(Courtesy of PTI) Rabbi Aharon Sklar will be the annual scholar- in- residence at Yeshiva Ner Boruch-Passaic Torah Institute (PTI) February 23-24, Shabbos Tetzave, and speaking throughout Shabbos. The entire community, men and women, are invited.
Rabbi Sklar is the founder and Rosh Yeshiva of Yehivah Toldos Tzvi, a kollel and beis medrash program for English speakers in Jerusalem. He has a lifetime of experience teaching in multiple yeshivas. He has taught young men and boys of widely varying backgrounds, always meeting the students where they are and patiently bringing them to an advanced level of competency. His unique approach is to methodically derive Halacha from the part of Gemara the student is learning. It’s a common occurrence to see him learning one-on-one with a student, developing not only the sugya but also a lifetime relationship with this student.
One student, Passaic’s own Rabbi Baruch Bodenheim, associate rosh yeshiva of PTI, tells a story about when he was in a beis medrash program in Israel under Rabbi Sklar, who was then teaching in a different yeshiva. “We had been working for weeks to finish a mesechta by Shavuos. It was a three-day yom tov for me and another bochur with Shabbos and Shavuos combined.” Rabbi Sklar’s Shavuos is a single day, living in Israel, but two days for Rabbi Bodeheim and other Americans. “We came up 30 daf (pages) short at Shavuos.” Rabbi Sklar asked Rabbi Bodenheim and the other bochur to stay in his house learning for all three days. He says, “We were literally learning 10 daf a day sitting in a busy household as he (Rabbi Sklar) alternated between sitting by our side one moment like in a beis medrash, and taking care of his small children running about the next moment. That’s real dedication!” This experience cemented a bond that has lasted to the present, with Rabbi Sklar making annual visits to PTI.
It’s a lesson that Rabbi Bodenheim brings to PTI, which boasts five levels of Gemara learning, offering learning for the complete novice to the advanced kollel scholar, and dozens of other programs for men and women, day and night throughout the week.
Rabbi Sklar will speak Friday at Kabbolos Shabbos on “The Power of Purim Katan,” followed by an oneg at 8:45 p.m. at the Bodenheim home where he will speak on the topic of “The Difference Between Winners and Losers,” followed by an interactive Q & A.
On Shabbos morning before Musaf, he’ll speak on “How To Guarantee Our Tefillos (Prayers) Will Be Answered: Lessons from the Me’il of the Kohen Gadol’s Ceremonial Clothing.” Shabbos afternoon at 4 p.m. the topic will be “Keeping Shabbos Without a Calendar.” After Mincha, he’ll speak at Shalosh Seudas on the topic of “Why Is There So Much Antisemitism Today?” which will be followed by Maariv.
“Rabbi Sklar is very relatable, entertaining and scholarly,” said Rabbi Bodenheim. “I’m sure everyone will be inspired and find something relevant to their lives in each lecture.”
PTI is located at 441 Passaic Avenue, Passaic, New Jersey. For details, contact PTI at 973-594-4774, [email protected] or https://pti.shulcloud.com/
