I still remember when Avi was accepted to one of the best hesder yeshiva programs for his post high school year(s) of learning. Avi was an honors student (and athlete) at TABC and felt that his hard work had paid off. Some would say it was a “no-brainer.”
However, there was another yeshiva on his radar: Yeshivat Migdal HaTorah in Modi’in. Avi knew family and friends that had really enjoyed learning at the yeshiva and over the years, had firsthand experience learning with Rosh Yeshiva Rabbi Ginsberg, who would join our Shabbat morning chabura whenever he was in town. While Avi knew my wife’s and my personal leaning, we made it clear that the choice of which yeshiva to attend was his. At this point, acknowledging the bias of his parents, Avi discussed the matter with his sister and brother-in-law (Rachel and Yosef Sklar), who had attended Migdal Oz and Yeshivat Har Etzion respectively, as well as with Rabbi Ezra Weiner, the head of Israel guidance at TABC.
Avi’s decision was to attend Migdal HaTorah, and this year he returned to continue his learning. His future plans include attending Yeshiva University. Our experience with the yeshiva has been so outstanding that we wanted to spread the word to those who are not as familiar with the yeshiva as we are.
1) Learning—Avi found the learning to be both intensely challenging and of the highest caliber. Perhaps the best part was that Migdal taught Avi the skills to truly think and learn for himself. The yeshiva focuses its learning through the lens of the analytical “brisker method,” encouraging both creativity and participation from everyone there. The yeshiva also has a curriculum that is quite expansive, with an emphasis on how Torah integrates with the secular world. Discussion-centered classes include topics in philosophy, physics and psychology, to name a few.
2) Hashkafa—Above all else, Migdal prides itself on openness and intellectual honesty. Students are encouraged to ask “any” questions—especially those religious issues that may be troubling to a teenager. The yeshiva emphasizes rational thinking, channeling the spirit and views of Rabbi Soloveitchik. I have seen firsthand how Avi has matured intellectually and resolved many of his own questions.
3) Located in Modi’in—The boys live in apartments with a madrich. It was a great experience for Avi to have independence and responsibility. (Meals are provided by the yeshiva.) The best part was that Avi was NOT in ירושלים with its distractions (and social life), while at the same time Modi’in is a vibrant city with restaurants, malls, gyms, etc. It was the best of both worlds with easy access to Yerushalayim and the rest of the country.
4) Rebeiim—Being a smaller program meant that Avi had the chance to develop strong personal connections with each of the rebbeim. He actually had weekly chavrutot with rebbeim, including the rosh yeshiva! That type of kesher was so critical in his success at Migdal.
5) Students—The yeshiva draws a mix of students from the tri-state area and out-of-town. Being with a diverse group and out-of-towners in particular created a very positive atmosphere that was more focused on the students and learning.
6) COVID-19—While this is not really part of the yeshiva experience, it exemplifies Migdal’s approach to its students. Migdal was one of very few yeshivot that did not close early last year during the first wave of the pandemic. In fact, Avi stayed there through June. The yeshiva was on top of all health-related matters and managed the situation perfectly. In many ways, Avi grew more from March through June than the first half of the year. The boys were taught how to kasher their kitchens, run a seder, and much more. The yeshiva did not close down for Chodesh Nissan; rather, they kept a full program going.
This year, the yeshiva has worked nonstop to provide the ideal educational experience in very trying circumstances.
Perhaps what impressed me the most was the personal attention and caring that the Migdal rebbeim gave every student. The rebbeim take personal interest in the students and are there to assist them in every way possible. Avi had a fantastic experience at Migdal and we are very proud of the fine young ben Torah that he has become.
Yaffa and Naftali live in Bergenfield and are happy to speak with any parents who would like to learn more about Yeshivat Migdal HaTorah. They can be contacted at [email protected].
