Talmudical Academy of Baltimore
Encyclopedia
The Talmudical Academy of Baltimore (Hebrew: ישיבת חפץ חיים),otherwise known as T.A., is a middle-of-the-road Orthodox Jewish K-12 school founded in 1917. Its present campus, located at 4445 Old Court Road
, includes an Elementary School building, Middle and High School building, two Gymnasiums, a dormitory, a computer lab, and two Study Halls which double as Prayer Sanctuaries. Its Elementary's Secular Program is currently headed by Mrs. Maya Severin,the Preeschool Director is Beily Rosen, and it's Religious Program is headed by Rabbi Nachman Kahana. Rabbi Yakkov Majesky acts as the Middle Secular Program's Principal. The Middle School's Religious Studies Principal is Rabbi Yaakov Schwartz, and the High School's Menahel (Rosh Yeshiva
of a High School) at the present is Rabbi Yisroel Fuchs.
Rabbi Yisrael Fuchs serves as the Menahel, Rabbi Yisroel Lefkowitz serves as the S'gan Menahel, while Rabbi Shraga Hershkowitz, a close talmid of Harav Hagoan Yaakov Kamenetsky
זצ"ל serves as Mashgiach
Ruchani, as well as head of the dormitory.
Former Rebbeim of note include :
, Sotah
, Ta'anit (Talmud)
, Megillah (Talmud)
and others. Shorter Tractates are usually chosen. Unlike many other Lithuanian-Style Yeshivas, TA does not have a set cycle of Tractates that it studies, rather every year the new Tractate is selected in a Faculty meeting. Mishna is studied until 5th grade. The learning of Tanakh
is encouraged by most Rabbis on the Faculty. Most set aside time in the morning for the study of Halacha. This is generally, however, a mere formality.
was given by Rabbi Yosef Rottenberg. When he became too ill to continue giving the shiur, the Bais Medrash was discontinued. At the end of 2004, HaRav Yisrael Asia was brought in to lead the Beis Medrash, which he did for the 2004/05 and 2005/06 school years. During the 2005/06 year, Rav Avrohom Notis also gave shiur to the Beis Medrash. In 2006/07, the Bais Medrash was resurrected yet again by Rabbis Bentzion Mehlman and Dovid Hoffman. Rabbi Mehlman acted as Rosh Beis Medrash and Instructor of Iyyun (a slower, more in-depth Talmudic analysis) and Rabbi Hoffman as the "Sho'el u-Maishiv" (study-hall mentor) and Instructor of B'kius (a faster, less in-depth method of Talmudic study). The inaugural Class consisted of seven members; however three more students joined the Program in the middle of the year. The program continued through the 2008–2009 year, but has been discontinued for the time being.
The team reached its zenith in the Tamir Goodman
era, which was in the late '90s and early 2000s. The team name was changed to the "Thunder", for no apparent reason. The tiny, bleacher-less T.A. gym was packed to the gills with spectators, scouts, and media at every game to watch Tamir, which irked some of the Rabbinic Staff of the high school. T.A. had a strong traveling fan-base in those years with many supportors traveling to schools like Beth Tefiloh and Archbishop Curley to root on the Thunder. The coach at that time, was Chaim "Harold" Katz.
After Tamir left T.A. the varsity basketball squad was dismembered in favor of an intramural system, in which, theoretically, every student in the school could have a chance to play basketball one night a week. This somewhat successful, although disturbingly informal league was under the auspices of Aaron Heisler, known affectionately to many simply as "Coach", who should be commended for his efforts. The league did have two referees at each game.
T.Y.A http://www.torahyouth.org/ (Torah Youth Association) was loosely connected with T.A. The Association, headed by Gavi Cohn, and continues to serve as an outlet for teenage boys to play sports and hang out in an environment that fully agrees with Jewish Orthodox social customs. The T.Y.A. sponsored a flag football league near T.A. which was very popular.The association also hosted tennis and pizza nights on Saturday Night, as well as a yearly Super Bowl Party, also a big hit. T.Y.A. also hosted shabbatons at the Pearlstone Center, in Western Maryland, as well as Camp Shoresh.
T.A. has always been the site of many informal sports and other leisurely activities, such as the (now defunct) chess club, debate club, and the 'tag club' of the mid-1990s. There was a short-lived varsity baseball team a few years back, led by Paul Blitz, a U.S. Army Reserve soldier of note.
