RKYHS has launched a new kollel program this year in conjunction with the Rabbinical College of America in Morristown. The program brings young men from the semicha program at the Rabbinical College to RKYHS to enhance learning opportunities for its students. The Rabbinical College of America is the New Jersey headquarters of the International Lubavitch movement.
Three days a week, four students who are currently studying full time for their semicha at the RCA come to RKYHS. They arrive for Shacharit and are situated in the beit midrash in the Morris Stadtmauer Torah Center for their morning seder until midday. They spend a portion of their morning learning with RKYHS male students from all four grades. They are currently studying hilchot tefillah and chasidut on the parsha with the high school students, adding an extra dimension to the students’ learning.
“Both of our institutions benefit by creating synergies between RKYHS and the Rabbinical College of America,” commented Rabbi Eliezer Rubin, JKHA/RKYHS head of school and Klatt Family rosh hayeshiva.
The small group learning allows for a personal and engaging learning experience, and the kollel students serve as role models for their dedication to learning. The beit midrash is filled with kol torah for the whole morning providing an inspiring atmosphere for learning throughout the building.The RKYHS students feel the enthusiasm and excitement for learning that the kollel students bring to the beit midrash, and have the opportunity to see the passion for learning that takes place beyond a classroom. The semicha students come to the U.S. from international destinations including Brazil, Germany, Vienna and the Ukraine providing additional dimensions to the students’ learning. RKYHS is grateful to a generous school donor family who enabled this program to be brought to fruition.
“The kollel program at RKYHS has strengthened the spirit of learning in our beit midrash,” commented Rabbi Yaakov Mintz, RKYHS Judaic studies department Talmud chair and coordinator of the kollel program. “The kollel students have given our RKYHS students exposure to diverse role models dedicated to intense learning and the spreading of Torah.”
“As we are currently pursuing our rabbinic degree, we couldn’t be happier to have been given this unique opportunity to be able to influence the next generation on the beauty of Torah and mitzvot,” commented RCA semicha student Jakob Eljaschewitsch. “This opportunity has had an impact on us as well, as it has shown and taught us the potential we all possess in teaching others.”
