Hebrew Theological College
Encyclopedia
The Hebrew Theological College, known as "Skokie Yeshiva," is a Yeshiva
in Skokie
, Illinois
which also functions as a private university
on campus. The primary focus of the Yeshiva is to teach Torah
and Jewish traditions. It was founded in 1922 as a Modern Orthodox Jewish
institution of higher education in America and currently caters to students from Modern Orthodox, Yeshivish
and Chasidish backgrounds.
consists of a Bet Midrash, a Rabbinical School
, the Bellows Kollel
, and the Fasman Yeshiva High School
. The College
is composed of the Bressler School of Advanced Hebrew Studies and the Kanter School of Liberal Arts and Sciences. All students complete a Bachelor of Arts
in Judaic Studies through the Bressler School, with the option of a second major through the Kanter School.
The men's program offers a B.A. with a focus in Judaic studies and specifically Talmud
, with second majors offered in Business, Accounting, and Psychology. The woman's program, located on a separate campus at the Blistein Teachers Institute for Women, offers Judaic Studies majors in Bible, Hebrew Language, and Jewish History, with dual majors available in Business, Computer and Information Sciences, Education (including Elementary and Special Education), English and Psychology.
The Yeshiva
also has a men's Kollel
with some of the kollel members studying for ordination in a Smichah Program led by Rabbi Twerski.
The College is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
.
in 1921 by Rabbi Chaim Tzvi Rubinstein and Rabbi Saul Silber. The school's original location was at 3448 West Douglas Boulevard in the North Lawndale
community. Hebrew Theological College moved to Skokie (a northern suburb of Chicago) in 1958.
Throughout the history of Hebrew Theological College, its leadership has been shared by its Rosh Yeshiva and its Chief Executive Officer, formerly known as the President, currently known as the Chancellor.
who arrived in America in 1917. Rabbi Silber (1876–1946) was a pulpit Rabbi in Chicago and served as president of the school for its first twenty-five years.
served as Rosh Yeshiva from 1947 to 1966.
Rabbi Simon Kramer was appointed President. Under his stewardship, Hebrew Theological College reached its greatest enrollment, with approximately 300 students in the high school and 200 in the college. In 1966 Rabbi Aaron Soloveichik became Rosh HaYeshiva. In 1974, he was forced out of his position, and thus founded Yeshivas Brisk in Chicago. In 1985, Rabbi Shlomo Morgenstern, an alumnus of Yeshivas Chevron, became Rosh HaYeshiva. Rabbi Morgenstern served as Rosh HaYeshiva for 22 years. On January 27, 2008, Rabbi Avraham Friedman
was named Rosh HaYeshiva.
Past members of the faculty include Rabbi Dr. Eliezer Berkovits
who from 1958 until 1967 was the chairman of the department of Jewish philosophy.
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 Skokie
Skokie, Illinois
Skokie is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States. Its name comes from a Native American word for "fire". A Chicago suburb, for many years Skokie promoted itself as "The World's Largest Village". Its population, per the 2000 census, was 63,348...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
which also functions as a private university
Private university
Private universities are universities not operated by governments, although many receive public subsidies, especially in the form of tax breaks and public student loans and grants. Depending on their location, private universities may be subject to government regulation. Private universities are...
on campus. The primary focus of the Yeshiva is to teach Torah
Torah
Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five books of the bible—Genesis , Exodus , Leviticus , Numbers and Deuteronomy Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five...
and Jewish traditions. It was founded in 1922 as a Modern Orthodox Jewish
Judaism
Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
institution of higher education in America and currently caters to students from Modern Orthodox, Yeshivish
Yeshivish
Yeshivish , refers to a sociolect of English spoken by yeshiva students and other Jews with a strong connection to the Orthodox yeshiva world.-Research:Only a few serious studies have been written about Yeshivish...
and Chasidish backgrounds.
Hebrew Theological College's primary purposes are to prepare students for the assumption of formal roles as educators, as well as to train eligible students to meet the requirements and demands of rabbinic ordinationSemicha, also , or is derived from a Hebrew word which means to "rely on" or "to be authorized". It generally refers to the ordination of a rabbi within Judaism. In this sense it is the "transmission" of rabbinic authority to give advice or judgment in Jewish law...
. As its secondary purpose, Hebrew Theological College endeavors to provide its students with broad culturalCultureCulture is a term that has many different inter-related meanings. For example, in 1952, Alfred Kroeber and Clyde Kluckhohn compiled a list of 164 definitions of "culture" in Culture: A Critical Review of Concepts and Definitions...
perspectives and a strong foundation in the Liberal ArtsLiberal artsThe term liberal arts refers to those subjects which in classical antiquity were considered essential for a free citizen to study. Grammar, Rhetoric and Logic were the core liberal arts. In medieval times these subjects were extended to include mathematics, geometry, music and astronomy...
and ScienceScienceScience is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe...
s to facilitate a creative synthesis of general and Jewish knowledge. In so doing, the College also provides an excellent background for the pursuit of advanced professionProfessionA profession is a vocation founded upon specialized educational training, the purpose of which is to supply disinterested counsel and service to others, for a direct and definite compensation, wholly apart from expectation of other business gain....
al training...
