Yeshiva Torah Vodaas (or Yeshiva and Mesivta Torah Vodaath or Yeshiva Torah Vodaath or Torah Vodaath Rabbinical Seminary) is a ''

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 the

Flatbush Flatbush is a neighborhood in the New York City Borough (New York City), borough of Brooklyn. The neighborhood consists of several subsections in central Brooklyn and is generally bounded by Prospect Park (Brooklyn), Prospect Park to the nort ...

neighborhood of

Brooklyn Brooklyn is a Boroughs of New York City, borough of New York City located at the westernmost end of Long Island in the New York (state), State of New York. Formerly an independent city, the borough is coextensive with Kings County, one of twelv ...

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York New York may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * ...

History

The yeshiva was conceived in 1917 and formally opened in 1918, by

Binyomin Wilhelm Binyomin Wilhelm (1886–1972) was a founder of Yeshiva Torah Vodaas. Biography Born in Lodz, Poland, Binyomin was the oldest son of a Radoshitzer chassidic family. His mother died when he was eight years old, and he left Europe by himself in 1 ...

and Louis Dershowitz, to provide a

education to the children of families then moving from the

Lower East Side The Lower East Side, sometimes abbreviated as LES, is a historic neighborhood in the southeastern part of Manhattan in New York City. It is located roughly between the Bowery and the East River from Canal to Houston streets. Historically, it w ...

to the

Williamsburg Williamsburg may refer to: Places *Colonial Williamsburg, a living-history museum and private foundation in Virginia *Williamsburg, Brooklyn, neighborhood in New York City *Williamsburg, former name of Kernville (former town), California *Williams ...

section of

. The two friends and Rabbi Zev Gold of the local Congregation Beth Jacob Anshe Sholom formed a board and established the yeshiva on Keap Street in Williamsburg as an elementary school. The yeshiva later moved to a new building at 206 Wilson Street and remained there until 1967, while the elementary school remained at 206 Wilson St. until 1974 when it moved to East 9th Street in Brooklyn. The school was named after a yeshiva founded in

Lida Lida is a city in Grodno Region, western Belarus, located west of Minsk. It serves as the administrative center of Lida District. As of 2025, it has a population of 103,262. Etymology The name ''Lida'' arises from its Lithuanian name ''Ly ...

in 1905 by Rabbi

Yitzchak Yaacov Reines Yitzchak Yaacov Reines (, Isaac Jacob Reines), (October 27, 1839 – August 20, 1915) was a Lithuanian Orthodox rabbi and the founder of the Mizrachi Religious Zionist Movement, one of the earliest movements of Religious Zionism, as well as ...

, which combined secular studies with Jewish studies and traditional

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 ...

study. During this period the yeshiva was modeled after those in Europe, with religious studies taught in Yiddish and Talmud taught in the style of the European yeshivas.

Shraga Feivel Mendlowitz Shraga Feivel Mendlowitz (1886 – 7 September 1948) was a leader of American Orthodox Judaism and founder of institutions including Torah U'Mesorah, an outreach and educational organization. In 1921 he became principal of Yeshiva Torah Vodaath ...

headed the yeshiva from 1922 to 1948. A

mesivta ''Metivta'' (also mesivta; Aramaic language, Aramaic: מתיבתא, "academy") is an Orthodox Judaism, Orthodox Jewish yeshiva secondary school for boys. The term is commonly used in the United States to describe a yeshiva that emphasizes Talmudi ...

(yeshiva high school) was opened in 1926 and later a rabbinical seminary ( yeshiva gedolah). Rabbi

Dovid Leibowitz Dovid Leibowitz (May 15, 1887 – December 4, 1941) was a Russian-born American rabbi. A disciple of Slabodka yeshiva in Lithuania, he went on to found Yeshivas Chofetz Chaim in the United States, where he served as rosh yeshiva (dean). Early l ...

, a torah scholar from Europe, headed the yeshiva's ''

beit midrash 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 ...

'' (study hall) from 1929 but left after four years to start his own yeshiva (

Yeshivas Chofetz Chaim Yeshivas Chofetz Chaim (also known as the Rabbinical Seminary of America) is an Orthodox yeshiva based in Kew Gardens Hills, Queens, New York, United States. It is primarily an American, non-chasidic Haredi Talmudic yeshiva. The yeshiva is lega ...

