Marsha Stern Talmudical Academy
Encyclopedia
The Marsha Stern Talmudical Academy, also known as Yeshiva University High School for Boys (YUHSB), MTA or TMSTA , is an Orthodox
Jewish day school
(or yeshiva
), the boys' high school
of Yeshiva University
(YU) in the Washington Heights
neighborhood in the New York City
borough
of Manhattan
.
. He had become president of the institution that was to become Yeshiva University a year earlier, in 1915, when the "Rabbinical College of America" (a short-lived name) had been formed from the merger of two older schools, an elementary school founded in 1886 and a rabbinical seminary founded in 1896. As the elementary school soon ceased to exist, the high school is thus one of the oldest components of the University.
TA was the first Jewish high school in America, and the first ever to feature a dual curriculum, now standard in Jewish schools, of Judaic and secular studies. It was originally located on the Lower East Side, and moved to Washington Heights
with the rest of Yeshiva in the late 1920s. The building originally planned for the High School alone was shared with the other schools of the University for many years before the campus expanded; today, that building is almost entirely occupied by the High School, and the other buildings of the University's main campus (including a dormitory for MTA students) surround it.
TA was later joined by a brother school, the Brooklyn Talmudical Academy ("BTA"), founded in the 1940s. While the Manhattan school remained, officially, "TA," it became popularly known as "MTA," the Manhattan Talmudical Academy, and, rarely, the Uptown Talmudical Academy, or "UTA." While the name "MTA" has never been official, it remains the most popular name for the school. Two girls' high schools were founded as well, Central Yeshiva High School in Brooklyn in the 1950s and a Manhattan school in the 1960s. Eventually, all four were eventually simply named by borough and gender, e.g., "Yeshiva University High School for Boys- Manhattan," but the popular names remained.
The Brooklyn schools, which had moved to a joint campus in 1967, were closed and merged in the 1970s into their Manhattan counterparts; still later, in the 1980s, the girls' school was merged into a Queens school. The latter is now called "Samuel H. Wang Yeshiva University High School for Girls" (or simply "Wang"), but is still commonly referred to as "Central," while the boy's school, since the 1970s, has been known as "The Marsha Stern Talmudical Academy- Yeshiva University High School for Boys" (or simply "TMSTA" or, more recently, "MSTA"), but is still commonly referred to as "MTA."
The school's golden age was during the 60s and 70s. However, by 1999, Rabbi Norman Lamm
, President of Yeshiva University, wanted to close the high school down. When word of the imminent closure leaked out, Rabbi Michael Taubes, MTA's principal at that time, together with senior instructor, Rabbi Yitzchok Cohen, led a student protest and recitation of Psalms in front of the YU's main building at that time, Furst Hall. Although the protest led to Taubes' dismissal, and eventually to the dismissal of Cohen as well (both are currently instructors in other divisions of Yeshiva University), their prompt action is credited with swaying Rabbi Lamm to not close the school. Nevertheless, the school was still in trouble due to both financial problems and issues with students. Rabbi Taubes has been rehired by MTA to serve as the Rebbe
(Teacher) of one of the two incoming freshmen honors Talmud classes for the coming (2008-9) school year.
Rabbi Michael Hecht, who had been teaching at the school for many years and also served as a Dean in Yeshiva College, became Dean of MTA and effectively saved the school. In September 2005, Rabbi Mark Gottlieb, formerly the Principal of Maimonides Day School in Boston, assumed the role of Head of School. Under his charge the school has continued to build on its storied legacy. In the past two years, about 20 new faculty members were hired lowering the school's faculty-student ration from 10:1 to 5:1. The average class size is now just 15.3. A new Grade Dean system was implemented in which each grade is assigned an educator who periodically meets with each student, and meets with the full grade faculty every two weeks. The system insures that each and every student is looked after. In November 2007, the school inaugurated its brand new state of the art biology and chemistry laboratory. Many other new changes have occurred as well as the school continues to build on its greatness.
