Hadar Hatorah

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Rabbi Yisroel Jacobson giving a class in Hadar Hatorah in 1962

Yeshiva Hadar Hatorah is the world's first Baal Teshuva Yeshiva for men rediscovering their Jewish roots. It was founded in 1962 by Rabbi Yisroel Jacobson to welcome the ever-increasing Baal Teshuvas interested in learning in a full-time, traditional Yeshiva environment.

It is located in the Chasidic community of Crown Heights in Brooklyn, New York, where many of its residents are alumni of the Yeshiva. It is a half-block from the Jewish Children's Museum and The Lubavitch synagogue 770 Eastern Parkway.

Throughout its existence, the yeshiva has been successful in giving its students a firm background in Judaism, Torah study, Prayer, Jewish law, Chasidic teachings and Jewish values.

Among Hadar Hatorah's alumni are professors, doctors, lawyers, etc., while others went on to study for semicha to become fine Torah scholars and Shluchim in Jewish communities around the world.

Many of its students are still finishing their degrees in college or university and are taking a leave of absence to come to learn in yeshiva. The administration offers to transfer college credits to those schools they were attending, thereby giving the students the ability to study full time.

The Yeshiva is an institution of the National Committee for the Furtherance of Jewish Education. Its founder, Rabbi Jacob J. Hecht, played a pivotal role in the Yeshiva and its students and was the dean of the Yeshiva. it was later renamed Yeshivas Kol Yaakov Yehudah - Hadar Hatorah, in recognition of his efforts and devotion to the Yeshiva and its students. Its Rosh Yeshiva is Rabbi Yaakov Goldberg, who was handpicked by the Lubavitcher Rebbe to lead the Yeshiva. Serving as a Mashipa or spirtual mentor is Rabbi Yosef Boruch Wircberg, Himself an alumnus of Hadar Hatorah and having studied for many years in Chabad Yeshivas, he teaches several classes a day. Rabbi Shea Hecht is the Executive Director.

The reggae sensation Matisyahu is an alumnus of this school.