Baranovich Yeshiva
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Yeshiva Ohel Torah-Baranovich, commonly referred to as the Baranovich Yeshiva or simply as Baranovich, was an
Orthodox Jewish Orthodox Judaism is a collective term for the traditionalist branches of contemporary Judaism. Theologically, it is chiefly defined by regarding the Torah, both Written and Oral, as literally revealed by God on Mount Sinai and faithfully tra ...
yeshiva A yeshiva (; ; pl. , or ) is a traditional Jewish educational institution focused on the study of Rabbinic literature, primarily the Talmud and halacha (Jewish law), while Torah and Jewish philosophy are studied in parallel. The stu ...
in
Baranavichy Baranavichy or Baranovichi is a city in the Brest Region of western Belarus. It serves as the administrative center of Baranavichy District, though it is administratively separated from the district. As of 2025, it has a population of 170,817. ...
,
Belarus Belarus, officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe. It is bordered by Russia to the east and northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Belarus spans an a ...
(which at its founding was ruled by the
Russian Empire The Russian Empire was an empire that spanned most of northern Eurasia from its establishment in November 1721 until the proclamation of the Russian Republic in September 1917. At its height in the late 19th century, it covered about , roughl ...
and after
World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
, the
Second Polish Republic The Second Polish Republic, at the time officially known as the Republic of Poland, was a country in Central and Eastern Europe that existed between 7 October 1918 and 6 October 1939. The state was established in the final stage of World War I ...
). Established circa 1906 by Rabbi
Yosef Yoizel Horowitz Yosef Yozel Horowitz (), also Yosef Yoizel Hurwitz, known as the Alter of Novardok (1847–December 9, 1919), was a student of Rabbi Yisroel Salanter, the founder of the Musar movement. The Alter was also a student of Rabbis Yitzchak Blazer and Si ...
, the Alter of Novardok (
Navahrudak Novogrudok or Navahrudak (; ; , ; ) is a town in Grodno Region, Belarus. It serves as the administrative center of Novogrudok District. As of 2025, it has a population of 27,624. In the Middle Ages, the city was ruled by King Mindaugas' son ...
), it attracted leading rabbis such as Rabbi
Yisroel Yaakov Lubchansky Rabbi Yisroel Yaakov Lubchansky was an Orthodox Jewish rabbi in Baranavichy, Russia. He served as the mashgiach ruchani of the Baranovich Yeshiva there in the mid-twetienth century. Early life Born in the mid – late nineteenth century, R ...
and Rabbi
Avraham Yoffen Avraham Yoffen (or Jofen; 1887 - April 19, 1970), also known as "Avraham Pinsker" was a rabbi, son-in-law to Yosef Yozel Horowitz, the ''Alter of Novardok'' and director of Novardok Yeshiva. He fled to the U.S. at the outbreak of World War II and ...
as instructors, but was forced to disband with the outbreak of World War I. After the war, Rabbi
Elchonon Wasserman Elchonon Bunim Wasserman (; ; 18746 July 1941) was a prominent rabbi and rosh yeshiva (dean) in prewar Europe. He was one of the closest students of Rabbi Yisrael Meir Kagan (the Chofetz Chaim) and a noted Talmid Chacham. In the interwar perio ...
, a student of the
Radin Yeshiva The Radin Yeshiva, originally located in Radun, Belarus, Radun, Vilna Governorate, Russian Empire (now in Belarus), was established by Rabbi Israel Meir Kagan (known as the ''Chofetz Chaim'' after the title of his well-known ''Sefer (Hebrew), sefe ...
who had been forced into exile in
Smilavičy Smilavichy (; ; ; ) is an List of urban-type settlements in Belarus, urban-type settlement in Chervyen District, Minsk Region, Belarus. As of 2024, it has a population of 6,586. In Jewish tradition it is known as ''Smilovitz'', and was a shtetl ...
during the hostilities, agreed to serve as
rosh yeshiva Rosh yeshiva or Rosh Hayeshiva (, plural, pl. , '; Anglicized pl. ''rosh yeshivas'') is the title given to the dean of a yeshiva, a Jewish educational institution that focuses on the study of traditional religious texts, primarily the Talmud and th ...
(dean) upon the recommendation of the
Chofetz Chaim The ''Sefer'' ''Chofetz Chaim'' (or ''Chafetz Chaim'' or ''Hafetz Hayim'') (, trans. "Pursuer of Life") is a book by Rabbi Yisrael Meir Kagan, who is also called "the Chofetz Chaim" after it. The book deals with the Jewish laws of speech. The ...
. In the
interwar period In the history of the 20th century, the interwar period, also known as the interbellum (), lasted from 11 November 1918 to 1 September 1939 (20 years, 9 months, 21 days) – from the end of World War I (WWI) to the beginning of World War II ( ...
, the yeshiva gained widespread fame and a large student body. Wasserman's style of teaching emphasized the simple meaning of the
Talmud The Talmud (; ) is the central text of Rabbinic Judaism and the primary source of Jewish religious law (''halakha'') and Jewish theology. Until the advent of Haskalah#Effects, modernity, in nearly all Jewish communities, the Talmud was the cen ...
ic texts and students advanced to the point that they were able to study independently. The yeshiva went into exile and disbanded a second time during World War II, and Wasserman and many of the students were murdered by Lithuanian Nazi sympathizers. Torah institutions named after the Baranovich Yeshiva and Wasserman were later established in the United States and Israel.


