At the wedding of my older son Binyamin to Raizy Neuman a few weeks ago, I was overwhelmed with a feeling of great hakarat hatov for Binyamin’s experience at Yeshiva College. Both in terms of his Torah learning and college experience, Binyamin has prospered immeasurably.

Binyamin finds his computer science major demanding and enriching. The program exquisitely prepared him for his internship at a top company this summer. The company was so pleased with Binyamin’s work that they offered him a full-time job upon graduation before the end of his summer tenure. They even asked him to work part-time for them this year, Binyamin’s last in Yeshiva College.

Binyamin found other classes enriching as well. Binyamin discovered a passion for architecture and might even complete a minor in that field. Whenever we pass an interesting building, Binyamin waxes eloquently about its architecture. Interestingly, we passed a building of particular charm when reviewing the Oakland, California eruv with Beth Jacob Oakland’s Rav Gershon Albert this summer. Rav Albert began to wax eloquent about the building, sounding strikingly similar to Binyamin. I asked Rav Albert if he studied with YU’s architecture professor, Paul Glasser, and his response was, “Of course!”

Binyamin especially enjoyed a Yeshiva College class in Talmudic Aggada by Rav Dr. Ari Bergmann. The skills and tools Binyamin learned in this outstanding class enabled him to co-author a work on Aggada we printed in honor of Binyamin and Raizy’s wedding. I even had a chance to observe one of Rav Dr. Bergmann’s classes during the Covid isolation period, and I found it exceedingly enriching and enlightening.

Most important, Binyamin’s YU yeshiva experience was first-rate. He developed a close connection with his rebbe, Rav Dovid Hirsch. He has had the privilege of learning with Rav Hirsch for no less than four years! I observed the shiur for a bit during the Covid isolation period. I witnessed how beautifully Rav Hirsch connected with his talmidim and marveled at the very high quality and clarity of his Torah teaching.

Binyamin connected not only with Rav Hirsch but with so many of the other great Yeshiva University roshei yeshiva. He even formed a special connection with Rav Hershel Schachter and Rav Mordechai Willig at the many special Torah events and shabbatonim conducted at Yeshiva University. During his four years at YU, Binyamin posed dozens of questions to these great rabbanim.

Binyamin expanded his horizons and established meaningful connections with the younger YU roshei yeshiva greats such as Rav Daniel Feldman, Rav Baruch Simon, Rav Zvi Sobolofsky and Rav Michael Taubes.

Binyamin develops his skills as a chazan during shabbatonim, conducts a weekly Thursday evening kumzitz and even occasionally joins a YU Sephardic minyan for Selichot during Chodesh Elul.

My oldest daughter Bracha enjoyed a similarly rich Torah and college experience at Stern College for Women. Bracha never missed any of the special shiurim delivered at Stern and enjoyed her Torah learning at Stern, especially with Rav Aharon Cohen. Bracha enjoyed living in a Torah environment while receiving top-tier preparation for admission to nursing school. As a result, Bracha was perfectly prepared for her current role as a Jewish wife, Jewish mother and nurse at Hackensack hospital in New Jersey.

I work closely with many of the Orthodox Union’s JLIC (Jewish Learning Initiative on Campus) couples, excellently serving Orthodox students on secular campuses throughout North America (and now Israel). I help these talented and dedicated couples with eruvin and other halachic matters. I visit many JLIC campuses each year to review the eruvin and often join the students for minyanim.

I have witnessed first-hand the positive Torah oases these couples create for the Orthodox students on secular campuses. I recognize that the potential for a positive Torah experience exists on secular campuses. Despite my respect, and even admiration, for the JLIC environments, my children never could have received such a first-rate Torah experience on one of these campuses as they did at Yeshiva College. Top-tier Torah experiences for women and men, along with a quality college education and top-rate professional preparation, fill me with great hakarat hatov for my alma mater, Yeshiva University.

Reflecting on my own YU experience, I began my YU journey at Camp Morasha at 11 in the mid-1970s. Being part of a family that had recently become Torah observant, I had never heard of Mincha or Maariv, nor was I familiar with the notion of choosing to learn Torah during my free time. However, I finished my four summers as a camper at Morasha, four summers in the Morasha kollel, studied at Yeshiva College and RIETS for both Yoreh Yoreh and Yadin Yadin semicha, and received recognition from Israel’s Chief Rabbinate to serve as a rabbinic judge and get administrator. Yeshiva University elevated a boy who had never even heard of Mincha to an award of distinction by Israel’s Chief Rabbinate. What a journey I experienced at Yeshiva University!

No wonder I read reports of a 10% increase in enrollment at Yeshiva University. YU’s president Rav Ari Berman told me that this year, YU has had to add benches (similar to that which the Gemara Brachot 28a recounts) to its batei midrash to service the influx of new students. May Hashem allow YU to flourish and continue on its mission of Kiddush Hashem, Torah learning, Torah life, Torah values and service to Am Yisrael.

In Parashat Ki Tavo, Targum Yonatan ben Uzziel surprisingly translates the word “Hagadti” in one of the parasha’s opening pesukim (Devarim 26:3) “Hagadti hayom laHashem Elokecha,” to mean “v’odita,” acknowledge and express gratitude. Therefore, taking my cue from the parsha, I take the opportunity of this very special time for my family to thank Bruriah, Michlala and Stern College for the beautiful Torah education and environment they provided for my daughter Bracha and TABC, Shaalvim and Yeshiva College for the beautiful Torah education and environment they provided for my son Binyamin.

Rabbi Haim Jachter is the spiritual leader of Congregation Shaarei Orah, the Sephardic Congregation of Teaneck. He also serves as a rebbe at Torah Academy of Bergen County and a dayan on the Beth Din of Elizabeth.