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The new Pesky Family Chapel and multipurpose room in Hillel House will be dedicated at 5:30 p.m. today. The 500-square-foot addition on the south side of the building at 524 Clinton Terrace was completed over the summer and will be used for Friday evening prayers and dinner, as well as speakers and other Hillel events.
Sabbath Services, including the first reading of the Lee D. Pesky ’87 Torah Scroll, will be held at 4:30 p.m. A Sabbath dinner will follow the ceremony. All are welcome.
The chapel is named in honor of donors Wendy and Alan D. Pesky ’56 and their children, Greg ’90, Lee ’87, and Heidi Pesky Worcester. The family has also donated a Torah and the ark in which it resides to the chapel in memory of Lee, who died in 1995 from a brain tumor at age 30. The Torah is the five books of Moses, which is part of the Old Testament for Christians.
”The Torah is a handwritten scroll, the most sacred thing in a Jewish center,” says Alan Pesky. ”It is arguably the most cherished gift someone can give.” The family commissioned the Torah when Lee was ill and his doctors said there was nothing more that could be done for him medically. The family turned to its religion for spiritual help for Lee. ”We feel it is appropriate now to have this Torah reside at Hillel.”
Pesky credits Robert Weiner, director of Hillel, Jewish chaplain, and Thomas Roy and Laura Forrest Jones Professor of History, with encouraging him to make the gifts.
”Bob is extraordinary,” says Pesky. ”His enthusiasm is infectious. He is a gem of this institution. What Bob is doing (encouraging Hillel to partner with multicultural groups across campus) is unique in college circles.”
Weiner says Hillel is growing, with attendance at the weekly Friday evening dinners reaching 65 people. ”Last year was the most successful ever for Hillel,” says Weiner. ”The number of activities increased, attendance at events was up, and participation grew. The depth of Jewish content in events such as the Friday Shabbat service increased at the same time our multicultural outreach to other campus groups expanded.”
Hillel is almost halfway towards its $2 million goal for the Jewish Life Endowment Fund, which will support Hillel and expanded student services. ”We have had a number of very generous folks and appreciate their support,” says Weiner, but adds more help is welcome.
Weiner was honored for his efforts to expand multicultural programming and outreach with the Hoff Adviser of the Year Award last spring and the Dean of Studies Faculty Recognition Award at the Minority Awards and Multicultural Banquet.
Marquis Scholar Sarah Bassin ’04 researched modern Jewish thought under the guidance of Robert Weiner, Jones Professor of History and Jewish Chaplain.