Founding

The yeshiva was founded circa 1906 by Rabbi
Yosef Yoizel Horowitz Yosef Yozel Horowitz (), also Yosef Yoizel Hurwitz, known as the Alter of Novardok (1847–December 9, 1919), was a student of Rabbi Yisroel Salanter, the founder of the Musar movement. The Alter was also a student of Rabbis Yitzchak Blazer and Si ...
, known as the Alter of
Novardok Novogrudok or Navahrudak (; ; , ; ) is a town in Grodno Region, Belarus. It serves as the administrative center of Novogrudok District. As of 2025, it has a population of 27,624. In the Middle Ages, the city was ruled by King Mindaugas' son ...
, who was establishing mussar yeshivas throughout Russia. Horowitz's daughter, Feiga Malka, was married to Rabbi
Yisroel Yaakov Lubchansky Rabbi Yisroel Yaakov Lubchansky was an Orthodox Jewish rabbi in Baranavichy, Russia. He served as the mashgiach ruchani of the Baranovich Yeshiva there in the mid-twetienth century. Early life Born in the mid – late nineteenth century, R ...
, son of Rabbi Chaim Leib Lubchansky of Baranovich, so he turned his attention to strengthening
Torah study Torah study is the study of the Torah, Hebrew Bible, Talmud, responsa, rabbinic literature, and similar works, all of which are Judaism's Sifrei kodesh, religious texts. According to Rabbinic Judaism, the study is done for the purpose of the ''mi ...
in this city. Horowitz also motivated Rabbi Chaikel Sofer, an influential Jew living in the city, to supply room and board for the student body, and brought in several rabbis to teach in his yeshiva. In 1914, he introduced his son-in-law, Rabbi
Avraham Yoffen Avraham Yoffen (or Jofen; 1887 - April 19, 1970), also known as "Avraham Pinsker" was a rabbi, son-in-law to Yosef Yozel Horowitz, the ''Alter of Novardok'' and director of Novardok Yeshiva. He fled to the U.S. at the outbreak of World War II and ...
, as a lecturer. However, at the end of that year, World War I broke out and the yeshiva was disbanded.


Post World War I

In 1921, the
Radin Yeshiva The Radin Yeshiva, originally located in Radun, Belarus, Radun, Vilna Governorate, Russian Empire (now in Belarus), was established by Rabbi Israel Meir Kagan (known as the ''Chofetz Chaim'' after the title of his well-known ''Sefer (Hebrew), sefe ...
led by the
Chofetz Chaim The ''Sefer'' ''Chofetz Chaim'' (or ''Chafetz Chaim'' or ''Hafetz Hayim'') (, trans. "Pursuer of Life") is a book by Rabbi Yisrael Meir Kagan, who is also called "the Chofetz Chaim" after it. The book deals with the Jewish laws of speech. The ...
escaped from the anti-religious
Soviet Union The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR), commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 until Dissolution of the Soviet ...
where they had been exiled to during World War I to their original hometown of
Radin Radin is a surname and given name. Given name Radin (Persian: رادین) is also an Ancient Persian given name meaning "gentleman". Surname Notable people with the surname include: * Adolph Moses Radin (1848–1909), Polish-American rabbi * ...
. Rabbi
Elchonon Wasserman Elchonon Bunim Wasserman (; ; 18746 July 1941) was a prominent rabbi and rosh yeshiva (dean) in prewar Europe. He was one of the closest students of Rabbi Yisrael Meir Kagan (the Chofetz Chaim) and a noted Talmid Chacham. In the interwar perio ...
, who was a student of the Chofetz Chaim and who had led the Smilovitz branch of the Radin Yeshiva during the war, was a member of that yeshiva. On their way to Radin, the yeshiva stopped in Baranovich where they stayed for ten days. Although the rest of the yeshiva continued on to Radin, the Chofetz Chaim instructed Wasserman to remain in Baranovich and lead the Ohel Torah yeshiva, which had been reopened by Rabbi Chaikel Sofer. It was under Wasserman's leadership that the yeshiva gained its widespread fame and a large student body, which eventually numbered in the hundreds.


