Aish HaTorah, with its world headquarters near the Western Wall in Jerusalem, is a world leader in creative Jewish educational programs and leadership training. Founded in 1974, the group is dedicated to revitalizing the Jewish people by providing opportunities for Jews of all backgrounds to discover their heritage in an atmosphere of open inquiry and mutual respect. Ira Riklis has long supported the group, and he, in turn, has long felt supported by them when he’s been in need of guidance and support.
Aish HaTorah translates as “Fire of Torah,” the “fire” signifying the organization’s passion of teaching and learning about the Torah—the Jewish holy book. To this end, the organization operates an international network of educational centers in more than one hundred cities on five continents. Their website, versions in five languages, reaches millions around the world. Ira Riklis finds the breadth and depth of their offerings most impressive, and his donations are a way of expressing his gratitude for the support the group has given him and of helping them light the way for others looking to better understand their faith.
After passing through Vail on a summer driving vacation back in 1975, Ira Riklis and his wife fell in love with the (at the time) new ski resort town. And they returned that winter to ski. After suffering a badly broken leg five years earlier, Ira had not been skiing since the accident. But inspired by the area’s great beauty, and aided by a new generation of ski boots that provided greater protection for fragile ankles, he was back on the slopes at last.
And so it has been in the more than 30 years since then. Each winter, Ira Riklis returns to exclusively to Vail for their skiing adventures. They find the town charming and the slopes challenging yet well-groomed. And once the day’s skiing is finished, there are many wonderful and varied restaurants where they can enjoy a meal, talk about the day they had and plan for the next day’s adventures. What more could you ask for from a ski resort!
They say that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. But many of us rush off to work without it. We may grab a snack on the way to work, or perhaps during a morning break. Some of us fuel up on enough coffee to get us through to lunch, when we finally take time for a good meal. But Ira Riklis knows that not all of us have those options. Many homeless people, including those who work at low-paying jobs but still can’t afford a decent breakfast, start their day hungry.
The Central Synagogue Caring Committee was formed twenty-five years ago to help meet the needs of these working poor. Each week on Thursday and Friday mornings, they serve hot meals and sack lunches to all who come to be served. But their morning hours were meant to fill a void—no other group in the area serves meals at that time—and provide a boost to people heading off to work, or to look for work, between 5:30 and 8:15. And if you show up to help, you’ll find Ira Riklis there on many a Friday morning, just as he’s been doing for years, lending his hand to the effort.
In 1970, Ira Riklis broke his leg in a skiing accident. The severe break occurred right at the top of his ski boot, and while the break healed, he continued to suffer pain for years afterward whenever he tried wearing ski boots. For five years, he wondered if he could ever again enjoy the sport he loved.
Fortunately, new advances were being made in ski gear during that time. While early ski boots were low near the ankle just like the hiking boots the evolved from, gear designers such as the Hanson brothers were creating revolutionary new styles. They began producing boots that came higher up the calf, creating stronger connection between knee movement and ski movement and providing support for the vulnerable ankle area. They also made their boots in a rear-entry style that took pressure off the sides of the ankle. For Ira Riklis, that meant that the painful area where his break occurred was completely protected and cushioned. Outfitted with a new bright red pair of Hanson Riva recreational rear entry ski boots, he was once again able to ski without pain!
When it comes to giving to others, any amount that you can afford to give is welcome and helpful. But even Ira Riklis, who’s been fortunate to have enjoyed great success in his business ventures, knows that the need that exists in this world is far greater than any one individual can fill. For that reason, and others, he considers it important to also consider the symbolism behind his donations.
One example of this is his practice of generally making donations in some multiple of eighteen dollars. Why? The habit is steeped in the ancient Hebrew tradition of Gematria—a system of assigning numerical values to words or phrases. This system evolved as a way to study and validate Holy texts. While Ira Riklis leaves these complex calculations to others, he, like most Jews, knows that the number eighteen represents the word Chai, which means “life” in Hebrew. So even in instances when he can only give a small donation, he gives eighteen dollars in appreciation of the gift of life.