Organization
The YeshivaYeshiva
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...
consists of a Bet Midrash, a Rabbinical School
Rabbi
In Judaism, a rabbi is a teacher of Torah. This title derives from the Hebrew word רבי , meaning "My Master" , which is the way a student would address a master of Torah...
, the Bellows 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...
, and the Fasman Yeshiva High School
Fasman Yeshiva High School
Fasman Yeshiva High School, also known as Skokie Yeshiva, or simply "the Yeshiva" to its students and to members of the Chicago Jewish community, is the all-boys high school division of Hebrew Theological College in Skokie, Illinois. As of 2006, the school has about 140 students enrolled in grades...
. The College
College
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
is composed of the Bressler School of Advanced Hebrew Studies and the Kanter School of Liberal Arts and Sciences. All students complete a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in Judaic Studies through the Bressler School, with the option of a second major through the Kanter School.
The men's program offers a B.A. with a focus in Judaic studies and specifically Talmud
Talmud
The Talmud is a central text of mainstream Judaism. It takes the form of a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, philosophy, customs and history....
, with second majors offered in Business, Accounting, and Psychology. The woman's program, located on a separate campus at the Blistein Teachers Institute for Women, offers Judaic Studies majors in Bible, Hebrew Language, and Jewish History, with dual majors available in Business, Computer and Information Sciences, Education (including Elementary and Special Education), English and Psychology.
The Yeshiva
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...
also has a men's 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...
with some of the kollel members studying for ordination in a Smichah Program led by Rabbi Twerski.
The College is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
The North Central Association of Colleges and Schools , also known as the North Central Association, is a membership organization, consisting of colleges, universities, and schools in 19 U.S. states, that is engaged in educational accreditation...
.
History
The school was founded in the city of ChicagoChicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
in 1921 by Rabbi Chaim Tzvi Rubinstein and Rabbi Saul Silber. The school's original location was at 3448 West Douglas Boulevard in the North Lawndale
North Lawndale, Chicago
North Lawndale located on the west side of Chicago, Illinois, is one of the well-defined community areas in the city of Chicago.-History:...
community. Hebrew Theological College moved to Skokie (a northern suburb of Chicago) in 1958.
Throughout the history of Hebrew Theological College, its leadership has been shared by its Rosh Yeshiva and its Chief Executive Officer, formerly known as the President, currently known as the Chancellor.
Founders
Rabbi Rubinstein (1872–1944) was an alumnus of Volozhin YeshivaVolozhin yeshiva
The Volozhin Yeshiva, also known as Etz Chaim Yeshiva, was a prestigious Lithuanian yeshiva located in the town of Volozhin, Russia, . It was founded by Rabbi Chaim Itzkovitz, a student of the famed Vilna Gaon, and trained several generations of scholars, rabbis, and leaders...
who arrived in America in 1917. Rabbi Silber (1876–1946) was a pulpit Rabbi in Chicago and served as president of the school for its first twenty-five years.
Roshei Yeshiva
Rabbi Nissan Yablonsky, an alumnus of Slabodka, served as the first Rosh Yeshiva for the first few years. He was followed by Rabbi Chaim Korb. Rabbi Chaim ZimmermanChaim Zimmerman
Rabbi Dr. Aharon Chaim Zimmerman was one of the leading rabbis of the Post-War generation. He was the son of Rabbi Yaakov Moshe Zimmerman and nephew of Rabbi Baruch Ber Lebowitz.-Education and work:...
served as Rosh Yeshiva from 1947 to 1966.
Rabbi Simon Kramer was appointed President. Under his stewardship, Hebrew Theological College reached its greatest enrollment, with approximately 300 students in the high school and 200 in the college. In 1966 Rabbi Aaron Soloveichik became Rosh HaYeshiva. In 1974, he was forced out of his position, and thus founded Yeshivas Brisk in Chicago. In 1985, Rabbi Shlomo Morgenstern, an alumnus of Yeshivas Chevron, became Rosh HaYeshiva. Rabbi Morgenstern served as Rosh HaYeshiva for 22 years. On January 27, 2008, Rabbi Avraham Friedman
Avraham Friedman
Avraham Friedman is an Orthodox rabbi and Talmudic scholar in Skokie, Illinois. Having served the Beis HaMidrash LaTorah yeshiva of the Hebrew Theological College for twenty five years, he was appointed as its Rosh HaYeshiva in 2008....
was named Rosh HaYeshiva.
Presidents / Chancellors
The founding president was Rabbi Saul Silber(1922–1946). He was followed by Rabbi Oscar Z. Fasman (1946–1964) and Rabbi Simon G. Kramer (1964–1970), and then by Rabbi Irving J. Rosenbaum.Faculty
The current faculty include:- Rosh HaYeshivaRosh yeshivaRosh yeshiva, , , is the title given to the dean of a Talmudical academy . It is made up of the Hebrew words rosh — meaning head, and yeshiva — a school of religious Jewish education...
