Teaneck—It was a spillover crowd at Congregation B’nai Yeshurun’s banquet hall June 8 as close to 250 people came to celebrate the first year of Heichal HaTorah, Teaneck’s newest yeshiva. Parents and students were joined by family members, yeshiva supporters, and rabbis from an array of communities, who were curious about the excitement the yeshiva has been generating since its inception last fall.

Heichal HaTorah is a yeshiva high school for boys geared for students who desire a serious and classic yeshiva atmosphere while never compromising on the level of general studies. The school has attracted first-year ninth-grade students from Teaneck, Bergenfield, Paramus, Passaic, and Hillside in New Jersey and from Washington Heights, Riverdale, and Monsey in New York.

Throughout the course of the evening, attendees were treated to a series of videos depicting the students at study, prayer, and play, and also paid tribute to two sets of parents, Avi and Anya Giloni of Passaic and Ari and Betti Jacobson of Teaneck, who were instrumental in assisting the administration in getting the yeshiva off the ground, as well with an array of volunteer activities throughout the year.

Guests enjoyed a festive BBQ in a tent cleverly set up in the shul’s parking lot, followed by a delectable sweet table at the conclusion of the boys’ siyyum ceremony. Yael Jacoby and Gail Stechler co-chaired the dinner committee and Yehuda Jacoby, chairman of the board, emceed the evening with good humor and an eye on the clock, keeping the program concise and on time.

For further information, contact Rabbi Aryeh Stechler, Heichal HaTorah at 201-335-0633 or [email protected] or visit www.heichalhatorah.org.