The list of gym teachers since the 90's is lengthy. Glenn Kutelchuk, Chaim Katz, Paul Smith, Mr. Moraz, Aaron Birnbaum, Len Cutler and others have served as Phys. Ed. instructors. Retired gym teachers have moved on to a host of other more distinguished professions, such as Bartending (Kutelchuck)and Firefighting/Waitering (Birnbaum). In the late 1970's, National Football League player Mike Collier briefly served as gym teacher.
T.A. has had a music room in past years, where musicians could hone their skills and 'jam' with each other.
" approach to education. While several of its graduates have attended Ivy League institutions, the school does not currently prioritize admissions to elite higher learning institutions.
), Rav Yechezkel Yaakovson, Rosh Yeshiva
of Yeshivat Sha'alvim
, Rav Shmuel Kamenetsky
(Talmudical Yeshiva of Philadelphia
), Rav Aharon Lopiansky (Yeshiva of Silver Spring), Rav Daniel Mechanic (Aish
- Discovery), Rav Reuven Feinstein
, Rabbi Yehuda Peretz, Steven Hill
, Rabbi Yerachmiel Millstein, Rabbi Asher Rubinstein (Rosh Yeshiva, Yeshivas Torah Simcha) among many others. The yeshiva has also had the privilege to host Rav Aharon Leib Shteinman, שליט"א.
Old Court Road
Old Court Road is a major cross-county road in the central region of the U.S. state of Maryland, running east–west for approximately through Baltimore County, Maryland from just inside Howard County, Maryland at Woodstock on the Patapsco River to Maryland Route 25 near Towson...
, includes an Elementary School building, Middle and High School building, two Gymnasiums, a dormitory, a computer lab, and two Study Halls which double as Prayer Sanctuaries. Its Elementary's Secular Program is currently headed by Mrs. Maya Severin,the Preeschool Director is Beily Rosen, and it's Religious Program is headed by Rabbi Nachman Kahana. Rabbi Yakkov Majesky acts as the Middle Secular Program's Principal. The Middle School's Religious Studies Principal is Rabbi Yaakov Schwartz, and the High School's Menahel (Rosh Yeshiva
Rosh yeshiva
Rosh 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...
of a High School) at the present is Rabbi Yisroel Fuchs.
History
T.A. was founded in 1917 by Rabbi Abraham Nachman Schwartz, a Lithuanian-born Talmudic Scholar. It was located on Cottage Avenue until a fire caused by one of the custodians destroyed the building. The Yeshiva then moved to its present location.Secular Staff
Members of the Secular Staff are of two types: teachers who have been there for a long time and remain, and teachers that pass through for a year or two. Teachers of note include: Rabbi Dovid Katz, Mrs. Nancy Brannan, Mr. Richard Horowicz, Mr. Joshua Bessicks, Mr. Erich Leach, Mr. Robert Astri, and Mrs. Sarah Bernard.Jewish Studies Staff
The High School's Rabbinic Staff members include: Rabbi Yisroel Lefkowitz, Rabbi Doniel Metzger, Rabbi Yossi Flamm, Rabbi Avraham Hendler, Rabbi Yaakov Frand, Rabbi Binyamin Hershkowitz, Rabbi Eli Rifkind and Rabbi Shimon Barkin.Rabbi Yisrael Fuchs serves as the Menahel, Rabbi Yisroel Lefkowitz serves as the S'gan Menahel, while Rabbi Shraga Hershkowitz, a close talmid of Harav Hagoan Yaakov Kamenetsky
Yaakov Kamenetsky
Rabbi Yaakov Kamenetsky , was a prominent rosh yeshiva, posek and Talmudist in the post-World War II American Jewish community....
זצ"ל serves as Mashgiach
Mashgiach
In Judaism, a Mashgiach is a person who supervises the kashrut status of a kosher establishment.A mashgiah may supervise any type of food service establishment, including slaughterhouses, food manufacturers, hotels, caterers, nursing homes, restaurants, butchers, groceries, or cooperatives...
Ruchani, as well as head of the dormitory.
Former Rebbeim of note include :
- Rabbi Bobrofsky זצ"ל , the principal student of Harav Hagoan R' Baruch Ber Leibowitz Zt"l, who gave the highest shiurShiurShiur is a lesson on any Torah topic, such as Gemara, Mishnah, halakha, Tanakh, etc.-History:The shiur has been a primary method of teaching since Mishnaic times. In a famous Talmudic passage, Rabbi Judah haNasi averred that he gained his sharp mind from watching Rabbi Meir deliver the shiur...
in the High School for many years.