) after conflicts with Mendlowitz. Two years later, in 1935, Rabbi Shlomo Heiman became ''

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 ...

'' (head of the yeshiva), a position he held until his death in 1944. After Mendlowitz died in 1948, rabbis

Yaakov Kamenetzky Yaakov Kamenetsky (February 28, 1891 – March 10, 1986), was a prominent rabbi, rosh yeshiva, ''posek'' and Talmudist in the post-World War II American Jewish community. Biography Yaakov Kamenetsky was born at a folwark called Kalyskovka owned ...

and

Refael Reuvain Grozovsky Refael Reuvain Grozovsky (; 1886, Minsk, Belarus – 1958, United States) was a leading Orthodox rabbi, Jewish religious leader and rosh yeshiva ("dean") known for his Talmudic analytical style. Early years He was the son of Rabbi Shimshon Groz ...

became roshei yeshiva. The yeshiva has since expanded to include a ''beit midrash'' in Monsey, an elementary school division in nearby

Marine Park A marine park is a designated park consisting of an area of sea (or lake) set aside to achieve ecological sustainability, promote marine awareness and understanding, enable marine recreational activities, and provide benefits for Indigenous peo ...

, and two summer camps. The student body from nursery to postgraduate ''

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 ...

'', numbered nearly 2,000 students in 2012.

Philosophy

"''

Torah im Derech Eretz ''Torah im Derech Eretz'' ( – Torah with "the way of the land"Rabbi Y. Goldson, Aish HaTorah"The Way of the World", Ethics of the Fathers, 3:21/ref>) is a phrase common in Rabbinic literature referring to various aspects of one's interaction w ...

''" historically influenced the yeshiva's philosophy, but today it is strongly influenced by the

Haredi Haredi Judaism (, ) is a branch of Orthodox Judaism that is characterized by its strict interpretation of religious sources and its accepted (Jewish law) and traditions, in opposition to more accommodating values and practices. Its members are ...

philosophy. However, Torah Vodaath is one of the many major haredi yeshivas that allow its students to attend college while studying at the yeshiva. The great majority of the yeshiva's graduates go on to work in fields that are not related to the Torah education that they received in yeshiva.

''Roshei Yeshiva''

The three ''

roshei yeshiva Rosh yeshiva or Rosh Hayeshiva (, 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 the Torah ...

'' as of 2018 were rabbis Yisroel Reisman, Yosef Savitsky, and

Yitzchok Lichtenstein Yitzchok (Yitzchak) Lichtenstein (Hebrew: יצחק אבא ליכטנשטיין; born December 1962) is an Israeli-American Orthodox rabbi who is a co-rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Torah Vodaas located in Brooklyn, New York and the former '' Mara d'asra' ...

. The previous ''

'' include rabbis

Yisroel Belsky Chaim Yisroel HaLevi Belsky (August 22, 1938 – January 28, 2016) was an American rabbi and posek of Orthodox and Haredi Judaism. He was one of the roshei yeshiva (deans) at Yeshiva Torah Vodaas, and rabbi of the summer camp network run by Agudat ...

, Avraham Yaakov Pam,

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 ...

Yaakov Kamenetsky Yaakov Kamenetsky (February 28, 1891 – March 10, 1986), was a prominent rabbi, rosh yeshiva, ''posek'' and Talmudist in the post-World War II American Jewish community. Biography Yaakov Kamenetsky was born at a folwark called Kalyskovka owned ...

Shachne Zohn Rabbi Sholom Shachne Zohn (; 1910–2012) was a former dean of the Yeshiva Torah Vodaas, who later lived in Jerusalem, Israel. Biography Shachne was born near Medzhybizh. When he was a young child, he moved with his family to the United State ...

Zelik Epstein Zelik Epstein, also known as Zelig Epstein (full name Aharon Zelig Epstein) (July 10, 1914 – August 3, 2009), was a prominent Orthodox rabbi and rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Shaar HaTorah-Grodno, a private Talmudical institution in Kew Garden ...