In February 2011, Rabbi Mark Gottlieb announced that he will be stepping down as Head of School/Menahel at the culmination of the 2010-2011 academic year. His successor, Rabbi Michael Taubes, will take over as Head of School/Menahel at the start of the 2011-2012 academic year.
; and Mr. Dovie Quint, Director of Admissions.
, namely Torah Umadda
. This idea emphasizes teaching both Limudei Kodesh (Torah studies) and general (secular) studies. Limudei Kodesh classes are taught in Jewish studies including Gemara (Talmud
), Tanakh
(Hebrew Bible
), and Halakha
(Jewish law). These classes comprise the morning session of the day. In the afternoon session, the students participate in a general studies program. Many of these classes end with Regents or Advanced Placement tests.
and Tanakh. In the afternoon the school offers secular classes, including an AP course in 12th grade. Students can take AP European History and AP American History in 10th and 12th grade respectively. The 11th grade may take courses in AP Calculus, AP Physics, AP Biology, and AP Statistics. Additionally, seniors have the option to take courses in Yeshiva College and Sy Syms School of Business
.
who teaches and supervises the Beis Medrash Katan is Rabbi Tanchum Cohen. In 2008-2009 Rabbi Dr. Howard Apfel
joined the BMK staff. Building on the amazing success of the 12th grade BMK, MTA decided for the 2010-2011 year to create BMK's for their top 10th and 11th grade shuirim.
Recently, the school has been supervising international trips for select groups of students. In 2004, a group of students spent Shavuot in Belarus in coordination with YUSSR. In 2005, the HaTzioni club, in cooperation with the Palau Mission to the United Nations, arranged a trip for its members to travel to Palau to show the Jewish community's gratitude for Palau's support of Israel. Recent years have seen MTA delegations being sent to Turkey, Germany, Poland, and Israel.
Principal: Mr. Ya'acov Sklar
Bochen: Rabbi Sholom Richter
Assistant Principal for General Studies: Dr. Seth Taylor
Dean of Students
: Mr. Adam Dobrick
Mashgiach Ruchani
: Rabbi Mayer Schiller
Director of Student Activities: Rabbi Jon Green
Grade Mashgichim/Deans:
Jewish Studies Teachers:
General Studies Teachers:
Orthodox Judaism
Orthodox Judaism , is the approach to Judaism which adheres to the traditional interpretation and application of the laws and ethics of the Torah as legislated in the Talmudic texts by the Sanhedrin and subsequently developed and applied by the later authorities known as the Gaonim, Rishonim, and...
Jewish day school
Jewish day school
A Jewish day school is a modern Jewish educational institution that is designed to provide Jewish children with both a Jewish and a secular education in one school on a full time basis, hence its name of "day school" meaning a school that the students attend for an entire day and not on a part time...
(or 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...
), the boys' high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
of Yeshiva University
Yeshiva University
Yeshiva 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...
(YU) in the Washington Heights
Washington Heights, Manhattan
Washington Heights is a New York City neighborhood in the northern reaches of the borough of Manhattan. It is named for Fort Washington, a fortification constructed at the highest point on Manhattan island by Continental Army troops during the American Revolutionary War, to defend the area from the...
neighborhood in the New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
borough
Borough (New York City)
New York City, one of the largest cities in the world, is composed of five boroughs. Each borough now has the same boundaries as the county it is in. County governments were dissolved when the city consolidated in 1898, along with all city, town, and village governments within each county...
of Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
.
History
The Talmudical Academy (TA), as it was originally called, was founded in 1916 by Rabbi Bernard RevelBernard Revel
Bernard Revel was an Orthodox rabbi and scholar. He served as the first President of Yeshiva College from 1915 until his death in 1940...
. He had become president of the institution that was to become Yeshiva University a year earlier, in 1915, when the "Rabbinical College of America" (a short-lived name) had been formed from the merger of two older schools, an elementary school founded in 1886 and a rabbinical seminary founded in 1896. As the elementary school soon ceased to exist, the high school is thus one of the oldest components of the University.
