I
n every city outside theNew Yorkarea where Torah flourishes today there were one or two pioneers who did the heavy lifting to build Torah institutions decades ago. Their primary contribution was not money but sweat equity and determination. What inspired those pioneers is in many cases a mystery as few had any formal Jewish learning beyond an after-school cheder at most.
InHouston that couple was Julius and Eva Lou Chapman. From the time of their marriage as 18-year-olds they were determined to grow as Torah Jews. Only a tragic fire in their home Leil Shabbos Parshas Va’eschanan in which Mrs. Chapman perished and Mr. Chapman (Yosef Chaim Alter ben Malkah) was left in critical condition from smoke inhalation could end their 63-year love affair.
They took the lead in bringing a Torah Umesorah school toHoustonin 1962 and again in 1969 after the failure of the first effort. Mrs. Chapman would prepare and bring hot lunches to the school each day on her way to her job as a legal secretary. Later the Chapmans would also bring the first Seed program to the city as well. (Both Dr. Joe Kaminetsky and Rabbi Avi Shulman were guests in the Chapman home on trips toHouston.)
When their shul moved to a new neighborhood the young couple purchased a lot three houses away from the new building. Mrs. Chapman however dreamed of a mikveh in her own home and had written away for plans from the Spero Foundation. When she found that the builder had already laid the foundation on her lot she traded for another lot further from the shul to fulfill that dream.