, Gedalia Schorr, Elya Chazan, Reuvain Fein, Simcha Sheps,

Moshe Rosen (Nezer HaKodesh) Moshe Rosen (1870 – 12 October 1957), known by the name of his magnum opus, ''Nezer HaKodesh'' on Kodashim, was a Polish Orthodox rabbi who befriended the Chazon Ish while serving as a rabbi in Lithuania and later became a well respected ...

, and

Reuvain Grozovsky Refael Reuvain Grozovsky (; 1886, Minsk, Belarus – 1958, United States) was a leading Orthodox rabbi, Jewish religious leader and rosh yeshiva ("dean") known for his Talmudic analytical style. Early years He was the son of Rabbi Shimshon Grozo ...

Notable alumni

* Milton Balkany, Republican political activist and fundraiser *Professor Joseph M. Baumgarten,

Dead Sea Scrolls The Dead Sea Scrolls, also called the Qumran Caves Scrolls, are a set of List of Hebrew Bible manuscripts, ancient Jewish manuscripts from the Second Temple period (516 BCE – 70 CE). They were discovered over a period of ten years, between ...

scholar *Rabbi

Saul Berman Saul J. Berman (born April 30, 1939) is an American scholar and Modern Orthodox rabbi. Berman was ordained at Yeshiva University, from which he also received his B.A. and his M.H.L. He completed a degree in law, a J.D., at New York University ...

, American scholar and Modern Orthodox rabbi *Rabbi Professor Benjamin Blech, Professor of Talmud at

Yeshiva University Yeshiva University is a Private university, private Modern Orthodox Judaism, Orthodox Jewish university with four campuses in New York City.

*Rabbi

J. David Bleich Judah David Bleich (born August 24, 1936) is an American Haredi rabbi and professor known for his expertise in Jewish law, ethics, and bioethics. He serves as a professor of Talmud (rosh yeshiva) at the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary ...

, Rosh Yeshiva in

Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (RIETS ) is the rabbinical seminary of Yeshiva University (YU). It is located along Amsterdam Avenue in the Washington Heights neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City. Named after Yitzchak Elchanan S ...

Yeshiva University Yeshiva University is a Private university, private Modern Orthodox Judaism, Orthodox Jewish university with four campuses in New York City.

*Rabbi

Shlomo Carlebach Shlomo Carlebach (; January 14, 1925 – October 20, 1994), known as Reb Shlomo to his followers, was an American rabbi and musician nicknamed "the Singing Rabbi". Although his roots lay in traditional Orthodox yeshivot, he branched out to c ...

, composer, singer, spiritual leader, pioneer of the

Baal teshuva movement In Judaism, a ''ba'al teshuvah'' (; for a woman, , or ; plural, , , 'owner of return God or his way]') is a Jew who adopts some form of traditional religious observance after having previously followed a Jewish secularism, secular lifestyle or ...

Noach Dear Noach Dear (November 20, 1953 – April 19, 2020) was an American attorney, politician, and jurist who served as a New York Supreme Court judge. Dear was elected in 2008 as a civil court judge, in 2010 as an Acting Supreme Court Justice, an ...

(1953–2020),

New York Supreme Court The Supreme Court of the State of New York is the superior court in the Judiciary of New York. It is vested with unlimited civil and criminal jurisdiction, although in many counties outside New York City it acts primarily as a court of civil ju ...

Judge *Rabbi

Zvi Dershowitz Zvi Dershowitz (May 4, 1928 – March 26, 2023) was a Czech-born American rabbi whose tenure included 50 years serving Sinai Temple in Los Angeles. Early life Dershowitz was born in Brno, Czechoslovakia in 1928. In 1938, just 33 days before ...

, Conservative rabbi * David G. Greenfield, politician and Chair of New York City Council's Land Use Committee from 2013-2017 *Rabbi Moshe Heinemann, Rabbinical Supervisor , Star-K and Rav of Agudas Yisroel of Baltimore *Rabbi

Levi Yitzchak Horowitz Levi Yitzchak HaLevi Horowitz (born 3 July 1921, Boston, died 5 December 2009, Jerusalem) was a rabbi and the second rebbe of the Boston (Hasidic dynasty), Boston Hasidic Dynasty founded by his father, Pinchos Dovid Horowitz. He was the first Amer ...