- Rabbi Boruch Milikowsky זצ"ל, who learned in the famed Mir YeshivaMir yeshivaMir Yeshiva or Mirrer Yeshiva may refer to:* Mir yeshiva * Mir yeshiva * Mir yeshiva...
in Mir/Shanghai in his younger years and served as the mashgiachMashgiachIn Judaism, a Mashgiach is a person who supervises the kashrut status of a kosher establishment.A mashgiah may supervise any type of food service establishment, including slaughterhouses, food manufacturers, hotels, caterers, nursing homes, restaurants, butchers, groceries, or cooperatives...
for many years. The recent book They Called Him Rebbi is based on a student's experiences with Rabbi Milikowsky in his T.A. tenure.
- Rabbi Joseph Rottenberg (עמו"ש), one of the primary poskim in Baltimore.
Secular
The Elementary and Middle School Curricula include all the basic studies: English, Math, Social Studies and Science. Biology is offered in 8th grade, but most students take it in 9th. The High School curriculum includes Algebra (1&2), Geometry, Pre-Calculus, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, World History, European History, English, and Jewish History (1&2). Advanced Placement courses that TA has offered in the past include Physics, World History, European History, and English Lit.Religious
Talmud study begins in 5th grade at an introductory level. Talmudic study in earnest begins in 9th grade with its division into Bekius and Iyyun. Tractates that are studied with the Bekius method include Rosh Hashanah (Talmud)Rosh Hashanah (Talmud)
Rosh Hashanah is the name of a text of Jewish law originating in the Mishnah which formed the basis of tractates in both the Babylonian Talmud and the Jerusalem Talmud of the same name. It is the eighth tractate of the order Moed...
, Sotah
Sotah
Sotah deals with the ritual of the Sotah - the woman suspected of adultery as described and prescribed in the Book of Numbers in...
, Ta'anit (Talmud)
Ta'anit (Talmud)
Ta'anit or Taanis is a volume of the Mishnah, Tosefta, and both Talmuds. In Judaism these are the basic works of rabbinic literature.The tractate of Ta'anit is devoted chiefly to the fast-days, their practices and prayers...
, Megillah (Talmud)
Megillah (Talmud)
Megillah is the tenth Tractate of Mishnah in the Order Moed. It and its Gemara deal with the laws of Purim and offers exegetical understandings to the Book of Esther. It also includes laws concerning the public reading of the Torah and other communal synagogue practices...
and others. Shorter Tractates are usually chosen. Unlike many other Lithuanian-Style Yeshivas, TA does not have a set cycle of Tractates that it studies, rather every year the new Tractate is selected in a Faculty meeting. Mishna is studied until 5th grade. The learning of 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...
is encouraged by most Rabbis on the Faculty. Most set aside time in the morning for the study of Halacha. This is generally, however, a mere formality.
Beis Medrash
Until 1998, a Bais Medrash-level shiurShiur
Shiur is a lesson on any Torah topic, such as Gemara, Mishnah, halakha, Tanakh, etc.-History:The shiur has been a primary method of teaching since Mishnaic times. In a famous Talmudic passage, Rabbi Judah haNasi averred that he gained his sharp mind from watching Rabbi Meir deliver the shiur...
was given by Rabbi Yosef Rottenberg. When he became too ill to continue giving the shiur, the Bais Medrash was discontinued. At the end of 2004, HaRav Yisrael Asia was brought in to lead the Beis Medrash, which he did for the 2004/05 and 2005/06 school years. During the 2005/06 year, Rav Avrohom Notis also gave shiur to the Beis Medrash. In 2006/07, the Bais Medrash was resurrected yet again by Rabbis Bentzion Mehlman and Dovid Hoffman. Rabbi Mehlman acted as Rosh Beis Medrash and Instructor of Iyyun (a slower, more in-depth Talmudic analysis) and Rabbi Hoffman as the "Sho'el u-Maishiv" (study-hall mentor) and Instructor of B'kius (a faster, less in-depth method of Talmudic study). The inaugural Class consisted of seven members; however three more students joined the Program in the middle of the year. The program continued through the 2008–2009 year, but has been discontinued for the time being.
