Yeshiva Darchei Torah (Far Rockaway)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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

History[]

The yeshiva was founded by the late Rabbi Yisroel Bloom[2] and is headed by Rabbi Yaakov Bender, who was described by The New York Times as "ultra-Orthodox... Litvish or Yeshivish."[1]

It has been operating long enough to have parents who graduated from it, including on the board of directors.[3] The Yeshiva will celebrate its 50th Anniversary next year in 2023.

The school is growing; a decade after having 1,400 students,[4] it has over 2,000 enrolled students in pre-kindergarten through post-high school seminary.[5] The bais medrash has been described as "large".[3] In early 2019, the yeshiva notified parents that they had recently refinanced their mortgage.[6]

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.

Location[]

Darchei is located at the "site of... a once-world-famous resort."[4] Far Rockaway "flourished in the 1940s but withered... [in the] 1960s" until "a few Jewish families... started the Hebrew Free Loan Society for new home buyers."[7] In 2008 The New York Times wrote that "the area's Orthodox Jewish community... now constitutes a fifth of the 48,344 people" and that Darchei, "with 1,400 students, exceeds Far Rockaway High School in size."[4]

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.[3] While most students benefit from the school's STEM offerings,[3] Darchei's "policy of inclusion for some special-needs children"[1] makes its special education wing an important component.[3]

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".[8]

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[9] (CJIE).[10]

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, and hosts annual visits of a Sephardic sage,[11][12][13] Yaakov Moshe Hillel, who has been visiting Darchei since 2004.[11]

Name[]

There are other (out of state) institutions using the name Darchei.[14][15][16][17][18]

The words Darchei Torah mean "Paths of Torah."

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d e 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. ^ a b c d e Jeffrey Bessen (May 16, 2018). "Showing off Yeshiva Darchei Torah: Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos visits Far Rockaway school". Long Island Herald.
  4. ^ a b c C. J. Hughes (January 27, 2008). "Beaten Down, and Not Only by Nature". The New York Times.
  5. ^ "Darchei Torah".
  6. ^ "Gala in Far Rockaway celebrates 'The Darchei Way'". The Jewish Star (New York) (TheJewishStar.com). January 22, 2019. securing the refinance of the Yeshiva’s mortgage
  7. ^ Pam Belluck (June 10, 1996). "Keeping Peace Alive And Tensions Dormant;Diverse Far Rockaway Sees Room For Harmony as Jewish Enclave Grows". The New York Times.
  8. ^ "VIDEO: Ambassador Friedman Visits Yeshiva Darchei Torah". TheYeshivaWorld.com. June 10, 2019. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
  9. ^ "Darchei Torah Students Shine At Science Competition". 5tJt.com (Five Towns Jewish Times). May 18, 2018.
  10. ^ 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.
  11. ^ a b "Sephardic sage visits Darchei". The Jewish Star (New York) (TheJewishStar.com). February 1, 2017.
  12. ^ current age: 76 years. Sage: Pirkei Avot (Ethics of the Fathers), 5:25 (.. 50, 60, 70 ..)
  13. ^ "Rav Yaakov Moshe Hillel Inspires Talmidim At Darchei". 5tJt.com (Five Towns Jewish Times). January 23, 2014.
  14. ^ Yeshiva Darchei Torah, Manchester, United Kingdom
  15. ^ "Yeshiva's healthy attitude winning global admirers". October 7, 2016.
  16. ^ Yeshiva Darchei Torah, Southfield, MI
  17. ^ "Yeshivas Darchei Torah in Southfield, MI". December 23, 2013. all-girls ... 376 students in grades PK, K-12
  18. ^ "Yeshivas Darchei Torah School for Boys". FrumMichigan.com.

External links[]


Stub icon

This yeshiva or kollel article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by .

  • v
  • t

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

Retrieved from ""