It started with a simple search for a place to sit.

Several years ago, Akiva and Zev, long-time chavrusas, decided to move their weekly learning session to Thursday nights. They bounced between different shuls, looking for a spot that felt right. But week after week, nothing felt right. They had the text, and they had each other, but they were missing the unique energy that comes from learning with fellow Anash.

They then realized that if they were feeling this void, likely many others were too. Everyone wants to prepare for Shabbos with a fresh Sicha in hand.

After consulting with peers, they launched KLS (Kollel Leil Shishi) in September 2022 with a modest goal of 10 men. Today, as they move through their fourth season, the room at the Chicago Mitzvah Campaign (CMC) averages 20 to 30 men every single week.

The organizers are grateful to Rabbi Aron Wolf, who opened the doors of the CMC. The location is central, neutral, and incredibly stable. It is a space that is always ready, allowing the program to run like clockwork.

“If you cancel because of a social event or bad weather, the program loses credibility in the mind of the participant,” Akiva notes. The initiative operates on a “cancel for nothing” policy. It is the rock of the week.

Acknowledging the reality of raising a family and that Thursday is often a busy time when men are needed at home, the initiative introduced a monthly stipend.

“Obviously, no one comes just for the money,” Akiva explains. “But the stipend breeds commitment. It says, ‘We value your time.’ If a wife needs to go out, the family can hire a babysitter so the husband can still make it to the seder. It removes the obstacles.”

This essential support was made possible by the founding visionaries, Shmuel and Sharon Goodman, whose generosity provided the fuel for the engine.

The structure is simple but effective.

• The Learning: Open learning with a focus on a Sicha (with beautifully prepared booklets always ready, thanks to Rabbi Moshe Markowitz).
• The Food: A minimum of cold seltzer and warm kugel are non-negotiable.
• The Speaker: The last 15 minutes are dedicated to a short shiur followed by Maariv.

The speaker’s podium is not limited to rabbonim. Whether it is a community member, a bochur, or a rov, if you are passionate about a topic, you have the floor. This variety keeps the energy fresh and allows different segments of the community to shine.

The success of this initiative can be best seen in that several shuls within the Chabad community have since launched their own consistent learning schedules. The sound of Torah is now vibrating through the city on multiple nights of the week.

How to Build This in Your City

For communities looking to replicate the Chicago model, here is the blueprint:

1. Find Your Rock: Secure a location that is central and stable.
2. Appoint a General: You need one point person who takes total responsibility for logistics.
3. Secure Funding: Whether for food or stipends, ensure the finances are in place to show participants they are valued.
4. Consistency is King: Do not cancel. Ever. Stability creates trust.
5. Spice it Up: Every so often, bring in special food or a unique topic to keep the excitement high.

“We started hoping for a minyan, and we found a movement,” says Akiva. “If you build the infrastructure, the neshamos will come.”

VIDEOS