Oholei Torah

Oholei Torah - Oholei Menachem institutions, located in Crown Heights, were established according to the Rebbe's instructions in 1955. The institutions include yeshivas, cheder, and kindergartens with over 3,000 students. oholei Torah is the largest Chabad educational institution in the world.

History of the Yeshiva

Following the Rebbe's requirement for pure Torah studies without secular subjects, and since existing institutions in Crown Heights were reluctant to accept teachers of the old style like Rabbi Eliyahu Chaim Roitblatt, in 1957 Rabbi Michael Teitelbaum together with his friend Rabbi Menachem Mendel Marozov opened the yeshiva focusing purely on Torah studies as it was in the "old home."

The name "Oholei Torah," or more precisely "Oholei Torah Educational Institution," was given with the Rebbe's approval. The Rebbe directed that it be called an "educational institution" rather than a yeshiva, and specified that it would report directly to “Merkaz Linyonei chinuch" under Rabbi Hodakov's leadership, not under the general Tomchei Tmimim administration led by Rabbi Shmaryahu Gurary (Rashag). The chosen name ("educational institution") proved providential, as when government authorities annually reviewed schools and yeshivas for compliance, oholei Torah didn't appear on any list since it wasn't called a school or yeshiva.

The Rebbe's Relationship with the Institution

The institution received special attention from the Rebbe from its founding, who called it "my yeshiva." For an extended period, Rabbi Hodakov, the Rebbe's chief secretary, held regular meetings with the yeshiva administration.

The Rebbe wrote special blessing letters for the yeshiva's annual dinner participants.

Rabbi Teitelbaum wanted to change the yeshiva's name to "oholei Menachem" but the Rebbe said the time hadn't come yet. In 1995, Rabbi Teitelbaum added the name oholei Menachem, and since then it's been called "oholei Torah oholei Menachem."

Development and Structure

Today, oholei Torah includes several institutions: kindergartens, a cheder focused purely on Torah education, and both smaller and larger yeshivas.

The main building is located at Eastern Parkway and Brooklyn Avenue near 770, in a large building formerly belonging to Crown Heights' Conservative temple. Another building at Montgomery and Troy streets previously housed the larger yeshiva and later the smaller yeshiva headed by Rabbi Zusha Wilhelm until shortly before his passing in 2022. For the 2022 academic year, the smaller yeshiva moved to a new building outside Crown Heights, and currently eighth-grade students study in the building. Additionally, kindergartens are spread throughout the neighborhood.

Rabbi Yosef Rosenfeld served as administrator of the institutions' physical operations (until his passing in 2022), alongside the spiritual administration established by Rabbi Teitelbaum, who appointed Rabbi Nachman Shapiro as responsible for this aspect.

Educational Approach

Despite its enormous size, oholei Torah maintains its original tradition of addressing each student's individual needs. Many Chabad emissaries worldwide are graduates of oholei Torah educational institutions.

The institution includes an event hall for weddings near 770 and dormitory facilities for students.

The Cheder and Kindergartens

The oholei Torah oholei Menachem Cheder was founded in 1955 by a group of parents who wanted their children to study Torah without secular subjects, following the Rebbe's talk stating that every Jewish child should study only Torah subjects without mixing in secular studies.

The institution began with only three children but over the years became central to the Lubavitcher education system, making oholei Torah Cheder the largest and central cheder in the neighborhood. Today it has over 800 students studying in spacious classrooms in an impressive large building.

The Yeshiva Committee

Per the Rebbe's instructions, Rabbi David Shlomo Deutsch became a partner in oholei Torah Yeshiva, and together with his wife Sarah they were considered the "father" and "mother" of the institution.

Current committee members include:

• Rabbi Eliezer Teitelbaum (who joined following his father Rabbi Michael Teitelbaum's passing)
• Rabbi Shmuel Brook
• Rabbi Shalom Dovber Rosenfeld
• Rabbi Zalman Chein
• Rabbi Shalom Rivkin
• Rabbi Menachem Mendel Blau - Spiritual Director of the institutions