Yeshiva Shaar Hatorah
Encyclopedia
Yeshiva Shaar Hatorah is a yeshiva
in Queens, New York that includes a high school and a program for post-high-school-age men (yeshiva gedola). The Yeshiva also awards Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Talmudic law.It was founded in 1974 by Rabbis Kalman Epstein and Sholom Spitz. The Yeshiva has become the focal point of the Orthodox community in the Kew Gardens neighborhood of Queens.
, had been the rosh yeshiva. At the time, Rabbi Epstein gave the lecture (shiur
in Hebrew) to unmarried, post-high school men, and Rabbi Spitz headed the kollel
. A year after the founding of the yeshiva, Rabbi Kalman Epstein's father, Rabbi Zelik Epstein
, joined the yeshiva. Later, a high-school was added when a high-school relocated from Boro Park to Queens. Today, Rabbi
Spitz still gives the shiur to the freshman and sophomore students, while Rabbi Kalman Epstein lectures to the Junior, Senior, and Graduate students. Rabbi Kalman's son, Rabbi Shimon Epstein gives the lower lecture during Rabbi Spitz's absence.
High School
Yeshiva
Yeshiva is a Jewish educational institution that focuses on the study of traditional religious texts, primarily the Talmud and Torah study. Study is usually done through daily shiurim and in study pairs called chavrutas...
in Queens, New York that includes a high school and a program for post-high-school-age men (yeshiva gedola). The Yeshiva also awards Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Talmudic law.It was founded in 1974 by Rabbis Kalman Epstein and Sholom Spitz. The Yeshiva has become the focal point of the Orthodox community in the Kew Gardens neighborhood of Queens.
History
In 1974, Rabbi Kalman Epstein and Rabbi Sholom Spitz, founded Yeshiva Shaar Hatorah in the Richmond Hill neighborhood of Queens at the behest of R' Spitz's teacher, Rabbi Mordechai Elefant. The yeshiva was officially a branch of "ITRI" (Israel Torah Research Institute, the yeshiva in Israel started by Rabbi Elefant). The Yeshiva was named "Shaar HaTorah", after the yeshiva in Grodno (in Europe), where Rabbi Epstein's great-grandfather, Rabbi Shimon ShkopShimon Shkop
Shimon Yehuda Hakohen Shkop was a rosh yeshiva in the Yeshiva Shaar Hatorah and in the Telshe yeshiva and a renowned Talmudic scholar. He was born in Torez in 1860. At the age of twelve he went to study in the Mir yeshiva, and at fifteen he went to Volozhin yeshiva where he studied six years...
, had been the rosh yeshiva. At the time, Rabbi Epstein gave the lecture (shiur
Shiur
Shiur is a lesson on any Torah topic, such as Gemara, Mishnah, halakha, Tanakh, etc.-History:The shiur has been a primary method of teaching since Mishnaic times. In a famous Talmudic passage, Rabbi Judah haNasi averred that he gained his sharp mind from watching Rabbi Meir deliver the shiur...
in Hebrew) to unmarried, post-high school men, and Rabbi Spitz headed the kollel
Kollel
A kollel is an institute for full-time, advanced study of the Talmud and rabbinic literature. Like a yeshiva, a kollel features shiurim and learning sedarim ; unlike a yeshiva, the student body of a kollel are all married men...
. A year after the founding of the yeshiva, Rabbi Kalman Epstein's father, Rabbi Zelik Epstein
Zelik Epstein
Zelik Epstein, also known as Zelig Epstein , was a prominent Orthodox rabbi and rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Shaar HaTorah-Grodno, a private, Talmudical institution in Kew Gardens, Queens, New York, containing a high school, Beis Midrash, and Kollel...
, joined the yeshiva. Later, a high-school was added when a high-school relocated from Boro Park to Queens. Today, Rabbi
Spitz still gives the shiur to the freshman and sophomore students, while Rabbi Kalman Epstein lectures to the Junior, Senior, and Graduate students. Rabbi Kalman's son, Rabbi Shimon Epstein gives the lower lecture during Rabbi Spitz's absence.
Faculty
Post-High School- Rabbi Kalman Epstein, Rosh Yeshiva
- Rabbi Sholom Spitz, Rosh Yeshiva
- Rabbi Mattis Roberts, Mashgiach Ruchani
- Rabbi Shmuel Munk, Rosh Kollel
- Rabbi Yaakov Grossman, Shoel Umaishiv
- Rabbi Yitzchak Bilitzky, Shoel Umaishiv
- Rabbi Yaakov Margulies, Chozer
High School
- Rabbi Yosef Licht, 9th Grade Rebbe
- Rabbi Shlomo Lobenstein, 10th Grade Rebbe
- Rabbi Akiva Weiner, 11th Grade Rebbe
- Rabbi Ya'akov Bergman, 12th Grade Rebbe
- Rabbi Avrohom Jerkowitz, Mashgiach Ruchni
Notable Alumni
- R' Meir Triebitz, teacher in Machon ShlomoMachon ShlomoMachon Shlomo is an Orthodox yeshiva for men located in Har Nof, Jerusalem, Israel. Its faculty and student body are mostly American. Classes are taught in English....
, and noted lecturer - R' Betzalel Radinski, Rov of large shul in Monsey, and noted posek
- R' Shmuel Rosenshein, executive director of Yeshivas Chofetz Chaim, Brooklyn
- R' Yechezkel Langer, executive director of Yeshivas Yesodei Yeshurun in Queens
- R' Zev Klein, rebbi in Yeshivas Toras Moshe
- R' Zev Reichman, rebbi in the Yeshiva UniversityYeshiva UniversityYeshiva University is a private university in New York City, with six campuses in New York and one in Israel. Founded in 1886, it is a research university ranked as 45th in the US among national universities by U.S. News & World Report in 2012...
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