Passaic Yeshiva
Encyclopedia
Yeshiva Gedola of Passaic is an advanced yeshiva
in the Passaic Park neighborhood of Passaic, New Jersey
catering to post-high-school-age men. Founded in 1973 by Rabbis Chaim Davis and Gershon Weisenfeld, and further developed by Rabbi Meir Stern who replaced Rabbi Wiesenfeld when the latter became ill before the yeshiva's opening, it developed into one of the leading yeshiva gedolas (advanced Talmud
ic institutions) in the United States and revitalized the small Orthodox community of Passaic.
, rosh yeshiva of Beth Medrash Govoha
, Rabbi Nosson Meir Wachtfogel
, mashgiach ruchani
of Beth Medrash Govoha, and Rabbi Dov Lesser supported the idea of opening a community kollel
in Passaic. These Gedolim chose Rabbi Chaim Davis, founder of the Toronto
Community Kollel, and Rabbi Wiesenfeld, then a rosh mesivta (head) of Beth Hatalmud Rabbinical College
, to head the new institution. In mid-1973, however, Rabbi Wiesenfeld became seriously ill and was replaced by Rabbi Meir Stern. Rabbi Wiesenfeld died at age 49 on 24 September 1981.
The Yeshiva Gedola of Passaic opened with 10 unmarried students in the yeshiva section and 10 married students in the kollel
section. By the mid-1980s enrollment had reached nearly 100 students.
In 1989 the yeshiva relocated to its own campus, including a beth midrash
(study hall), dining room and dormitories.
The growing yeshiva, together with the installation of an eruv
and a mikveh, turned Passaic into a more desirable location for Orthodox Jewish families. Passaic's close proximity to New York (it is located minutes away from the entrance to the Lincoln Tunnel
) also appealed to breadwinners who commuted to New York daily. Beginning in the mid-1980s, more and more Orthodox families began moving to Passaic. As of 2006, the Jewish community had mushroomed to 1300 families in a two-square-mile area, with a net gain of 80 families per year, making it the second-fastest growing Jewish community behind Lakewood, New Jersey.
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 the Passaic Park neighborhood of Passaic, New Jersey
Passaic, New Jersey
Passaic is a city in Passaic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 69,781, maintaining its status as the 15th largest municipality in New Jersey with an increase of 1,920 residents from the 2000 Census population of 67,861...
catering to post-high-school-age men. Founded in 1973 by Rabbis Chaim Davis and Gershon Weisenfeld, and further developed by Rabbi Meir Stern who replaced Rabbi Wiesenfeld when the latter became ill before the yeshiva's opening, it developed into one of the leading yeshiva gedolas (advanced 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....
ic institutions) in the United States and revitalized the small Orthodox community of Passaic.
History
In 1973 Rabbi Shneur KotlerShneur Kotler
Yosef Chaim Shneur Kotler was an Orthodox rabbi and rosh yeshiva of Beth Medrash Govoha in Lakewood, New Jersey from 1962 to 1982. During his tenure, he developed the Lithuanian-style, Haredi but non-Hasidic yeshiva into the largest post-graduate Torah institution in the world...
, rosh yeshiva of Beth Medrash Govoha
Beth Medrash Govoha
Beth Medrash Govoha is a Haredi yeshiva located in Lakewood Township, New Jersey. It is commonly known as BMG, or Lakewood Yeshiva....
, Rabbi Nosson Meir Wachtfogel
Nosson Meir Wachtfogel
Nosson Meir Wachtfogel , known as the Lakewood Mashgiach, was an Orthodox rabbi and long-time mashgiach ruchani of Beth Medrash Govoha in Lakewood, New Jersey...
, 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...
of Beth Medrash Govoha, and Rabbi Dov Lesser supported the idea of opening a community 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...
in Passaic. These Gedolim chose Rabbi Chaim Davis, founder of the Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
Community Kollel, and Rabbi Wiesenfeld, then a rosh mesivta (head) of Beth Hatalmud Rabbinical College
Beth Hatalmud Rabbinical College
Beth Hatalmud Rabbinical College, also known as Bais Hatalmud, is a small and selective Rabbinical college located in the Bensonhurst section of Brooklyn, New York.-Founding and Mission:...
, to head the new institution. In mid-1973, however, Rabbi Wiesenfeld became seriously ill and was replaced by Rabbi Meir Stern. Rabbi Wiesenfeld died at age 49 on 24 September 1981.
The Yeshiva Gedola of Passaic opened with 10 unmarried students in the yeshiva section and 10 married students in 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...
section. By the mid-1980s enrollment had reached nearly 100 students.
In 1989 the yeshiva relocated to its own campus, including a beth midrash
Beth midrash
Beth Midrash refers to a study hall, whether in a synagogue, yeshiva, kollel, or other building. It is distinct from a synagogue, although many synagogues are also used as batei midrash and vice versa....
(study hall), dining room and dormitories.
The growing yeshiva, together with the installation of an eruv
Eruv
An Eruv is a ritual enclosure around most Orthodox Jewish and Conservative Jewish homes or communities. In such communities, an Eruv is seen to enable the carrying of objects out of doors on the Jewish Sabbath that would otherwise be forbidden by Torah law...
and a mikveh, turned Passaic into a more desirable location for Orthodox Jewish families. Passaic's close proximity to New York (it is located minutes away from the entrance to the Lincoln Tunnel
Lincoln Tunnel
The Lincoln Tunnel is a long tunnel under the Hudson River, connecting Weehawken, New Jersey and the borough of Manhattan in New York City.-History:...
) also appealed to breadwinners who commuted to New York daily. Beginning in the mid-1980s, more and more Orthodox families began moving to Passaic. As of 2006, the Jewish community had mushroomed to 1300 families in a two-square-mile area, with a net gain of 80 families per year, making it the second-fastest growing Jewish community behind Lakewood, New Jersey.
Faculty
- Rabbi Meir Stern, rosh yeshiva
- Rabbi Nosson Weissman, mashgiach ruchani
- Rabbi Osher Mayer May, rosh kollel
Noted alumni
- Rabbi Yissochor Fishman, administrator of the Hebrew Academy of ClevelandHebrew Academy of ClevelandThe Hebrew Academy of Cleveland is a private, Orthodox Jewish day school in Cleveland Heights, Ohio.The Hebrew Academy was established in 1943 by the Telz Yeshiva. It was the first Jewish day school founded off the east coast. In 1947 a girl's division, Yavne, was added...
's yeshiva high school - Rabbi Daniel Mechanic, founder and director of Project Chazon
- Rabbi Moshe Taub, rabbi of Young Israel of Greater Buffalo, New YorkBuffalo, New YorkBuffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...