Extra-Curricular activities
T.A. used to have a varsity basketball team. They were called the Fighting Davids in the 70's and 80's. In the 90's they became the Tigers.The team reached its zenith in the Tamir Goodman
Tamir Goodman
Tamir Goodman , dubbed by Sports Illustrated magazine as the "Jewish Jordan", is a retired Orthodox Jewish basketball player.-Biography:...
era, which was in the late '90s and early 2000s. The team name was changed to the "Thunder", for no apparent reason. The tiny, bleacher-less T.A. gym was packed to the gills with spectators, scouts, and media at every game to watch Tamir, which irked some of the Rabbinic Staff of the high school. T.A. had a strong traveling fan-base in those years with many supportors traveling to schools like Beth Tefiloh and Archbishop Curley to root on the Thunder. The coach at that time, was Chaim "Harold" Katz.
After Tamir left T.A. the varsity basketball squad was dismembered in favor of an intramural system, in which, theoretically, every student in the school could have a chance to play basketball one night a week. This somewhat successful, although disturbingly informal league was under the auspices of Aaron Heisler, known affectionately to many simply as "Coach", who should be commended for his efforts. The league did have two referees at each game.
T.Y.A http://www.torahyouth.org/ (Torah Youth Association) was loosely connected with T.A. The Association, headed by Gavi Cohn, and continues to serve as an outlet for teenage boys to play sports and hang out in an environment that fully agrees with Jewish Orthodox social customs. The T.Y.A. sponsored a flag football league near T.A. which was very popular.The association also hosted tennis and pizza nights on Saturday Night, as well as a yearly Super Bowl Party, also a big hit. T.Y.A. also hosted shabbatons at the Pearlstone Center, in Western Maryland, as well as Camp Shoresh.
T.A. has always been the site of many informal sports and other leisurely activities, such as the (now defunct) chess club, debate club, and the 'tag club' of the mid-1990s. There was a short-lived varsity baseball team a few years back, led by Paul Blitz, a U.S. Army Reserve soldier of note.
The list of gym teachers since the 90's is lengthy. Glenn Kutelchuk, Chaim Katz, Paul Smith, Mr. Moraz, Aaron Birnbaum, Len Cutler and others have served as Phys. Ed. instructors. Retired gym teachers have moved on to a host of other more distinguished professions, such as Bartending (Kutelchuck)and Firefighting/Waitering (Birnbaum). In the late 1970's, National Football League player Mike Collier briefly served as gym teacher.
T.A. has had a music room in past years, where musicians could hone their skills and 'jam' with each other.
Future
T.A. has been known, among other things, for its diversity amongst the student body. This, might change however, as the years progress. The school is somewhat leaning towards the right of Jewish Orthodoxy, taking a more "yeshivishYeshivish
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...
" approach to education. While several of its graduates have attended Ivy League institutions, the school does not currently prioritize admissions to elite higher learning institutions.
Canteen
T.A. also boasts a fully stocked canteen where students can purchase various foods such as candy, soda, pizza, and chips. The most famous item, as former students might attest to, might be the $1.00 Knishes.Notable Vistors
T.A. has hosted a number of famous Roshei Yeshiva, and other scholars of repute. The list includes: Rav Mendel Blachman (Ra"m at Yeshivat Kerem B'YavnehYeshivat Kerem B'Yavneh
Yeshivat Kerem B'Yavneh is a major yeshiva in Israel near the city of Ashdod and adjacent to Kvutzat Yavne.-History & Ideology:Founded in 1953, Kerem BeYavneh was the first Yeshivat Hesder. The first Rosh Yeshiva of Kerem B'Yavneh was the renowned scholar Rabbi Chaim Yaakov Goldvicht...
), Rav Yechezkel Yaakovson, Rosh Yeshiva
Rosh yeshiva
Rosh 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...
of Yeshivat Sha'alvim
Yeshivat Sha'alvim
Yeshivat Sha'alvim is a hesder yeshiva located near Kibbutz Sha'alvim.- History :Yeshivat Sha'alvim was founded in 1961 by Rabbi Meir Schlesinger, the rabbi of Kibbutz Sha'alvim...
, Rav Shmuel Kamenetsky
Shmuel Kamenetsky
Shmuel Kamenetsky is a Haredi rabbi and co-founder and rosh yeshiva of the Talmudical Yeshiva of Philadelphia. He is one of the best-known living Haredi Litvish Jewish gedolim outside Israel and the best-known son of Rabbi Yaakov Kamenetsky , one of America's greatest Torah...