Style of learning

Unlike advanced yeshivas of the era which accepted only advanced students who had been studying on their own for some time, the Baranovich Yeshiva under Wasserman accepted students who had not yet achieved proficiency in
Torah study Torah study is the study of the Torah, Hebrew Bible, Talmud, responsa, rabbinic literature, and similar works, all of which are Judaism's Sifrei kodesh, religious texts. According to Rabbinic Judaism, the study is done for the purpose of the ''mi ...
. Wasserman and the other instructors would guide and groom them to be able to learn the
Talmud The Talmud (; ) is the central text of Rabbinic Judaism and the primary source of Jewish religious law (''halakha'') and Jewish theology. Until the advent of Haskalah#Effects, modernity, in nearly all Jewish communities, the Talmud was the cen ...
independently. To that end, students were divided by age and learning level. There were six lower levels taught by instructors and a seventh level, called the ''kibbutz'', in which students who had completed the lower levels studied independently. The first-level ''
shiur A shiur (, , ; , ) is a lecture given any Torah-related topic of study, such as Gemara, Mishnah, ''Halakha'' (Jewish law), or Tanakh (Hebrew Bible), usually given in a yeshiva, though commonly in other Jewish communal settings. Histor ...
'' (class) was led by a Rabbi Kreinker, the second level by Rabbi Yoshe Ber Zeldes, the third by a Rabbi Yisrael, the fourth by Rabbi Leib Geviya, the fifth by Rabbi
Shlomo Heiman Shlomo Heiman (1892–1944) known informally as "Reb Shlomo", was a rabbi, Talmudist, and rosh yeshiva. He led some of the most prominent yeshivas in Europe and the United States. Early life Shlomo Heiman was born in Paritsh, Minsk in Belar ...
, and the sixth level by the rosh yeshiva, Rabbi Wasserman. After Heiman left in 1927, Wasserman took over his ''shiur'' as well. Wasserman also lectured weekly to the ''kibbutz'', and invited Rabbi
David Rappoport Rabbi David HaKohen Rappoport () (1890 – September 23, 1941) was an Orthodox Jewish rabbi in Baranovich, Belarus (then part of Poland). He is known for leading Yeshiva Ohel Torah in Baranovich alongside Rabbi Elchonon Wasserman. Early ...
, author of the '' sefarim'' ''Tzemach David'' and ''Mikdash David'', to be the deputy
rosh yeshiva Rosh yeshiva or Rosh Hayeshiva (, plural, pl. , '; Anglicized pl. ''rosh yeshivas'') is the title given to the dean of a yeshiva, a Jewish educational institution that focuses on the study of traditional religious texts, primarily the Talmud and th ...
. Lubchansky served as the
mashgiach ruchani A mashgiach ruchani (; pl., ''mashgichim ruchani'im''), sometimes mashgiach for short, is a spiritual supervisor or guide. They are usually a rabbi who has an official position within a yeshiva and is responsible for the non-academic areas of yesh ...
. Even in the fifth and sixth levels, the ''shiurim'' (classes) placed heavy emphasis on understanding the "simple" meaning of the text. Instructors would read the text of the Talmud with
Rashi Shlomo Yitzchaki (; ; ; 13 July 1105) was a French rabbi who authored comprehensive commentaries on the Talmud and Hebrew Bible. He is commonly known by the List of rabbis known by acronyms, Rabbinic acronym Rashi (). Born in Troyes, Rashi stud ...
and
Tosafot The Tosafot, Tosafos or Tosfot () are Middle Ages, medieval commentaries on the Talmud. They take the form of critical and explanatory glosses, printed, in almost all Talmud editions, on the outer margin and opposite Rashi's notes. The authors o ...
aloud, word by word, to the class. Students spent an entire year in the fifth level and a year and a half in the sixth level. Incoming students who had studied independently in other yeshivas and wanted to join the Baranovich Yeshiva were still required to join the fifth level in Baranovich for several years before being admitted into the sixth level. In both these levels they would be exposed to Wasserman's style of Talmud learning and his emphasis on understanding the simple meaning of the text. Due to Wasserman's style of teaching, his students became well-known and sought after in the advanced yeshivas of Lithuania and Poland. It was known that Baranovich students knew how to learn Talmud by themselves and understand the text on its simplest level.


