Yeshiva For Frum, Baalei Teshuva

By Yehuda Sugar

Yeshiva Temimei Darech, once an exclusively baalei teshuva yeshiva and the only one of its kind in northern Israel, proudly graduated nine new smicha grads this year in an environment that mixes baalei teshuva with seasoned bochurim for the betterment of both.

Frum from birth students are drawn to the Safed yeshiva’s general and smicha programs, where they can offer their experience edge while being positively influenced by the discovery process and excitement of the baalei teshuva enrollees.

“This is a very unique balance between lifers and rising beginners-baalei teshuva,” said Rosh Yeshiva Rabbi Ariel Gorenstein, who leads the ordination program. “It is a unique opportunity for the lifers to be with the newbies and for the newbies to be with the more experienced.”

Gorenstein joined yeshiva director, Rabbi Shalom Pasternak, to open the doors of the yeshiva, the only one catering to English-speaking baalei teshuva in northern Israel, nearly 10 years ago when both were 32.

Since then, they have grown steadily, with an enrollment over the past year hovering between 25 and 30, up from their original roster of one student on opening day in 2009.

Zohar Goldstein, 20, now Rabbi Zohar Goldstein, one of nine students to receive ordination this year of some 23 who have earned the distinction over the 3-year duration of the smicha program, is a classic example of the yeshiva’s new direction.

“This yeshiva has helped me grow tremendously in ways I didn’t expect,” said Goldstein, who grew up in the Toronto Chabad community, where he went through the system all the way to yeshiva. “I came here expecting to inspire the less experienced guys and they ended up inspiring me more.”

Amid the shuffle of the looming end of the zman after Shacharis Wednesday morning, Gorenstein and Pasternak took a moment to proudly display on their phones pictures and a video of the latest flock of new rabbis, taking time to name each one.

They are: Rabbis Shamai Gozlan, Yosef Yitzchok Moaty, Dani Matilsky, Berel Borisute, Moshe Benarush, Zohar Goldstein, Ariel Margulies, Zev Naditch and Yair Tulchinsky. The students are tested and ordained by Rabbi Yitzchok Yehuda Yaroslavski of Kiryat Malachi.

The yeshiva has benefited from the fire and energy of the two rabbis, both of whom got started at the same time in life as many of their charges, in their 20s, in full-tilt Judaism.

Gorenstein grew up in a traditional home in Chicago, and under the tutelage of Rabbi Meir Chai Benhiyoun, Shliach in downtown Chicago, became a Chabad Chassid, further blossoming while a student for 15 months at Yeshiva Tiferes Menachem in Seagate, NY. He later would sit in kollel in Rechovot, Israel, to earn his smicha certificate in the esteemed Heichal Shlomo program at Kolel Ohr Yakov, giving him a fitting credential to be Temimei Darech’s Rosh Yeshiva and smicha program director.

Pasternak, a more classic baal teshuva, was brought to Torah and mitzvot under the guidance of Chabad of Portland after an initial exposure to Jewish observance while attending Vassar College as a philosophy major. His background and temperament are just right for his role as yeshiva director and expounder of fiery Chassidus — although both rabbis wear both the nigleh and nistar hats.

Pasternak pondered for a moment on how to cap off the conversation, and then in true form as the main marketing agent of the yeshiva, said in reference to the yeshiva’s location across the valley from the community of Biriya, where Rabbi Yosef Caro completed the Shulchan Aruch in the 16th Century: “The yeshiva has become among other things a serious destination for smicha and it’s the only place you can get it with a view of the Beis Yosef.”

To sign up for the smicha program, this upcoming year beginning Oct. 10/Tishrei 30, or for general information about the yeshiva program, which begins Aug. 13/Elul 2, email [email protected], call +972-52-532-6717 or visit thewayinside.org