(Courtesy of Yeshiva University) Simchat Torah is more than the conclusion of one Torah reading cycle and the start of another. It is an invitation to revisit and rethink familiar teachings with a fresh perspective, a reminder that each year offers a chance to approach the text—and our lives—with renewed curiosity and openness, ready to begin again.
This past holiday, more than 90 Torah Tours volunteers—all YU students—embraced the opportunity for communal renewal, bringing their youthful energy and exuberance to 25 Jewish congregations across North America. It was, in the words of volunteer Brandon Melamed ‘25YC, a “wow” experience, and for many of his fellow YU volunteers, a rare opportunity to celebrate the “joy of Torah” with complete strangers—strangers with whom they shared a sense of purpose and belonging, creating bonds that will last far into the future.
The Aaron and Blanche Schreiber Torah Tours program, now celebrating its 50th anniversary, annually sends YU students like Melamed to Jewish communities across North America for Simchat Torah and Shavuot. These youthful ambassadors infuse Jewish tradition with fresh vitality, deepening the connection between Yeshiva University and the scores of synagogues it partners with each year.
Typically, the students go above and beyond to engage and inspire their host communities. They lead divrei Torah, facilitate all-night learning programs, joyously dance with children during hakafot, and even initiate impromptu kumzitzim. This year, however, brought a unique emotional challenge: balancing the celebration of Simchat Torah with the somber anniversary of Oct. 7.
“I think the need for communal strength is present every Simchat Torah. But this year, because of its significance, there was an even greater need to express our resilience,” remarked Avraham Frohlich ‘25YC, whose host community was Toronto’s Mishkan Avraham. Frohlich, a two-year veteran of the program, went on to note that it has helped him recognize the power of community. “I think we are best suited to engage with the rest of the world if we are confident in our own community, in our own sense of identity.”
In 2023, Zachary Srulovich ‘25YC volunteered at Anshe Sfard Kehillat Torah in Milwaukee; this Simchat Torah he was assigned to Ahavas Sholom in Columbus, Ohio, and described his visit there as powerful and emotional. “ I will never forget the rabbi calling upon us to remember those who were killed on that day. It was a profound moment to share with the congregation.”
The impact of Torah Tours resonates not only with the student volunteers but also with the communities that welcome them. Rabbi Tuvia Brander of Young Israel of West Hartford, Connecticut, described Torah Tours as a two-way proposition. “Each year, our congregation gets to meet students who embody the values, vision and promise of Yeshiva University. Many of them may not be going into the rabbinate but are pursuing careers in fields like science, business or medicine. Through their energy and commitment to Jewish values, they serve as powerful role models for our young children and teenagers.”
He continued, “At the same time, this experience shapes the student volunteers as well. Outside their usual context, they see firsthand what it takes to cultivate and sustain a thriving Jewish community. They realize there is a world of possibility where their actions and voices can truly make a difference, allowing them to be part of something greater.”
And that “something greater” is what Tamara Yeshurun ‘26S, a first-time participant in Torah Tours, experienced at Kehillat Shaarei Torah in Toronto. Initially she felt uncertain about celebrating Simchat Torah in an unfamiliar community. “My roommates who had attended Torah Tours last year assured me it would be fantastic, so I applied,” she shared. “By the end of the holiday, the congregation began to feel like home. Their dedication to their shul and their appreciation for what we brought as a generation of young, proud, vibrant Jews was inspiring. I truly mean it when I say that this has been my favorite Simchat Torah to date.”
As Torah Tours celebrates its milestone anniversary, its impact endures. Rabbi Ari Rockoff, the David Mitzner Community Dean for Values and Leadership, expressed his pride in YU students’ contributions to the program, commending their commitment as ambassadors of Jewish values: “They are a powerful example of our strength, resilience and continuity.”
