Yeshivat Chovevei Torah

What a reunion we had last week with R' Eli Finkelstein (YCT '20). After a successful experience as an assistant rabbi at Moses Montefiore Anshe Emunah Congregation in Baltimore, under the mentorship of Rabbi Yerachmiel Shapiro (YCT '08), Eli is now leading Congregation Bais Abe in St. Louis.

Your Values, Amplified: YCT is a place where you can be true to yourself. We champion the Torah values you care about and empower you to lead with authenticity and integrity.

https://yctorah.org/rabbinic-and-educator-programs/semikha/

Mazel Tov to Rabbi Yossi Pollak '05 on his Siyum Hashas! Seven and a half years of hard work, day in and day out, learning the entire Talmud Bavli. What an inspiration!

More than a yeshiva. When you join YCT, it’s not just for an education. It’s for a lifetime.



Koren Jerusalem

What are you doing this summer?? COME LEARN WITH US IN PARIS!!!!

Early bird tuition deadline =February 15!

Join YCT and the Ayeka community in Paris for 2.5 weeks of intensive learning with YCT’s Rosh HaYeshiva, leading faculty, and rabbinic alumni from YCT and Maharat. Program will be led by the fantastic YCT- Maharat couple: Rabbi Emile Ackermann and Rabbanit Myriam Ackermann - Sommer.

Program includes a structured morning Gemara seder, and afternoon classes focusing on French Jewish history, philosophy, and parshanut.

Open to men and women ages 18-30 from anywhere around the world!

Details in the link below.
Apply here: https://yctorah.org/forms/paris-beit-midrash-application/




https://yctorah.org/paris/

Torah de France – YCT Join YCT & the Ayeka community in Paris this summer for 2.5 weeks of intensive learning with YCT's Rosh HaYeshiva, leading faculty, and rabbinic alumni from YCT and Maharat. Learning will include a structured morning Gemara seder, and afternoon classes focusing on French Jewish history, philosophy,....

What's different about the way our rabbis posken halakha (answer questions of Jewish law)?

The answer can be found in the way they were trained by our Rosh HaYeshiva Rabbi Dov Linzer:

"Halakha is about much more than rule following...If we believe, as we do, that the mitzvos are not arbitrary and that there are values communicated by them, hopefully halakha is in a way that instantiates and embodies the values of the system. If a posek is being thoughtful about it, giving a halakhic answer can be much more than just the bottom line - it can be a type of religious guidance."

Listen to this conversation entitled "Jewish Law Rooted in Jewish Values," where Rabbi Linzer and his musmakh Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowitz discuss how Jewish ethics influence halakhic decisions and engage with thought-provoking insights on tradition and modernity.

Jewish Law rooted in Jewish Values, A Conversation with Rabbi Dov Linzer Check out this conversation entitled "Jewish Law Rooted in Jewish Values," where Rabbi Dov Linzer and Rabbi Shmuly Yanklowitz discuss how Jewish ethics influ...

What are you doing this summer?? COME LEARN WITH US IN PARIS!!!!

Join YCT and the Ayeka community in Paris for 2.5 weeks of intensive learning with YCT’s Rosh HaYeshiva, leading faculty, and rabbinic alumni from YCT and Maharat. Program will be led by the fantastic YCT- Maharat couple: Rabbi Emile Ackermann and Rabbanit Myriam Ackermann - Sommer.

Program includes a structured morning Gemara seder, and afternoon classes focusing on French Jewish history, philosophy, and parshanut.

Open to men and women ages 18-30 from anywhere around the world!

Details in the link below.

Apply here: https://yctorah.org/forms/paris-beit-midrash-application/

Torah de France – YCT Join YCT & the Ayeka community in Paris this summer for 2.5 weeks of intensive learning with YCT's Rosh HaYeshiva, leading faculty, and rabbinic alumni from YCT and Maharat. Learning will include a structured morning Gemara seder, and afternoon classes focusing on French Jewish history, philosophy,....

Earlier this week, YCT and Uri L'Tzedek had the zechut to host a conversation with Ruth Messinger and Rabbi Avi Weiss exploring Chanukah's timeless message of light, justice and hope.

It was an absolute privilege to learn with these giants - may they be blessed with good health and continued inspiration to share their wisdom with us.

Rav Avi's message was clear: it's high time for our young people to act on behalf of the Jewish people.

What better way to do so than by becoming a rabbi?
Rabbis are needed now more than ever. Am Yisrael is hurting and is in desperate need of strong leaders.

Join our force of 200+ alumni serving Klal Yisrael throughout the world. https://yctorah.org/rabbinic-and-educator-programs/semikha/

NY Times Op-ed by Rabbi Dov Linzer & Abigail Pogrebin: This Hanukkah, Choose Light Over Heat

"The glue of the Jewish people for 3,000 years — indeed, the key to our survival despite all those who tried to destroy us — has been the beauty, joy and rituals of Judaism… Denigrating one another is a decision, not an inevitability. Could we opt for inquiry over invective? How might we sit in a hevruta, or group study, and debate our texts, our principles, our future, without shutting down conversation?... This Hanukkah…we must decide: Will we increase the light or stoke the fire? In their shaping of this holiday our ancient rabbis’ answer to this question is clear: Choose the light."