It was during the summer of 1975 when Ira Riklis and his wife, Diana, first visited Vail. Their one-day visit was enough to leave a lasting impression on them of the area’s charm and beauty. So it’s not too surprising that they made their first ski trip to the still little-known mountain resort town that next winter. Well, in truth, it was a little surprising since, even though he loved the sport, Ira hadn’t been skiing once since breaking his leg five years earlier.
In 1970, he had suffered a severe break of both his tibia and fibula, right at the top of his ski boot. While his leg healed, he still felt a great deal of pain whenever he tried wearing ski boots. But after seeing Vail, Ira Riklis’ wife began to encourage him to once again take up the sport he loved and enjoyed. His comeback began on the slopes of Vail. (It was aided by the advent of higher-topped ski boots, but that’s a story for another time!)
Emunah Bet Elazraki, in Netanya, Israel, provides a home for children at risk, sees to their education and provides therapeutic and academic aid. But what most impressed Ira Riklis during a visit there some years ago, was that the home is truly a Home and upon their arrival, children living there become part of a family. Bonds established between the directors, the highly trained, professional staff and the children endure long after the children have grown and gone out on their own.
The fact that these children grow up, let alone that they grow up as healthy, productive individuals, is amazing enough. The more than 200 children at the home, ages 0-18, came from dysfunctional families ravaged by violence, drug and alcohol abuse, mental illness or abandonment. For them, the home provides the hope, care and guidance they need to rise above their circumstances. Perhaps most important, as Ira Riklis saw first hand, was the love and sense of connection they receive, both while there and for the rest of their lives.
Every skier who’s truly dedicated to the sport has a favorite place they like to go. And for Ira Riklis, that place is Vail. But how did a young man from the East Coast discover what was, at the time, a relatively new and unknown ski resort? It happened back in 1975, while he and his wife were on a cross-country driving tour.
Heading back east from California, they headed into the Colorado Rockies to spend a days at Aspen—the well-established resort at the time. While there, they learned by chance that President Gerald Ford was in Vail, and thought it would be worth stopping in the town to see if they could catch a glimpse of him. They never did see him up close, but while enjoying a pleasant lunch on an outside terrace, Ira Riklis and his wife, Diana, were enchanted by Vail’s charm and beauty. It was love at first sight, and though they didn’t ski that first trip, they’ve been back many, many times, both in summer and winter.
Aish HaTorah (which means “Fire of Torah”) was founded in Jerusalem by Rabbi Noah Weinberg in 1974. A world leader in Jewish educational programs and leadership training, this international organization is dedicated to revitalizing the Jewish people by providing opportunities for Jews of all backgrounds to discover their heritage in an atmosphere of open inquiry and mutual respect. As a long-time supporter, Ira Riklis particularly likes the group’s open-minded approach to the study of Judaism. While the group is founded on strictly Orthodox principles, it holds as a central tenet that “Every Jew is worthy of profound respect, no matter their level of observance, knowledge or affiliation. We never know who is a better Jew.”
The name Aish HaTorah was inspired by the Talmudic story of a shepherd named Rebbe Akiva. In the story he came across a stone into which a hole had formed by a slow-but-steady drip of water. In a flash of insight, he saw that just as soft as water could carve a hole in solid rock, so then could the Torah—which is fire—make an indelible impression on his heart. Inspired, he committed himself to study the Torah, and went on to become the greatest sage of his generation. Ira Riklis appreciates that the group holds to the essence of that story in their teachings. For him, as for them, Judaism is not all or nothing; it is a journey where every step counts, to be pursued according to one’s own pace and interest.
If you own a ski shop, who are your customers? Like other ski shop owners, Mike Bartasuis and Ira Riklis—who own the Charter Sports chain of shops in Colorado—know that the people who walk in their door to rent gear and buy supplies and accessories are their end customers. But one secret to their success is that they realize they have other, equally important customers—the resorts where their shops are located.
When people plan ski trips, they’re not basing their decisions around what ski shops they want to visit. They’re looking for the places with the best resorts and the best skiing. And Ira Riklis knows that the main goal of resorts is to put “butts in beds.” Only once the skiers are there do they interact with the ski shop. That’s when Charter Sports has the chance to serve both the resorts and the skiers. The quality of the service they provide to the skiers reflects positively on the resorts. By providing the best service possible, they help keep the resort’s customers happy, and that encourages repeat visits both to the resorts and to Charter Sports.