Standing in front of the Zachs Hillel House handcrafted ark are: (l to r) Roger Brooks, dean of the faculty and Elie Wiesel Professor of Judaic Studies; Jerry Fischer, executive director of the Jewish Federation of Eastern Connecticut; philanthropist Henry Zachs, whose $1 million gift funded the construction of Zachs Hillel House; Katherine Bergeron, Connecticut College president; and Rabbi Aaron Rosenberg, Connecticut College’s Jewish chaplain.

At first, it seemed as if the burst pipe in a faultily installed ice-maker would derail the scheduled dedication of the new Zachs Hillel House on the campus of Connecticut College. After all, gushing waters had flooded the first floor library, dining area and office, and had caused the basement ceiling to come down, flooding 2,500 square feet in the basement as well. But, no, all was not lost – thanks to a cracker-jack crew of workers, assembled by Connecticut businessman and philanthropist Henry M. Zachs, who stepped in to save the day.

A week and a half later, on Sunday, April 27, when members and friends of the Jewish community gathered on the New London campus for the dedication ceremony, the brand new 6,700-square-foot facility looked just as it had in January 2014, when it began welcoming students for Shabbat services and religious observances, lectures, study sessions and social gatherings.

Made possible by a $1 million grant from Zachs and his family – who have also funded Hillel Houses at Trinity College and the University of Connecticut – the Connecticut College facility houses a kosher kitchen, Jewish library and study area, and recreation and conference rooms.