Yeshiva Darchei Torah

Yeshiva Darchei Torah is a private Orthodox Jewish boys' school in Far Rockaway, Queens, New York, United States.[1]

History

The yeshiva was founded by Rabbi Yisroel Bloom[2] and is headed by Rabbi Yaakov Bender,[3] an award-winning educator[4] and wrote a letter of support for OB/GYN Aaron Weinreb who raped two boys during Weinreb's trial. [5]

There are parents who graduated from it on the board of directors.[6] The Yeshiva celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2023.

The school had 1,400 students in 2008[7] which later grew to over 2,500 enrolled students in pre-kindergarten through post-high school seminary.[8][9]

On May 16, 2018, United States Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos became the first high-profile federal government official to visit a yeshiva, which was a two-day visit to Yeshiva Darchei Torah and to another school, a girls’ high school in Manhattan, called Manhattan High School for Girls. The visit was organized by the Agudath Israel of America organization.

In May 2024, Darchei Torah began construction on a new, 94,000-square-foot set of buildings that will include its first state-of-the-art residence hall, a new beis medrash (study hall) for its high school, and 15 classrooms.[10]

Elementary

The school's lower grades have grade-appropriate studies for both religious and secular subjects, supplemented by a library and a schoolwide literacy program.[6] While most students benefit from the school's STEM offerings,[6] Darchei's "policy of inclusion for some special-needs children"[1] makes its special education wing an important component.[6]

High school

Although the high school curriculum offers nine Advanced Placement classes and Regents exams,[1] it also has "a vocational program for students who are struggling in a traditional academic program."

In June 2019, United States Ambassador to Israel David M. Friedman toured the yeshiva campus, including the Weiss Vocational Center, which had him in awe: "If I were still in yeshiva, I would be running to this very special and educational program, it's really a special thing and a big Kiddush Hashem".[11]

The upper grade unit, which is named Mesivta Chaim Shlomo of Yeshiva Darchei Torah, encourages its students to participate in the science competition that is a part of the Center for Initiatives in Jewish Education[12] (CJIE).[13]

Senior divisions

The school also comprises a post-high school rabbinical college, Beis Medrash Heichal Dovid, and a postgraduate kollel, Kollel Tirtza Devorah, for married scholars.

Student body

Despite the school's Ashkenaz orientation,[1] it serves a growing population of Sephardic families as well, offers a weekly Sephardic minyan (prayer service), and hosts annual visits of a Sephardic rabbi,[14][15][16] Yaakov Moshe Hillel, who has been visiting Darchei since 2004.[14]

Name

There are other (out of state) institutions using the name Darchei.[17][18][19][20][21]

The words Darchei Torah mean "Paths of Torah."

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d Sharon Otterman (May 16, 2018). "DeVos Visits New York Schools, but Not Ones Run by the City". The New York Times.
  2. ^ "HEARTFELT" (PDF). January 14, 2018.
  3. ^ "Vaad Roshei Yeshiva of Torah Umesorah".
  4. ^ "1997 Covenant Foundation Award".
  5. ^ "Zaakah Publish Letters of Support".
  6. ^ a b c d Jeffrey Bessen (May 16, 2018). "Showing off Yeshiva Darchei Torah: Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos visits Far Rockaway school". Long Island Herald.
  7. ^ C. J. Hughes (January 27, 2008). "Beaten Down, and Not Only by Nature". The New York Times.
  8. ^ "Darchei Torah". 14 December 2024.
  9. ^ "Gala in Far Rockaway celebrates 'The Darchei Way'". January 22, 2019. securing the refinance of the Yeshiva's mortgage
  10. ^ Melissa Berman (May 17, 2024). "Expansion underway for Yeshiva Darchei Torah in Far Rockaway". Long Island Herald.
  11. ^ "VIDEO: Ambassador Friedman Visits Yeshiva Darchei Torah". TheYeshivaWorld.com. June 10, 2019. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
  12. ^ "Darchei Torah Students Shine At Science Competition". 5tJt.com (Five Towns Jewish Times). May 18, 2018.
  13. ^ David Gonzalez (October 13, 1994). "American Jews Focus on Preserving Their Identity; A New Gift of $15 Million for Graduate Studies in Jewish Education Should Help". The New York Times.
  14. ^ a b "Sephardic sage visits Darchei". The Jewish Star (New York) (TheJewishStar.com). February 1, 2017.
  15. ^ current age: 79 years. Sage: Pirkei Avot (Ethics of the Fathers), 5:25 (.. 50, 60, 70 ..)
  16. ^ "Rav Yaakov Moshe Hillel Inspires Talmidim At Darchei". 5tJt.com (Five Towns Jewish Times). January 23, 2014.
  17. ^ Yeshiva Darchei Torah, Manchester, United Kingdom
  18. ^ "Yeshiva's healthy attitude winning global admirers". October 7, 2016.
  19. ^ Yeshiva Darchei Torah, Southfield, MI
  20. ^ "Yeshivas Darchei Torah in Southfield, MI". December 23, 2013. all-girls ... 376 students in grades PK, K-12
  21. ^ "Yeshivas Darchei Torah School for Boys". FrumMichigan.com.

40°35′49″N 73°45′06″W / 40.596807°N 73.751635°W / 40.596807; -73.751635