Exile and disbandment

In addition to delivering ''shiurim'', Wasserman assumed responsibility for the upkeep of the yeshiva, including instructor salaries and food, shelter, and clothing for the student body. He managed to procure funds to construct a proper building for the yeshiva in the 1920s. He traveled frequently to Warsaw and Vilna to fundraise among potential donors, but finances were always tight during the interwar years. Finally, in 1931, Wasserman agreed to travel abroad to fundraise. His first trip to England was successful and he returned again in 1934. In October 1937 he embarked on a 16-month fundraising tour which brought him to several American cities, including New York, Baltimore, Chicago, St. Louis, Boston, Philadelphia, Cincinnati, Detroit, and Denver. With the political situation in Europe deteriorating and the prospect of war looming, he was encouraged to remain in the United States. But he refused, saying that his place was with his students. Five months after his return to Baranovich, World War II broke out. On the advice of Rabbi
Chaim Ozer Grodzensky Chaim Ozer Grodzinski (; August 24, 1863 – August 9, 1940) was a '' Av beis din'' (rabbinical chief justice), ''posek'' (halakhic authority), and Talmudic scholar in Vilnius, Lithuania in the late 19th and early 20th centuries for over 55 years. ...
, the yeshiva (together with others) escaped to
Vilnius Vilnius ( , ) is the capital of and List of cities in Lithuania#Cities, largest city in Lithuania and the List of cities in the Baltic states by population, most-populous city in the Baltic states. The city's estimated January 2025 population w ...
in Lithuania. In June 1940, when the
Red Army The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army, often shortened to the Red Army, was the army and air force of the Russian Soviet Republic and, from 1922, the Soviet Union. The army was established in January 1918 by a decree of the Council of People ...
invaded and occupied Lithuania, the rosh yeshivas and students who were taking refuge there realized that they would not be able to continue functioning under the Soviets. Wasserman relocated the yeshiva to
Semeliškės Semeliškės is a town in Elektrėnai municipality, Vilnius County, east Lithuania. According to the Lithuanian census of 2011, the town has a population of 580 people. The town has a church of Catholics and Orthodox church of St. Nicolas. Its al ...
, a small village near Vilnius. Even there, they could not escape the communists and they were oppressed for keeping the yeshiva open. Students began to leave the yeshiva for safer places or places with more food. Under such difficult conditions, Wasserman in the end encouraged all of his students to leave, although some remained. Wasserman eventually left Semeliškės and went into hiding in
Kaunas Kaunas (; ) is the second-largest city in Lithuania after Vilnius, the fourth largest List of cities in the Baltic states by population, city in the Baltic States and an important centre of Lithuanian economic, academic, and cultural life. Kaun ...
. A few weeks later, he was kidnapped by Nazi sympathizers and executed in the Seventh Fort. Many of the Baranovich students were murdered as well.


