Yeshivas Heichal HaTorah is an Orthodox Jewish yeshiva high school located in Teaneck, New Jersey. The institution owns and operates the Jewish Center of Teaneck, where it is located. Heichal is unaffiliated with Israeli yeshivas under the same name.
History
editHeichal HaTorah was established by Aryeh Stechler, Avi Goldenberg, and Yehuda Jacoby. The group met in the autumn of 2012 to establish a yeshiva high school that would open in the fall of 2013. Their objective was to create an institution that combines a classic yeshiva schedule to sufficiently develop students' Torah studies with a rigorous secular studies department to give them the skillset needed for college and the professional workplace. Heichal HaTorah greeted its first class of 17 students on September 4, 2013. It graduated its first class on June 14, 2017.[1] The school has an enrollment of 150 students.[2] In 2017, the school introduced a Tikvah Humanities curriculum into its general studies courses. The course, in partnership with the Tikvah Fund, an educational foundation in New York, implements a neo-classical historical and literary curriculum.[3][dead link][4]
Programs
editAthletic
editHeichal HaTorah sponsors its own varsity and junior varsity basketball and softball teams known as the Heichal Hornets. In 2018, the Heichal Hornets won the NCYI JV Basketball League championship.
On May 23rd, 2022, Heichal JV athlete Sachi Zauderer shot a game-winning 3-pointer in the championships, making it to ESPN's SportsCenter's Top 10. [5]
Sinai Schools
editHeichal HaTorah is one of a number of schools in North Jersey and New York City where Sinai Schools operates. Sinai runs independent programs for its special needs students, who attend school at various locations in Bergen and Essex counties in New Jersey, and in Queens and the Bronx in New York. Sinai students are given specialized and personalized education, including art, music, speech, and occupational therapies. Housed in various other educational facilities, the Sinai students are able to interact with the host school’s own students at lunch, recess and at some after school programs, as well as for the bus rides to and from school.[6]
Vehaer Eineinu
editVehaer Eineinu
editVehaer Eineinu is a program spearheaded by Heichal's mashgiach ruchani, Rabbi Reuven Tzvi Shwechter. The program is focused on giving incentives to help studens limit their screen time. The program has 3 tiers, 4 hours, 8 hours, and 12 hours per week of screen time respectively. There are engaging raffles and programs on a weekly, monthly and yearly basis.
Location
editHeichal is nearby a local 7-11, and allows their students to frequent it. The store owners have renovated their store, mainly due to Heichal's students perpetual business.
Leadership
edit- Rabbi Aryeh Stechler, rosh yeshiva[4][7]
- Dr. Joshua Strulowitz, director of faculty advancements[8]
- Rabbi Pesach Skulnick, senior rosh mesivta
- Dr. Rabbi Joel Berman, assistant, principal, STEM and rebbe
- Rabbi Reuven Tzvi Schwechter, mashgiach ruchani (spiritual guidance counselor)
- Rabbi Avi Epstein, dean of student life and director of admissions
- Dr. Ari Klein, director of guidance
- Shimmie Katz, Chief Operational Officer
- Eli Schwartz
Former
edit- Maccabee Avishur, academic dean and principal of general studies[9]
- Dr. Seth Taylor, academic dean of students[8]
- Binyamin "Yummi" Ferber
Future
edit- Rabbi Moshe Abel, soon-to-be rebbi and mashgiach.
References
edit- ^ "Heichal HaTorah Graduates Inaugural Class". Jewish Link. June 29, 2017. Retrieved August 2, 2024.
- ^ Heichal Hatorah, U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved June 11, 2023.
- ^ "Tikvah Humanities Curriculum". heichalhatorah.org.
- ^ a b Kaufman, Elliot (August 22, 2019). "Opinion | Jerusalem Meets Athens in New Jersey". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved November 24, 2019.
- ^ "Heichal HaTorah Captures the NCYI JV Basketball League Championship". Jewish Link. June 14, 2018. Retrieved March 2, 2019.
- ^ Palmer, Joanne (December 15, 2021) The Magic of Making Menschen, Jewish Standard. Retrieved June 11, 2023.
- ^ (November 6, 2023) "33 Yeshiva High Schools Take Pledge to Fight College Antisemitism", Jewish Link. Retrieved August 2, 2024.
- ^ a b (August 31, 2023) "Heichal HaTorah Welcomes New Faculty for 2023-2024", Jewish Link. Retrieved September 14, 2023.
- ^ Klein Leichman, Abigail (February 16, 2022) Much More Inspirational Than Sad, Jewish Standard. Retrieved September 14, 2023.
https://jewishstandard.timesofisrael.com/heichal-hatorah-holds-annual-dinner/ https://jewishlink.news/heichal-hatorah-greets-prospective-students-at-open-house-2/ https://jewishlink.news/heichal-hatorah-18/ https://www.theyeshivaworld.com/news/general/2291900/bde-petirah-of-rav-avi-oberlander-zl-menahel-at-yeshiva-heichal-hatorah.html