(Talmudical Yeshiva of Philadelphia
Talmudical Yeshiva of Philadelphia
The Talmudical Yeshiva of Philadelphia, known as "Philly", is a Haredi Litvish yeshiva. Its roshei yeshiva are Rabbi Elya Svei, Rabbi Shmuel Kamenetsky, Rabbi Yehudah Svei and Rabbi Sholom Kaminetsky...
), Rav Aharon Lopiansky (Yeshiva of Silver Spring), Rav Daniel Mechanic (Aish
Aish HaTorah
Aish HaTorah is a Jewish Orthodox organization and yeshiva. Aish HaTorah is actively pro-Israel and encourages Jewish people to visit Israel and connect to the land and its history. Some consider the organisation to reflect a more Religious Zionist philosophy in its attachment to Israel, promoting...
- Discovery), Rav Reuven Feinstein
Reuven Feinstein
Reuven Feinstein is an Orthodox Jewish rabbi and rosh yeshiva of the Yeshiva of Staten Island, New York. He is the son of Moshe Feinstein, the leading posek of post-war America.-Biography:...
, Rabbi Yehuda Peretz, Steven Hill
Steven Hill
Steven Hill is an American film and television actor. His two better-known roles are District Attorney Adam Schiff on the NBC TV drama series Law & Order, whom he portrayed for ten seasons , and Dan Briggs, the original team leader of the Impossible Missions Force on CBS's television series...
, Rabbi Yerachmiel Millstein, Rabbi Asher Rubinstein (Rosh Yeshiva, Yeshivas Torah Simcha) among many others. The yeshiva has also had the privilege to host Rav Aharon Leib Shteinman, שליט"א.
Trivia
- T.A. is the second oldest Jewish Day school in the U.S.and the oldest Jewish day school outside of New York.
- The Lasson family boasts a three generation graduation record from T.A. Dr. Maury Lasson, son Dr. Elly Lasson, and son Yaakov Lasson have all attended the school.
- Mrs. Gold, the Middle\High School secretary, has worked at T.A. for over 40 years.
- T.A.'s student body is over 800
Alumni of Note
- Rav Aharon FeldmanAharon FeldmanAharon Feldman is an Orthodox Jewish rabbi and rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Ner Yisroel in Baltimore, Maryland. He has held this position since 2001....
- Rav Mordechai GifterMordechai GifterRabbi Mordechai Gifter was the rosh yeshiva of the Telz Yeshiva in Cleveland and among the foremost religious leaders of Orthodox Jewry in the late 20th century. He studied in yeshivas in Lithuania and held several rabbinical positions in the United States of America.-Biography:Mordechai Gifter...
, זצ"ל - Rabbi Dr. Dovid Katz http://www.congbethabrahamhertzberg.org/http://www.rabbikatz.com/
- Dr. Gershon Kranzler (Jewish author)
- HaRav Aharon LichtensteinAharon LichtensteinAharon Lichtenstein is a noted Orthodox rabbi and rosh yeshiva.Rabbi Lichtenstein was born in Paris, France, but grew up in the United States, studied in Yeshiva Rabbi Chaim Berlin under Rabbi Yitzchok Hutner...
- Rav Avigdor MillerAvigdor MillerRabbi Avigdor Miller was a Haredi rabbi, author and lecturer in the United States. He served simultaneously as a communal rabbi and as the mashgiach ruchani of Yeshiva Rabbi Chaim Berlin and as a teacher in Beis Yaakov for many years.-Biography:Rabbi Miller was born in 1908 in Baltimore...
, זצ"ל. - Rav Shlomo MillerShlomo MillerRabbi Shlomo Eliyahu Miller is a Rosh Kollel of the Kollel Avreichim Institute for Advanced Talmud Study, the leading haredi post-yeshiva educational institution in Toronto and head of its Beis Din...
. - Dr. Gary Neuman
- Rav Yisroel Newman,(Rosh Yeshiva at Lakewood Yeshiva)
- Rav Zelig PliskinZelig PliskinZelig Pliskin is an Orthodox rabbi, writer, lecturer, and author of more than 20books, including Guard Your tongue, Love Thy Neighbor, Gateway to Happiness, and Building Your Self-Image and the Self-Image of Others....
http://www.simpletoremember.com/authors/a/rabbi-zelig-pliskin/ - Tamir GoodmanTamir GoodmanTamir Goodman , dubbed by Sports Illustrated magazine as the "Jewish Jordan", is a retired Orthodox Jewish basketball player.-Biography:...
, basketball player