ORIGINS
In 1988 Rabbi Green and a close group of colleagues envisioned building a home for pure Torah learning and living – a place where Jews would help each other in every way to take full advantage of their precious time in this world. This sense of urgency, gratitude, and responsibility would extend not only to those among whom they lived and worked, but also, ideally, to every single person with whom they came into contact, no matter how brief that contact might be. Soon, B”H, that vision materialized into Yeshivas Bircas HaTorah, a small gem of Torah, chessed, and ma’asim tovim, located in the old city of Jerusalem.
REALIZING A DREAM
In time, men from many countries and all walks of life — stockbrokers, doctors, attorneys, artists, and thousands of new and experienced students of all ages and Jewish backgrounds — were drawn to the Yeshiva. YBHT became widely known as a makom with no agenda other than to understand and live G-d’s Torah as truthfully as possible. The Gemara and other sefarim haKedoshim, which for many had been merely closed books of arcane wisdom, came to life through the Rosh Yeshiva’s unique methodology of learning, his overflowing love of the Torah and his clarity about its centrality in the life of every Jew. At the same time, a warm and caring community emerged among the yeshiva families and bachurim, supporting and drawing strength from the yeshiva.
A CHANGE OF LEADERSHIP
“Any Rosh Yeshiva who can’t leave his yeshiva is not a Rosh Yeshiva.” With these words, Rabbi Green handed over the reigns of Bircas HaTorah to his two prized talmidim. With Rabbi Nissim Tagger as Rosh Yeshiva and Rabbi Asher Baruch Wegbreit as Mashgiach Ruchani, the yeshiva radiates energy and inspiration
TOUCHING JEWS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD
Soon, the secret was out, and the excitement radiated from the Old City towards Los Angeles, Atlanta, Scarsdale and Johannesburg. The Yeshiva found itself happily struggling to meet the needs of visitors who came from afar, and who wanted to bring their learning and experiences home with them. Over the past two decades, through special seminars, long distance phone learning, and Shabbatons, the Yeshiva has grown far beyond the walls of Yerushalayim, offering high-level Torah training and inspiration to talmidim and communities around the world.
Bircas HaTorah, a place for mature students who have come for a day or ten years to learn, and home to a vibrant Shana Alef program for post-high school students, has reached its maximum capacity and outgrown its current beis medrash. In Hashem’s infinite kindness, the yeshiva was able to purchase the building adjacent to our beis medrash. The new building, which faces the entrance to the Jewish Quarter, will double the size of our spiritual center, our home, and greet each Jew that passes on the way to the Kosel. This is a cause for celebration, and a wonderful opportunity for our friends to help us grow, and share in the many gifts Bircas HaTorah has to offer.
THE TORAH’S VIEW ON SUPPORTING LEARNING
A LETTER FROM RAV SHACH ZT”L:
“If a man helps others learn Torah, he too will be granted the privilege of knowing Torah in the world-to-come, even if he did not learn in this world. It is included in his reward for Torah, since the great pleasures of the world-to-come are in knowing Torah.” Rav Yochanan came and said: “…Zevulun will have an equal share in Yissachar’s Torah because he sustains him.” According to Rashi, Hashem honors the person who supports Torah more than the Torah scholar himself. That is why the Torah mentions Zevulun, the tribe engaged in commerce and used its profits to support the Torah learning of Yissachar, before it mentions Yissachar. Indeed, the Gemorah explains the commandment to “draw close” to Hashem [Devarim 11:22] as “to draw close to Torah scholars by supporting them and giving them a means of livelihood.” [Kesubos 111b] This exalted level of being close to Hashem Yisborach through financially supporting the learning of Torah is achieved, as all great accomplishments must be, through the difficult challenge one’s natural urges. In this case, everyone has an innate inclination to use his hard-earned money exclusively on himself and his own family. The sages call those who succeed in overcoming that inclination, “strong and valiant ones who obey His word.” [Midrash Rabbah on Vayikra 1:1]
As a community here and all over the world, we are blessed to have Bircas HaTorah. Please help us bring the yeshiva to the next level, share in our successes, and please come visit and learn with us soon.
THE DREAM OF GERSHON BURD ZT”L
Gershon Burd zt”l’s entire being was Yeshivas Bircas HaTorah. He spent countless hours emailing alumni, doing incredible acts of chesed, learning in the yeshiva, asking and answering deep halachic questions, in addition to his responsibilities as husband and father of five young children.
Ironically, as the yeshiva’s Executive Director, Gershon worked tirelessly to raise money for this new building without any inkling that it would prominently bear his name. His vision was to build upon the foundation laid by Rabbis Green and Tagger, to increase Bircas HaTorah’s visibility and reputation, and to spread Hashem’s Torah throughout the world.
In the merit of all that Gershon did to shine Hashem’s Light so brightly in this world, may the new Gershon Burd Building be a tremendous Kiddush Hashem and aliyas neshama for Gershon Binyamin ben Eliezer.
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