Legacy

In 1953, Wasserman's son, Rabbi
Simcha Wasserman Elazar Simcha Wasserman (; 1898 - October 29, 1992) was an Orthodox rabbi and rosh yeshiva. Born in the Russian Empire, he was sent before World War II to the United States by his father, Rabbi Elchonon Wasserman, to improve the level of Jewish ed ...
, founded Yeshiva Ohr Elchonon (, "Light of Elchonon") in
Los Angeles Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...
. In 1977, the yeshiva was sold to
Chabad Chabad, also known as Lubavitch, Habad and Chabad-Lubavitch (; ; ), is a dynasty in Hasidic Judaism. Belonging to the Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) branch of Orthodox Judaism, it is one of the world's best-known Hasidic movements, as well as one of ...
and until today stands as
Yeshiva Ohr Elchonon Chabad/West Coast Talmudical Seminary Yeshiva Ohr Elchonon Chabad West Coast Talmudical Seminary (YOEC) is a yeshiva college in Los Angeles, California. It is the largest yeshiva college on the West Coast of the United States. The yeshiva also houses a private boys high school accre ...
. Wasserman went on to found another Yeshiva Ohr Elchonon in
Jerusalem Jerusalem is a city in the Southern Levant, on a plateau in the Judaean Mountains between the Mediterranean Sea, Mediterranean and the Dead Sea. It is one of the List of oldest continuously inhabited cities, oldest cities in the world, and ...
together with Rabbi
Moshe Mordechai Chodosh Moshe is the Hebrew version of the masculine given name Moses. Bearers include: * Moshe Arens (1925–2019), Israeli politician * Moshe Bar, several people * Moshe Bejski (1921–2007), Israeli judge * Moshe Brener (born 1971), Israeli basketball ...
. In 1997, Rabbi Leib Baron, an alumnus of the yeshiva, founded Yeshiva Ahavas Torah Baranovich in Jerusalem with a
beis medrash A ''beth midrash'' (, "house of learning"; : ''batei midrash''), also ''beis medrash'' or ''beit midrash'', is a hall dedicated for Torah study, often translated as a "study hall". It is distinct from a synagogue (''beth knesseth''), although ...
(undergraduate program) for post-high school boys and a
kollel A kollel (also kolel) (, , , , a "gathering" or "collection" f scholars is an institute for full-time, advanced Torah study, study of the Talmud and rabbinic literature. Like a yeshiva, a kollel features Shiur (Torah), shiurim (lectures) and ...
for married men. Although the beis medrash closed in 2000 and the kollel in 2014, the yeshiva is still active, publishing ''sefarim'' related to Baranovich as well as running Judaica auctions. Rabbi Mordechai Lasker, a student of Wasserman in Europe, founded a neighborhood in
Bnei Brak Bnei Brak ( ) or Bene Beraq, is a city located on the central Mediterranean Sea, Mediterranean Israeli coastal plain, coastal plain in Israel, just east of Tel Aviv. A center of Haredi Judaism, Bnei Brak covers an area of 709 hectares (1,752 acre ...
called Ramat Elchonon, named after his ''rebbi''.


Prominent alumni

* Rabbi
Simcha Sheps Simcha Avraham Sheps (April 18, 1908 – November 5, 1998) was an American Orthodox rabbi. He served as rosh yeshiva (dean) of Yeshiva Torah Vodaas. Early life Simcha Sheps was born to Simon Sheps in Wysokie Mazowieckie, Russian Empire (cu ...
* Rabbi
Moshe Shmuel Shapiro Moshe Shmuel Shapiro (; 1917–2006) was a rosh yeshiva (dean of a Jewish seminary). Early life and education Shapiro was born in the Minsk, Belarus. In 1937 he moved to Palestine. In Israel In Israel, Shapiro attended Yeshivas Lomza in Petah ...
* Rabbi
Aryeh Leib Baron Rabbi Aryeh Leib Baron (; March 2, 1912 – October 3, 2011) was a Russian-born Canadian Haredi Jewish rabbi and ''rosh yeshiva'' (dean) of Yeshiva Merkaz HaTorah and the rabbi of Beis Medrash Merkaz HaTalmud in Montréal, Canada, as well ...
* Rabbi Jacob Symanowitz * Rabbi
Leib Gurwicz Aryeh Ze'ev (Leib) Gurwicz (1906–20 October 1982) was an influential Orthodox rabbi and Talmudic scholar. He was the son-in-law of Rabbi Elyah Lopian and best known as Rosh Yeshiva of the Gateshead Yeshiva in Gateshead, England, where he taught ...
* Rabbi Nochum Partzovitz * Rabbi Baruch Sorotzkin *Rabbi
Yisrael Mendel Kaplan Israel or Yisrael Mendel Kaplan (April 14, 1913 – April 4, 1985), known as "Reb Mendel" was an American Orthodox Jewish rabbi and author. He was best known as a teacher in the Hebrew Theological College of Chicago and the Talmudical Yeshiva o ...
*Rabbi Shmuel Berenbaum


References


Sources

* * * * * {{coord, display=title Yeshivas of Belarus Jewish Belarusian history Orthodox Judaism in Belarus Jews and Judaism in the Russian Empire Orthodox yeshivas in Europe Educational institutions established in 1906 Pre–World War II European yeshivas Novardok Yeshiva 1906 establishments in the Russian Empire Universities and colleges in the Second Polish Republic Baranavichy