, the Bostoner Rebbe * Rabbi

Yakov Horowitz Rabbi Yakov Horowitz is an Orthodox rabbi, author, educator and advocate from Monsey, New York. Early life Horowitz was born to Shloime and Beile Horowitz. His father died when he was three years old. He was raised in a Haredi family in Belle Ha ...

, educator and child safety advocate *Rabbi

Shmuel Kamenetsky Shmuel Kamenetsky (born November 12, 1924) is an American Haredi rabbi. He is the co-founder and rosh yeshiva (dean) of the Talmudical Yeshiva of Philadelphia. He is also a member of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah (Council of Torah Sages). Early ...

, Rosh Yeshiva of the

Talmudical Yeshiva of Philadelphia The Talmudical Yeshiva of Philadelphia () is a Haredi Litvish yeshiva in the Overbrook neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Its heads of school are Rabbi Shmuel Kamenetsky, Rabbi Shimon Yehudah Svei and Rabbi Sholom Kaminetsky. Histo ...

*Rabbi

Aryeh Kaplan Aryeh Moshe Eliyahu Kaplan (; October 23, 1934 – January 28, 1983) was an American Orthodox Judaism, Orthodox rabbi, author, and translator best known for his The Living Torah and Nach, Living Torah edition of the Torah and extensive Kabbalah, ...

, rabbi, Jewish thinker and author of over 40 works. *Rabbi

Sholom Klass ''The Jewish Press'' is an American weekly newspaper based in Brooklyn, New York City. It serves the Modern Orthodox Jewish community. History The ''Jewish Press'' was co-founded in 1960 by Albert Klass and his brother Sholom Klass. The Klas ...

, rabbi, publisher of

The Jewish Press ''The Jewish Press'' is an American weekly newspaper based in Brooklyn, New York City. It serves the Modern Orthodox Jewish community. History The ''Jewish Press'' was co-founded in 1960 by Albert Klass and his brother Sholom Klass. The Klas ...

*Professor David Kranzler historian of Rescue by Jews during the Holocaust *Rabbi Dr.

Norman Lamm Norman Lamm (December 19, 1927 – May 31, 2020) was an American Modern Orthodox rabbi, scholar, academic administrator, author, and Jewish community leader. He was the Chancellor of Yeshiva University until he announced his retirement on July ...

, rabbi, chancellor of

Yeshiva University Yeshiva University is a Private university, private Modern Orthodox Judaism, Orthodox Jewish university with four campuses in New York City.

*Rabbi Bernard Levy, rabbi, head of OK Labs *Rabbi Yerucham Olshin, a Rosh Yeshiva of

Beth Medrash Govoha Beth Medrash Govoha (, pronounced: ''Beis Medrash Gavo'ha''. lit: "High House of Learning"; also known as Lakewood Yeshiva or BMG) is a Haredi Jewish Litvishe ''yeshiva'' in Lakewood Township, New Jersey. It was founded by Rabbi Aharon Kotle ...

, Lakewood, New Jersey *Rabbi Avraham Yaakov Pam, later Rosh Yeshiva of the Yeshiva (see above) *Rabbi

Nesanel Quinn Nesanel Hakohen Quinn (1910 – 7 February 2005) was a Haredi Jewish rabbi and educator. He was connected with Yeshiva Torah Vodaas in Brooklyn, New York, for nearly 80 years, rising to ''menahel'' (director). Biography Quinn's parents, Zal ...

, later Menahel of the Yeshiva *Rabbi Yisroel Reisman, today Rosh Yeshiva of the Yeshiva, and Rabbi of Agudath Yisroel of Madison *Rabbi Sholom Rivkin,

chief rabbi Chief Rabbi () is a title given in several countries to the recognized religious leader of that country's Jewish community, or to a rabbinic leader appointed by the local secular authorities. Since 1911, through a capitulation by Ben-Zion Meir ...

St. Louis, Missouri St. Louis ( , sometimes referred to as St. Louis City, Saint Louis or STL) is an Independent city (United States), independent city in the U.S. state of Missouri. It lies near the confluence of the Mississippi River, Mississippi and the Miss ...

*Rabbi Zvi Aryeh Rosenfeld, Polish–American rabbi and educator associated with the

Breslov Breslov (also Bratslav and Breslev) is a branch of Hasidic Judaism founded by Nachman of Breslov (1772–1810), a great-grandson of the Baal Shem Tov, founder of Hasidism. Its adherents strive to develop an intense, joyous relationship with ...

