again, Hashem opened a door. Another shul “graduated” from a tent to a spacious caravan, and we moved in just in time for the Yamim Noraim. It wasn’t fancy, but it was filled with light — both physical and spiritual.

Today, the kollel is already impacting the greater Ramat Beit Shemesh Dalet community. Locals have begun joining our beis midrash. People seek halachic guidance, spiritual advice, and a listening ear. We are building not only a kollel, but a center of Torah life — a source of clarity, warmth, and connection for this rapidly growing city.

This is only the beginning.

After 33 years of experience nurturing Torah in Dallas, we are now bringing that same passion and vision to Israel — to help Ramat Beit Shemesh Dalet flourish as one of the great Torah centers of the modern Jewish world.

But we cannot do it alone.

Your partnership makes this dream possible. Each contribution helps us sustain our yungerleit, strengthen the families who have dedicated their lives to Torah, and expand the reach of our programming to the wider community.

This is a rare and beautiful opportunity — to help build Torah infrastructure in a new and blossoming neighborhood of Eretz Yisrael. Together, we can illuminate countless lives with the light of Ohr HaShemesh — the Light of the Sun, the Light of Torah.

With heartfelt gratitude,

Rabbi Yerachmiel Fried
Rosh Kollel, Ohr HaShemesh
Founding Rosh Kollel, DATA