Alumni Entrepreneurs Give Torah

For the first time, Jewish students at Drexel hosted a unique and special celebratory ceremony on March 11 as a Torah scroll completed by Chabad and put to use in religious services. The Torah was donated by Yakir Gola and Rafael Ilishayev, who started the delivery startup goPuff when they were just Juniors at Drexel University.

Students, faculty and community members watched as an expert scribe inks in the final letters of the magnificent scroll, as done 3,300 years ago for the very first time by Moses.

The completion ceremony, which took place on Sunday at Ross Commons, was followed by a joyous parade with singing and dancing where the scroll was carried to the Chabad House, followed by a festive meal.

Rabbi Chaim and Moussia Goldstein moved to the area in 2010 and have served as directors of Chabad serving Drexel since. “Torah is the bedrock of our religion,” Rabbi Goldstein said. “It’s what’s kept us strong throughout all the years. And when we welcome a new Torah into the Jewish people, it’s a sense of declaring Judaism is alive because the Torah is alive, and we have another Torah that is going to help us stay stronger and grow even greater.”

For the Goldsteins, it is particularly meaningful that the Torah is being dedicated by two recent students who were extremely active with Chabad. “Yakir and Rafael were like family during their time at Drexel and it is heartening to see them demonstrate their commitment to the future of Jewish life on campus by donating a Torah scroll, which is the very core of Judaism,” said Moussia.

Yakir Gola and Rafael Ilishayev met as Freshmen at Drexel in 2014, became friends and co-founded the Philly-based delivery startup goPuff. The company recently raised $8.25 million in Series A funding and goPuff now makes thousands of deliveries a day. The partners were also named to Forbes’ ‘30 under 30’ list.

Rafael credits a deepening connection to Judaism he developed at Chabad for providing, “a certain discipline which helps me in my business.”

He and Yakir viewed this opportunity to dedicate a Torah as a major milestone in their lives. Said Rafael, “Torah is the bedrock of the Jewish community, and we feel that our success is a blessing from God. This is why we are dedicating a Torah – to show our thanks to God and to continue strengthening Chabad and the Jewish community at Drexel to grow even stronger.”

Special thanks were give to Sparkle Events by Chaya Niasoff for the event planning, Decor and Design, Turk Caterers, Avi Peretz and Mendy J for singing
and Uri Bitton and Fitche Benshimon for music and lighting.