NY Times Op-ed by Rabbi Dov Linzer & Abigail Pogrebin: This Hanukkah, Choose Light Over Heat – YCT by Rabbi Dov Linzer and Abigail Pogrebin for The New York Times Many of us grew up with a straightforward Hanukkah story. It is a parable of resilience, told and retold throughout the ages, and a powerful metaphor for the Jewish people: We endure despite repeated, often brutal efforts to

3rd year student Ilan Kogan takes his oral bechina (exam) on Hilkhot Taarovet (the nullification of forbidden substances in mixtures of various sorts), with his Rebbe & Dean Haggai Resnikoff, YCT '14.

Our semikha program equips aspiring rabbis with the knowledge, skills, and values to lead boldly in today’s complex Jewish world. With a foundation of rigorous halakhic learning, pastoral training, and a commitment to inclusivity, our program produces and supports leaders who bring Torah to life for their communities.

Learn more: https://yctorah.org/rabbinic-and-educator-programs/semikha/

Alumni town hall with our Rosh Yeshiva & President Rabbi Dov Linzer. Pictured here is a group of YCT grads from the early pioneering days through recent years. Their ties to the yeshiva remain strong.

When you become a student at YCT, you become a valuable part of the Chovevei family and a cherished member our 200+ alumni community.

Be part of YCT: https://yctorah.org/rabbinic-and-educator-programs/semikha/

YCT aims to train and support leaders who can bring the principles of compassion, deep connection to Torah, and inclusivity into their communities, creating spaces where every Jew feels seen, engaged, and valued.

If this vision aligns with yours, become a rabbi and join our community of 200+ rabbinic leaders.

Learn more about our FULLY FUNDED AND HIGHLY STIPENDED semikha program. https://yctorah.org/rabbinic-and-educator-programs/semikha/

Considering semikha but feel that your Gemara skills may not be ready yet?
Check out our FULLY FUNDED & STIPENDED Beit Midrash Program:
https://yctorah.org/rabbinic-and-educator-programs/beit-midrash/

Apply by February 3!

At the recent Hillel International Conference, where over 1000 Hillel professionals and partner organizations were in attendance, many people stopped by our table, to express their love for their YCT rabbis.

Learn more about the impact our rabbinic alumni are making:
https://yctorah.org/alumni-and-their-impact/leading-the-way/

YCT’s rigorous programs prepare you for a life of meaningful leadership. Train with us to become a rabbi who embodies Torah values and makes an impact:
https://yctorah.org/rabbinic-and-educator-programs/semikha/

Montreal's Jewish community has endured 14 months of antisemitic harassment, intimidation, and violence.

Recently, a group of pro-Hamas protesters harassed, blocked, and pushed attendees at an event held at the Shaar Hashomayim Synagogue in Westmount. The protesters chanted calls for intifada and support for Hamas, while also directing derogatory remarks at Jews, accusing them of being baby-killers and genocide supporters. Although there was a significant police presence, they arrived after the protesters and did not make any arrests.

YCT musmakh Rabbi Adam Scheier has served as the Senior Rabbi of Shaar Hashomayim since his ordination more than 20 years ago. Last week he returned to the yeshiva to engage with students about the current circumstances in his community and to explore the type of leadership necessary to both support his congregants and advocate for the Jewish people with the government.

YCT prepares you with Torah for today’s challenges, equipping you to lead with purpose and meet your community’s needs.

YCT students, alumni, faculty and staff catching up over dinner and ice cream in Boston.
When you train for semikha at Chovevei, you gain a community for life.

Learn what makes our FULLY FUNDED semikha program unique: https://yctorah.org/rabbinic-and-educator-programs/semikha/

Rabbis and almost rabbis reconnecting at Hillel International Conference/Katz Innovation Rabbinic Summit: Does Hillel Need Rabbis? Do Rabbis Need Hillels?

YCT has always been at the forefront of rabbinic education, preparing leaders to serve diverse communities with integrity and compassion. Our graduates bring fresh perspectives to Jewish life while upholding the values of Torah and tradition.

Does Hillel Need Rabbis?
A resounding YES!!!

Learn more about the Campus Hillels we are serving: https://yctorah.org/alumni-and-their-impact/meet-our-alumni/?_program=semikha&_filter_by_professional_area_2=campus

Our Israel Gap Year fellows gathered for their second meeting on Friday morning. Fortunately, they had the opportunity to meet their group leader Benji Zoller who was on break from miluim.

They were also privileged to learn and engage with Rabbi Dr. Yakov Nagen, on the topic of "Why and How We Build an Interfaith Fraternity."

Learn more about the program here: https://yctorah.org/yct-gap-year-fellowship-2024-2025/