Local Competition: New Yeshiva at Columbia

What does Columbia University have in common with our own venerable College - other than our sharing the pages of the "US News Top 50"? Both institutions now afford students the opportunity to learn in a yeshiva, while simultaneously pursuing their secular education.

Yeshivat Chovevei Torah was founded this past September to provide for the learning needs of the increasing numbers of observant students at Columbia. Rabbis Avi Weiss and Dov Lindzer are the Dean and Rosh HaYeshiva respectively for this new oasis of Torah situated at Congregation Ramath Orah on 110th St.. "There was a sense that Columbia and Barnard students needed a yeshiva in the area to satisfy the needs of the large Orthodox population," says Magid Shiur, Rabbi Dov Weiss. "Our goal was to create a makom Torah."

The Yeshiva offers Chumash, Gemara, and Halacha shiurim for women, and multi-level Gemara classes for men, with a co-ed Parsha shiur once a week. The classes have been well attended, with about fifty students and four kollel members present on a daily basis.

In addition to the rewards of studying Torah, each member of the Yeshiva receives a monthly stipend based on consistent attendance. While the extra cash may not be what is drawing such a crowd, Weiss explains, "It does function to motivate oneself to feel an obligation to attend shiurim regularly." The Hebrew Institute of Riverdale has provided the funding for the thousand-plus seforim and Bar-Ilan computer software, in addition to providing the monthly stipends.

Ari Hakimi, President of Orthodox Jews on Campus at Columbia is ecstatic over the success of the program. "It has enabled us to elevate the level of learning to what was once only thought to be attainable at a university with a duel curriculum," exclaims Hakimi.

Though there are many Columbia students committed to regular learning schedules outside the Yeshiva program, one such student "could not help but notice the definite increase in serious learning on Columbia's campus on account of the new yeshiva."

Responses from Yeshiva University students have come with mixed reactions. SCW student Ellie London passionately extols that "If the Barnard girls were serious about continuing their learning they would have come to Stern, but I guess this is better than nothing." Elija Kaplan, a Yeshiva University student, is very content with the program. He believes that after their work in the Columbia Kollel, "female and male students will equally actualize their dream of becoming a Rabbi."

Rabbi Weiss believes that "there should be a yeshiva program at every university" and through this we will see the "tremendous strengthening of Orthodoxy in America."