TA was the first Jewish high school in America, and the first ever to feature a dual curriculum, now standard in Jewish schools, of Judaic and secular studies. It was originally located on the Lower East Side, and moved to Washington Heights
Washington Heights, Manhattan
Washington Heights is a New York City neighborhood in the northern reaches of the borough of Manhattan. It is named for Fort Washington, a fortification constructed at the highest point on Manhattan island by Continental Army troops during the American Revolutionary War, to defend the area from the...
with the rest of Yeshiva in the late 1920s. The building originally planned for the High School alone was shared with the other schools of the University for many years before the campus expanded; today, that building is almost entirely occupied by the High School, and the other buildings of the University's main campus (including a dormitory for MTA students) surround it.
TA was later joined by a brother school, the Brooklyn Talmudical Academy ("BTA"), founded in the 1940s. While the Manhattan school remained, officially, "TA," it became popularly known as "MTA," the Manhattan Talmudical Academy, and, rarely, the Uptown Talmudical Academy, or "UTA." While the name "MTA" has never been official, it remains the most popular name for the school. Two girls' high schools were founded as well, Central Yeshiva High School in Brooklyn in the 1950s and a Manhattan school in the 1960s. Eventually, all four were eventually simply named by borough and gender, e.g., "Yeshiva University High School for Boys- Manhattan," but the popular names remained.
The Brooklyn schools, which had moved to a joint campus in 1967, were closed and merged in the 1970s into their Manhattan counterparts; still later, in the 1980s, the girls' school was merged into a Queens school. The latter is now called "Samuel H. Wang Yeshiva University High School for Girls" (or simply "Wang"), but is still commonly referred to as "Central," while the boy's school, since the 1970s, has been known as "The Marsha Stern Talmudical Academy- Yeshiva University High School for Boys" (or simply "TMSTA" or, more recently, "MSTA"), but is still commonly referred to as "MTA."
The school's golden age was during the 60s and 70s. However, by 1999, Rabbi Norman Lamm
Norman Lamm
Norman Lamm is a major American Modern Orthodox rabbi, scholar, author and Jewish communal leader. He is presently the Chancellor of Yeshiva University....
, President of Yeshiva University, wanted to close the high school down. When word of the imminent closure leaked out, Rabbi Michael Taubes, MTA's principal at that time, together with senior instructor, Rabbi Yitzchok Cohen, led a student protest and recitation of Psalms in front of the YU's main building at that time, Furst Hall. Although the protest led to Taubes' dismissal, and eventually to the dismissal of Cohen as well (both are currently instructors in other divisions of Yeshiva University), their prompt action is credited with swaying Rabbi Lamm to not close the school. Nevertheless, the school was still in trouble due to both financial problems and issues with students. Rabbi Taubes has been rehired by MTA to serve as the Rebbe
Rebbe
Rebbe , which means master, teacher, or mentor, is a Yiddish word derived from the Hebrew word Rabbi. It often refers to the leader of a Hasidic Jewish movement...
(Teacher) of one of the two incoming freshmen honors Talmud classes for the coming (2008-9) school year.
Rabbi Michael Hecht, who had been teaching at the school for many years and also served as a Dean in Yeshiva College, became Dean of MTA and effectively saved the school. In September 2005, Rabbi Mark Gottlieb, formerly the Principal of Maimonides Day School in Boston, assumed the role of Head of School. Under his charge the school has continued to build on its storied legacy. In the past two years, about 20 new faculty members were hired lowering the school's faculty-student ration from 10:1 to 5:1. The average class size is now just 15.3. A new Grade Dean system was implemented in which each grade is assigned an educator who periodically meets with each student, and meets with the full grade faculty every two weeks. The system insures that each and every student is looked after. In November 2007, the school inaugurated its brand new state of the art biology and chemistry laboratory. Many other new changes have occurred as well as the school continues to build on its greatness.
