Yam HaTorah held its Open House on November 27, showcasing its message of actualizing every student’s success and how that is implemented on a daily basis — leaving the attending parents truly impressed.
Rabbi Eliezer Feuer, the mara d’asra of the Young Israel of Bayswater, opened the evening, describing the beauty of the mesivta as someone who sees the inner working on a daily basis. The hanhalah’s care and concern for each talmid allows the students to get to know their strengths and themselves. The mesivta works on building the person from the inside and working off fundamentals to ensure a lasting internal commitment that is unfortunately often lacking. Rabbi Feuer exclaimed how it is beautiful to see the close interaction between the rebbeim and talmidim.
Rabbi Avram Pollak, the menahel, passionately spoke about the mission of the mesivta to actualize the success of its talmidim through relationship building, getting students to believe in themselves, and actually pushing students to strive beyond their comfort zone to master the material they are learning. Rabbi Pollak excitedly told over what had just occurred in two shiurim. Both shiurim recently completed a mastery program in which every boy presented a unit of Gemara, Rashi, and Tosafos in front of the class, parents, and principals. Each student had to explain and defend what he was teaching. Most of the students said that they had never experienced learning to that level, and when it was over, there was an overwhelming sense of accomplishment in the school. Rabbi Pollak professed, “For a parent, rebbe, or principal, when students master and accomplish and are proud of their accomplishments, there is no greater nachas!”
The s’gan menahel, Rabbi Gamliel LaBrie, focused on the mesivta’s belief system of the most ideal method of bringing about long-term commitment and lasting growth. We all want our kids to be principled and have lasting commitment to avodas Hashem; however, this only comes from one’s own personal choice. A person has a mind and neshamah that can understand and internalize the loftiest concepts and refined perspectives, no matter how undeveloped. Chinuch isn’t about regulating a student’s decisions and choices for the desired outcome, but to nurture an appreciation and understanding that resonates within the person and then it will enable a lasting commitment.
Rabbi Nachum Dinowitz, the general-studies principal, talked directly to the students in attendance about the delicate balance that they were going to need to strike between a rich and healthy social and emotional life and the academic rigors needed to succeed in high school. The staff at Yam HaTorah is dedicated to helping each and every student find his own personal balance and make the right choices to achieve success.
Following the presentations, the administration answered questions and prospective parents were invited to a “gallery walk,” where they could talk to current MYHT parents, individual rebbeim, and teachers regarding the framework of the classrooms and assignments.
The night was informative and eye-opening for both parents and students. For more information, to apply, or to schedule an interview, please visit YamHaTorah.org or call the office directly at 718-471-7471.