- Rabbi Avraham Friedman - MashgiachMashgiach ruchaniMashgiach ruchani or mashgiach for short, means a spiritual supervisor or guide. It is a title which usually refers to a rabbi who has an official position within a yeshiva and is responsible for the non-academic areas of yeshiva students' lives.The position of mashgiach ruchani arose with the...
– Rabbi Zvi Zimmerman - Dean (Men's division) – Rabbi Michael Myers
- Menahel Ruchani (Blitstein Institute - Women's division) – Rabbi Binyamin Olstein
- Dean (Blitstein Institute - Women's division) – Dr. Esther Shkop
- Principal (High School-Fasman Yeshiva) – Rabbi Moshe Wender
- Assistant Principals (High School) - Rabbi Mordechai Ginsparg, Dr. David Schusteff
Past members of the faculty include Rabbi Dr. Eliezer Berkovits
Eliezer Berkovits
Eliezer Berkovits , was a rabbi, theologian, and educator in the tradition of Orthodox Judaism.- Life:...
who from 1958 until 1967 was the chairman of the department of Jewish philosophy.
Notable alumni
- Dr.David ApplebaumDavid ApplebaumDavid Applebaum was an American-born Israeli physician and rabbi. He was chief of the emergency room and trauma services of Jerusalem’s Shaare Zedek Medical Center. Applebaum was killed in a Palestinian suicide bombing at Cafe Hillel in Jerusalem on September 9, 2003.-Biography:David Applebaum...
- Rabbi Elchanan Greenman
- Rabbi Dr. Moses MescheloffMoses MescheloffMoses Mescheloff was a renowned American Orthodox rabbi and community leader for 75 years, known especially within circles of American Orthodox Judaism, primarily in Miami Beach, Florida, and in Chicago, Illinois....
- Rabbi Aryeh Rottman (Dean, Mercaz HatorahMercaz HatorahMercaz Hatorah is a Lithuanian Charedi yeshiva located in Talpiot, Jerusalem. Founded by Rabbi Aryeh Rottman and Rabbi Chaim Kreiswirth zt"l in 1970, it primarily caters to students from the English speaking diaspora....
, Jerusalem) - Rabbi Dr. Chayim Rozwaski (Berlin)
- Rabbi Abraham J. TwerskiAbraham J. TwerskiAbraham Joshua Twerski is an American Hasidic rabbi, a scion of the Chernobil Hasidic dynasty, and a psychiatrist specializing in substance abuse...
- Rabbi Berel WeinBerel WeinBerel Wein is an American-born Orthodox rabbi, scholar, lecturer, and writer. He is regarded as an expert on Jewish history and has popularized the subject through more than 1,000 audio tapes, a four-volume book series, newspaper articles and international lectures...
- Rabbi Chaim ZimmermanChaim ZimmermanRabbi Dr. Aharon Chaim Zimmerman was one of the leading rabbis of the Post-War generation. He was the son of Rabbi Yaakov Moshe Zimmerman and nephew of Rabbi Baruch Ber Lebowitz.-Education and work:...
- HaRav Nosson Tzvi Finkel - Rosh Yeshiva, Mir YerushalayimNosson Tzvi Finkel (Mir)Nosson Tzvi Finkel was an American-born Haredi Litvish rabbi and rosh yeshiva of the Mir Yeshiva in Jerusalem, Israel. During his tenure from 1990 until his death in 2011, he built the Mir into the largest yeshiva in Israel with nearly 6,000 undergraduate students and over 1,600 avreichim...
- Rabbi Moshe GottesmanMoshe GottesmanRabbi Moshe Gottesman was born in Canada. He held the position of dean for the Hebrew Academy of Nassau County for close to 20 years. Rabbi Gottesman has was also the director of tours for Camp Sdei Chemed International for over 35 years. Rabbi Gottesman has been the recipient of many awards,...
- Rabbi, educator and community leader - Ira Tick
See also
- Bar-Ilan UniversityBar-Ilan UniversityBar-Ilan University is a university in Ramat Gan of the Tel Aviv District, Israel.Established in 1955, Bar Ilan is now Israel's second-largest academic institution. It has nearly 26,800 students and 1,350 faculty members...
- Lander CollegeLander CollegeThe Lander College for Men is a private, men's honors division of Touro College located in Kew Gardens Hills, New York. Its stated goal is to provide a rigorous college curriculum while maintaining a traditional Yeshiva environment...
- Jerusalem College of TechnologyJerusalem College of TechnologyThe Jerusalem College of Technology , , is an Orthodox Jewish college. JCT's main campus are situated in the Givat Mordechai neighbourhood of Jerusalem. Other branches are located in the Givat Shaul neighbourhood of Jerusalem and Ramat Gan...
- 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...