In February 2011, Rabbi Mark Gottlieb announced that he will be stepping down as Head of School/Menahel at the culmination of the 2010-2011 academic year. His successor, Rabbi Michael Taubes, will take over as Head of School/Menahel at the start of the 2011-2012 academic year.
Current status
MTA is currently led by Rabbi Michael Taubes, Menahel; Dr. Seth Taylor, Principal of General Studies; Adam Dobrick, Dean of Students; Rabbi Jon Green, Director of Student Activities, Rabbi Mayer Schiller, Mashgiach RuchaniMashgiach ruchani
Mashgiach 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...
; and Mr. Dovie Quint, Director of Admissions.
Values
The main value of the school is based on that of Yeshiva UniversityYeshiva University
Yeshiva 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...
, namely Torah Umadda
Torah Umadda
Torah Umadda is a philosophy of Modern Orthodox Judaism, concerning the interrelationship between the secular world and Judaism, and in particular between secular knowledge and Jewish knowledge...
. This idea emphasizes teaching both Limudei Kodesh (Torah studies) and general (secular) studies. Limudei Kodesh classes are taught in Jewish studies including Gemara (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....
), Tanakh
Tanakh
The Tanakh is a name used in Judaism for the canon of the Hebrew Bible. The Tanakh is also known as the Masoretic Text or the Miqra. The name is an acronym formed from the initial Hebrew letters of the Masoretic Text's three traditional subdivisions: The Torah , Nevi'im and Ketuvim —hence...
(Hebrew Bible
Hebrew Bible
The Hebrew Bible is a term used by biblical scholars outside of Judaism to refer to the Tanakh , a canonical collection of Jewish texts, and the common textual antecedent of the several canonical editions of the Christian Old Testament...
), and Halakha
Halakha
Halakha — also transliterated Halocho , or Halacha — is the collective body of Jewish law, including biblical law and later talmudic and rabbinic law, as well as customs and traditions.Judaism classically draws no distinction in its laws between religious and ostensibly non-religious life; Jewish...
(Jewish law). These classes comprise the morning session of the day. In the afternoon session, the students participate in a general studies program. Many of these classes end with Regents or Advanced Placement tests.
Classes
The school offers morning classes in GemaraTalmud
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....
and Tanakh. In the afternoon the school offers secular classes, including an AP course in 12th grade. Students can take AP European History and AP American History in 10th and 12th grade respectively. The 11th grade may take courses in AP Calculus, AP Physics, AP Biology, and AP Statistics. Additionally, seniors have the option to take courses in Yeshiva College and Sy Syms School of Business
Sy Syms School of Business
The Syms School of Business is Yeshiva University's business school for men and women...
.
Beit Midrash Katan
In the '06-'07 school year, MTA started an advanced Talmud Shiur for the top 12th grade students called the Beis Medrash Katan. The Beis Medrash Katan, commonly referred to as "BMK," has more hours for Torah study and a modified breakfast and lunch period. The purpose of the program is to give the school's top Talmud students a feel for a real beit midrash, which many of the students will be enrolled in the following year and possibly many more. The Beis Medrash Katan also encourages its students to develop habits of "budding Talmidei Chachamim." The RebbeRebbe
Rebbe , which means master, teacher, or mentor, is a Yiddish word derived from the Hebrew word Rabbi. It often refers to the leader of a Hasidic Jewish movement...
who teaches and supervises the Beis Medrash Katan is Rabbi Tanchum Cohen. In 2008-2009 Rabbi Dr. Howard Apfel
Howard Apfel
Howard Apfel is an American Rabbi and Cardiologist, currently practicing medicine at Columbia University Medical Center.- Background :Rabbi Dr. Howard Apfel's maternal great grandfather was the prominent Lithuanian talmudist, activist, and scholar Chaim Yitzchak Hacohen Bloch. His maternal...
joined the BMK staff. Building on the amazing success of the 12th grade BMK, MTA decided for the 2010-2011 year to create BMK's for their top 10th and 11th grade shuirim.
