SARAH HARTMAN WOMEN'S COLLEGE HOLDS "WRECKING BALL KICKOFF"
During the Aseres Yemei Teshuva, sometimes it can feel as though the walls are caving in.
At the “Wrecking Ball Kickoff” event held last Wednesday by Sarah Hartman Women's College of Touro at HTC, that feeling was quite literal — and a promising sign of what lies ahead.
The event marked the formal kickoff to the demolition of HTC's property at 2620 W. Touhy Ave. (formerly the Veitzener Cheder), which will serve as the anchor of the college's new campus. Nearly 75 people braved the rain to attend the event that quite literally took place in a construction zone: protective netting and fallen limestone to the west, holes in the plaza where the playground stood a week ago, construction vehicles on site, and caution tape everywhere.
The new campus “is going to change the scope of Jewish education for young women in the Midwest,” said Robert Hartman, project co-chair along with his wife, Debbie. He noted that students also have the addition to tap into the larger Touro University system, and that combination offers outstanding opportunities for Sarah Hartman students.
The college is named for Robert's mother, Sarah Hartman, z”l. In his remarks, he shared that his mother was passionate about business, which inspired the idea of naming the women's college in her memory.
“This is something she would be proud of: a chance for young women to get an education, to become good in business, and to earn a good living,” he said, noting the strong earning capacity of graduates of Touro undergraduates and graduate programs.
Dr. Alan Kadish, Touro University President, thanked the project donors to date and future supporters.
“With your help, I hope we'll go from groundbreaking to foundation, to finishing this building, to creating a structure that will create the next generation of leaders in Chicago and in the United States to take the Jewish people forward at these difficult times,” he said.
Dr. Chani Tessler, Dean of Sarah Hartman Women's College, reminded everyone that Sarah Hartman Women’s College is the only Orthodox Jewish women’s college between the coasts, and said that the new campus will open up a range of possibilities both for students and the women of the community.
“I have so many dreams for this beautiful women's college,” she said. “Thank you all for making this possible and making this dream a reality.”
Among those in attendance were Alderman Debra Silverstein and Rabbi Shlomo Soroka, Director of Government Affairs for Agudath Israel of Illinois, along with representatives from the office of State Senator Ram Villivalam and the Walder Foundation, which provided the seed gift to launch the project.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, the Hartmans and Dr. Kadish donned hard hats and took up sledgehammers to ceremonially begin the demolition, knocking several bricks and cinder blocks to the ground.
The event also featured a brief presentation highlighting some of the features of the planned 30,000 square foot building. Plans for the new campus include nine classrooms, two science labs, and a teaching kitchen; a large outdoor courtyard; six dorm suites accommodating 32 dorm students; a fitness room and an expansive student lounge; and a library that can open up to accommodate 100 people for community lectures and events. The project is slated to open for the Fall 2028 semester.
Upon completion of construction, the two buildings currently used by the women’s college will be torn down to make space for a parking lot and expanded courtyard.
To help mark the demolition celebration, a 30'x15' banner was hoisted alongside the west building of the current women's college, displaying the plans for the new campus to the entire community.
For more information about the Sarah Hartman Women’s College campus expansion project, please contact Rabbi Josh Zisook, HTC's Director of Philanthropy & Alumni Engagement, at jzisook@touro.edu.
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