(Courtesy of PTI) A shidduch date 50 years in the making came to fruition last Sunday. Ohr Somayach, the yeshiva that spawned a global baal teshuva movement, concluded a retreat at Yeshiva Ner Boruch-Passaic Torah Institute (PTI) in New Jersey. Born in the Golden Age of kiruv, Ohr Somayach met the needs of accomplished and idealistic but culturally disenchanted young adults where they were at. One vision has permeated its mission from its pioneering beginning to its global presence today: provide a deep and undiluted sense of meaning through hard-earned rigorous learning of classic texts. Ohr has diversified its programs to meet every age segment, background and schedule. They offer everything from one-day seminars and weekend retreats in America to summers and multi-year programs in Jerusalem, and a treasure trove of video shiurim and podcasts.
College and young professional men of both yeshivas sat in a circle in a shaded backyard next to PTI with Ohr’s Rabbis Naftoli Bryks, Saul Mandel, and Benztion Schechter, PTI’s Rabbis Boruch Bodenheim and David Merkin, and Olami’s Rabbi David Markowitz. The young men, mostly in their 20s, spoke from their hearts of moving experiences in various Orthodox communities they visited during their religious journey. They mentioned late-night conversations with hosts on deep issues, life choices, and thought provoking questions they’d never asked before. They spoke of the relevance of timeless Torah wisdom to their contemporary lives.
Parallels were drawn between the two yeshivas by PTI members at the gathering, many of whom are alumni of Ohr Somayach and other Israeli yeshivas. Like Ohr, Rabbi Bodenheim said PTI and its sister program Neve, the New Jersey affiliate of Neve Yerushalyim in Israel, “make rigorous high level learning accessible, regardless of background.” Some students come to PTI before or after going to learn in Israel. PTI and Neve have five levels of learning, morning, noon and night, seven days a week, from the complete novice with no background to the most advanced full time kollel scholar. There are many more programs on halacha and hashkafa, chassidus, frequent visits by gedolim, and several women’s programs throughout the week. Students span every age from teens to young professionals to retirees, and every walk of life and approach to Judaism. Rabbi Bodenheim invites, “Come in and we’ll find a program or make a custom course of study for any age, interest or schedule.”
Ohr Somayach’s rabbis met with PTI students, teachers, rabbeim, local shadchanim, job placement experts, housing advisers, and other resources that ensure alumni returning home from Israel will smoothly integrate into the Passaic community. “It’s a robust program,” observed Ohr’s Rabbi Schechter.
Since the October 7 Hamas attack and rising antisemitism, a surge of young professionals and college students have flooded PTI in search of greater Jewish knowledge and identity. The yeshiva is now bursting at the seams and preparing to break ground for a new building many times larger than its current three-story building. PTI is also researching options for student housing as well.
Rabbi Bodenheim concluded, “PTI-Neve and Ohr Somayach have much in common and opportunities for collaboration. It’s a perfect shidduch.” PTI is located at 441 Passaic Avenue, Passaic, New Jersey. For details call Rabbi Bodenheim at 862-371-3186 or email [email protected].
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