Student activities
The students in the school are able to participate in many extracurriculars. On the athletic side, the school fields Varsity and Junior Varsity basketball, hockey, and wrestling, as well as baseball, softball, bowling, and soccer teams. For the more intellectually inclined, there are College Bowl, Torah Bowl, Mock Trial, Model UN, Model Congress, chess, Debate, Extemp (Extemp is currently suspended as of now), @Club (the computer club), and Math teams, as well as the Business and Finance Club. The students also publish a number of publications including The Polis (political magazine),The Academy News (school newspaper), Shema Koleinu (weekly Dvar Torah newsletter), The Scope (school magazine), Yagdil Torah (Torah essay journal), HaTzioni (Zionist publication), Pearls of Wisdom (book of students' literary works), and the Elchanite (yearbook).Recently, the school has been supervising international trips for select groups of students. In 2004, a group of students spent Shavuot in Belarus in coordination with YUSSR. In 2005, the HaTzioni club, in cooperation with the Palau Mission to the United Nations, arranged a trip for its members to travel to Palau to show the Jewish community's gratitude for Palau's support of Israel. Recent years have seen MTA delegations being sent to Turkey, Germany, Poland, and Israel.
Faculty
Head of School: Rabbi Michael TaubesPrincipal: Mr. Ya'acov Sklar
Bochen: Rabbi Sholom Richter
Assistant Principal for General Studies: Dr. Seth Taylor
Dean of Students
Dean (education)
In academic administration, a dean is a person with significant authority over a specific academic unit, or over a specific area of concern, or both...
: Mr. Adam Dobrick
Mashgiach Ruchani
Mashgiach ruchani
Mashgiach 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 Mayer Schiller
Mayer Schiller
Mayer Schiller is an American Hasid based in Monsey, New York, who identifies himself as a member of Skver and Rachmastrivka groups and serves as spokesperson for the Skver community in New Square. Schiller also maintains active ties to the Modern Orthodox community and has advocated for a...
Director of Student Activities: Rabbi Jon Green
Grade Mashgichim/Deans:
Jewish Studies Teachers:
General Studies Teachers:
Alumni
- Rabbi Emanuel RackmanEmanuel RackmanRabbi Emanuel Rackman was an American Modern Orthodox Rabbi, who held pulpits in major congregations and helped draw attention to the plight of Refuseniks in the then-Soviet Union and attempted to resolve the dilemma of the Agunah, a woman who cannot remarry because her husband will not grant a...
, (class of 1927), leading 20th century Rabbi. - Rabbi Nachman BulmanNachman BulmanNachman Bulman was an American rabbi associated with Orthodox Judaism. He was born to Rabbi Meir and Etil Bulman after a blessing from the Rebbe of Ger, Rabbi Avraham Mordechai Alter...
, (class of 1942), leading 20th century Rabbi. - Rabbi Saul J. Kassin, (class of 1942), Chief Rabbi, of Congregation Shaare ZionCongregation Shaare ZionCongregation Shaare Zion, is an Orthodox Sephardic synagogue located at 2030 Ocean Parkway in Brooklyn, New York. One of the largest Orthodox Jewish congregations in New York, it has an estimated 1,500 worshipers who attend its services Fridays and Saturdays for Shabbat...
and the Community of the Syrian JewsSyrian JewsSyrian Jews are Jews who inhabit the region of the modern state of Syria, and their descendants born outside Syria. Syrian Jews derive their origin from two groups: from the Jews who inhabited the region of today's Syria from ancient times Syrian Jews are Jews who inhabit the region of the modern...
, BrooklynBrooklynBrooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, NY. - Rabbi Dr. Yehuda (Leo) LeviYehuda (Leo) LeviYehuda Levi was Rector and Professor of Electro-optics at the Jerusalem College of Technology. He is best known as the author of several books on Science and Judaism, and Judaism in contemporary society, as well as on physics.-Biography:...
, (class of 1942), author, of numerous scholarly works on Jewish StudiesJewish studiesJewish studies is an academic discipline centered on the study of Jews and Judaism. Jewish studies is interdisciplinary and combines aspects of history , religious studies, archeology, sociology, languages , political science, area studies, women's studies, and ethnic studies...
and OpticsOpticsOptics is the branch of physics which involves the behavior and properties of light, including its interactions with matter and the construction of instruments that use or detect it. Optics usually describes the behavior of visible, ultraviolet, and infrared light...
. - Rabbi Chaim Dov Altusky, (class of 1943), author, series of works on the TalmudTalmudThe 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....
, Chiddushei Basra. - Dr. Yosef H. YerushalmiYosef Hayim YerushalmiYosef Hayim Yerushalmi was the Salo Wittmayer Baron Professor of Jewish History, Culture and Society at Columbia University, a position he held from 1980 to 2008...
, (class of 1948), Jewish historian and Salo Wittmayer Baron Professor of Jewish History, Culture and Society; director, Institute for Jewish and Israel Studies at Columbia UniversityColumbia UniversityColumbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
. - Rabbi Meir KahaneMeir KahaneMartin David Kahane , also known as Meir Kahane , was an American-Israeli rabbi and ultra-nationalist writer and political figure. He was an ordained Orthodox rabbi and later served as a member of the Israeli Knesset...
, (BTA class of 1949), founder of the Jewish Defense LeagueJewish Defense LeagueThe Jewish Defense League is a Jewish organization whose stated goal is to "protect Jews from antisemitism by whatever means necessary"...
and former Israeli KnessetKnessetThe Knesset is the unicameral legislature of Israel, located in Givat Ram, Jerusalem.-Role in Israeli Government :The legislative branch of the Israeli government, the Knesset passes all laws, elects the President and Prime Minister , approves the cabinet, and supervises the work of the government...
member. Controversial activist who was labeled "racist" by the Israeli government. - Dr. Joel Rosenshein, (class of 1952), founder, Ptach, Orthodox Jewish Special EducationSpecial educationSpecial education is the education of students with special needs in a way that addresses the students' individual differences and needs. Ideally, this process involves the individually planned and systematically monitored arrangement of teaching procedures, adapted equipment and materials,...
service. - Prof. Nat LewinNat LewinNathan Lewin is an American attorney.-Early life and education:Lewin was born in Lodz, Poland. His family fled Poland just ahead of the Nazis in 1939 and arrived in the United States in 1941. Lewin grew up in New York City....
, (class of 1953), prominent American lawyer. - Dr. Mandel Ganchrow, (BTA class of 1954), Orthodox Jewish lay leader.
- Rabbi Harvey Senter, (BTA class of 1954), founder, Kof-K Kosher supervision service.
- Rabbi Shimon EiderShimon EiderShimon D. Eider was an Orthodox Jewish Rabbi and a decisor of Jewish law. Eider was a pioneer in the field of Jewish law in English. He authored several texts. He received his Rabbinic ordination from Rabbi Moshe Feinstein...
, (BTA class of 1956), prominent Halachic authority. - Rabbi Shlomo RiskinShlomo RiskinShlomo Riskin is the founding rabbi of Lincoln Square Synagogue on the Upper West Side of New York City, which he led for 12 years; founding chief rabbi of the Israeli settlement of Efrat in the West Bank; dean of Manhattan Day School in New York City; and founder and dean of the Ohr Torah Stone...
, (BTA class of 1956), prominent Rabbinic leader in the US and in Israel. - Rabbi Eli JacobsEli JacobsEli Solomon Jacobs is an American financier and attorney, member of the National Commission for the Review of the National Reconnaissance Office and the former owner of the Baltimore Orioles from 1989 to 1993.-Rise to success:...