Hasidic movement *Rabbi

Yitzchok Scheiner Rabbi Yitzchok Scheiner (; November 5, 1922 – January 31, 2021) was an Israeli–American rabbi who was the ''rosh yeshiva'' of the Kamenitz yeshiva of Jerusalem. Early life and education He was born in May 1922 in Pittsburgh to immigrants fr ...

, Rosh Yeshiva of the Kamenitz yeshiva of

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 ...

Ben Zion Shenker Ben Zion Shenker (1925–2016) was a world-renowned American Hasidic composer and hazzan (cantor), associated with the Modzitz hasidic dynasty. Shenker was born in the heyday of the American hazzan. He became interested in the art as a child, and ...

, renowned Hasidic composer and hazzan *Rabbi

Nosson Scherman Rabbi Nosson Scherman (, born 1935, Newark, New Jersey) is an American Haredi rabbi best known as the general editor of ArtScroll/Mesorah Publications. He is widely considered to be the father of modern-day English Torah literature. Early life ...

, rabbi, owner and general editor of

Artscroll ArtScroll is an imprint of translations, books and commentaries from an Orthodox Jewish perspective published by Mesorah Publications, Ltd., a publishing company based in Rahway, New Jersey. Rabbi Nosson Scherman is the general editor. ArtScro ...

*Rabbi Gedalia Schorr, later Rosh Yeshiva of the Yeshiva (see above) *

Gene Simmons Gene Simmons (born Chaim Witz; ; born August 25, 1949) also known by his stage persona "The Demon", is an Israeli-born American musician. He was the bassist and co-lead singer of the hard rock band Kiss (band), Kiss, which he co-founded wit ...

(Chaim Witz), aka The Demon, co-founder of the rock band

KISS A kiss is the touching or pressing of one's lips against another person, animal or object. Cultural connotations of kissing vary widely; depending on the culture and context, a kiss can express sentiments of love, passion, romance, sex ...

*Rabbi

Elya Svei Elya Svei (; March 19, 1924 (''Taanis Esther 5684'') – March 26, 2009 (''Rosh Chodesh Nisan 5769'')) was an American Haredi Judaism, Haredi Jewish rabbi and co-''rosh yeshiva'' (with Shmuel Kamenetsky) of the Talmudical Yeshiva of Philadelphia ...

, Rosh Yeshiva of the

*Rabbi

Yaakov Weinberg Shmuel Yaakov Weinberg, known as Yaakov Weinberg (also Jacob S. Weinberg) (1923 – July 1, 1999) was an Orthodox Jewish rabbi, Talmudist, and rosh yeshiva (dean) of Ner Israel Rabbinical College in Baltimore, Maryland, one of the major American ...

, Rosh Yeshiva of

Yeshivas Ner Yisroel Ner Israel Rabbinical College (ישיבת נר ישראל), also known as NIRC and Ner Yisroel, is a Haredi yeshiva (Jewish educational institution) in Pikesville, Maryland. It was founded in 1933 by Rabbi Yaakov Yitzchok Ruderman, a discipl ...

*Rabbi Dr.

Ephraim Wolf Ephraim Reuven Wolf (Hebrew: אפרים ראובן וולף; July 11, 1921 – March 6, 2004) was an American Orthodox Rabbi and spiritual leader. He was active in the founding and growth of many Jewish educational and communal institutions. Bi ...

, recruited for the Yeshiva, founding Rabbi of the Great Neck Synagogue and the North Shore Hebrew Academy *

Michael Wyschogrod Michael Wyschogrod (September 28, 1928 – December 17, 2015Goldman, David P. (December 18, 2015).Michael Wyschogrod, Dean of Orthodox Jewish Theologians, Dies at 87". ''Tablet''. tabletmag.com. Retrieved 2017-02-11.) was a Jewish German-Amer ...

, Jewish philosopher and theologian

References

External links

Official website
{{Coord, 40, 38, 17.56, N, 73, 58, 9.54, W, region:US-NY, display=title Educational institutions established in 1917 Jewish seminaries Mesivtas Torah Vodaas 1917 establishments in New York (state) Kensington, Brooklyn Yiddish culture in New York City