By Dena Udren
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| Bet El Yeshiva Beit Midrash (Study Hall) |
The incoming class at the Bet El Yeshiva boasts 70 students, which is the largest class ever in the history of Yeshivat Bet El. Why is it that this year’s class is so large? We spoke to Rabbi Shlomie Rosenthal, one of the rabbis at the yeshiva, to find out why. He pointed to three possible reasons.
First, the level of Torah learning at the yeshiva has surpassed the previous high standards and continues to set the bar of excellent Torah learning. The yeshiva has hired more rabbis this year to meet the demand of more students, and the increase in staff has also enhanced the high level of Torah studies at the yeshiva.
Second, Rabbi Shlomie believes that in addition to the high level of Torah learning, there is high morale amongst the students due to the joy that comes from immersing oneself wholeheartedly in learning Torah. It is this unbridled joy that a visitor can sense when he sees the smiles on the faces of those who are basking in the light of the intensity of their Torah studies. And this special simcha (joy) surely impresses prospective newcomers when they come to visit.
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| Learning Torah in the Beit Midrash |
And finally, according to Rabbi Shlomie, the yeshiva is able to be both traditional and modern at the same time. Its dedication to tradition is evident in its investment in thousands of Torah books and the highest quality staff to teach the students. At the same time, the students benefit from learning in a brand-new, gorgeous, spacious beit midrash (study hall) equipped with a closed Wifi system that connects each student’s computer with an extensive, state-of-the-art digital Torah library. In other words, the Bet El Yeshiva accomplishes something truly remarkable: a commitment to our sacred heritage AND an embrace of the modern future.
Has the yeshiva been able to accommodate all of the new students? Thankfully, the new beit midrash is large enough to accommodate all of the new students, but the dining hall and dormitories are both sorely lacking space. Whereas in the past, each dormitory room housed four young men, today each room has between five and six students. And when there are guests to the yeshiva for Shabbat, some of the boys must eat their meals in spare classrooms instead of in the dining hall with everyone else.
The yeshiva administration is already in the process of finalizing plans and hiring a contractor to build a new dormitory for the single students in the near future, as well as a new dining hall that will accommodate the yeshiva’s growing numbers. In addition, there is a new staff and married student-housing apartment building that is currently under construction and will contain 20 new apartment units.
We would like to wish the young Torah scholars at the Bet El Yeshiva much success in their studies this year!