, Rabbi in Yeshivas Sha'ar Yoshuv and renowned motivational speaker. - Rabbi Hershel SchachterHershel SchachterHershel Schachter is a rabbi and rosh yeshiva at Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary , Yeshiva University, in New York City, and the son of the late Rabbi Melech Schachter, who was also a rosh yeshiva at Yeshiva University...
, (class of 1958), leading American Orthodox Rosh YeshivaRosh 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...
and Rabbinic authority. - Dr. Jonathan ZizmorJonathan ZizmorJonathan Zizmor is an American dermatologist from New York City famous for his television commercials and prolific, colorful subway ads promising that "Now you can have beautiful clear skin!" Zizmor received his MD from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine....
, (class of 1962), dermatologist. - Rabbi Avrohom Chaim Feuer, (BTA, class of 1964), rabbi, author and lecturer.
- Rabbi Menachem GenackMenachem GenackMenachem Genack is an Orthodox rabbi and the CEO of the Orthodox Union Kosher Division, a supervisory organization of kosher food. He is known as one of the foremost talmidim of Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik under whom he studied for over a decade. He was also very close to Rabbi Moshe Shmuel...
, (class of 1965), CEO of the Orthodox UnionOrthodox UnionThe Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America , more popularly known as the Orthodox Union , is one of the oldest Orthodox Jewish organizations in the United States. It is best known for its kosher food preparation supervision service...
Kosher Division. - Dr. David Shatz, (class of 1965), Professor of Philosophy at 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...
, Associate Professor of Religion at Columbia UniversityColumbia UniversityColumbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
, and editor of The Torah u-Madda Journal. - Rabbi Nachum Sauer, (class of 1965), head of the Kollel of Los Angeles
- Dov S. Zakheim, (BTA class of 1966), former official of the United States government.
- Richard Joel, (class of 1968), president of 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...
. - Stan KastenStan KastenStan Kasten is the former President of the Washington Nationals and a founding partner of FanDriveMedia. He became president of the Nationals after the ownership group led by Theodore N...
, (class of 1969), president of the Washington NationalsWashington NationalsThe Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium... - Yossi Klein HaleviYossi Klein HaleviYossi Klein Halevi is an Israeli author and journalist.-Biography:Halevi was born and raised in New York in a Jewish family. He completed a BA in Jewish Studies in Brooklyn College in 1978, and completed his MA in Journalism at Northwestern University...
, (BTA class of 1971), author and journalist. - Rabbi Ephraim KanarfogelEphraim KanarfogelEphraim Kanarfogel is a professor and dean at Yeshiva University and one of the foremost experts in the fields of medieval Jewish history and rabbinic literature, as well as an ordained rabbi and Torah scholar.-Education:...
, (class of 1973), scholar of medieval Jewish history and rabbinic literature, and expert in Jewish law. - Alan DershowitzAlan DershowitzAlan Morton Dershowitz is an American lawyer, jurist, and political commentator. He has spent most of his career at Harvard Law School where in 1967, at the age of 28, he became the youngest full professor of law in its history...
, (BTA), lawyer, author, professor at Harvard Law SchoolHarvard Law SchoolHarvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S... - Elon GoldElon GoldElon Gold is an American comedian, television actor, writer and producer. He starred in the television series Stacked. He also starred in the short-lived sitcom In-Laws...
, (MTA), Actor - Robert J. AvrechRobert J. AvrechRobert J. Avrech is an American screenwriter, whose works include the 1984 film Body Double and A Stranger Among Us ....
, (BTA), noted screenwriter. - Ralph LaurenRalph LaurenRalph Lauren is an American fashion designer and business executive; best known for his Polo Ralph Lauren clothing brand.-Early life:...
, American fashion designer and business executive (did not graduate from MTA but attended the school for two years). - Rabbi Yaakov Jaffe, principal of Maimonides in Brookline, MA.