After several years of negotiations, Yeshivas Bais Toras Menachem of Los Angeles and ORT-College of Los Angeles are joining forces in an educational endeavor.
Students will study toward an associate’s degree in business management in the afternoon, while learning toward semicha – with chassidus and nigleh hashkafos – in the morning. Classes will be for men only, and the calendar will follow that of the yeshiva. There will be a break for Pesach along with a standard summer recess. Students will be able to complete both programs in two years.
“There is a critical need for yeshivos to adequately equip bachurim for marriage – which includes semicha and job skills – [in order for them] to be future husbands and breadwinners,” said Rivky Katz, Bais Toras Menachem co-founder.
As in previous years, the semicha shiur will be taught by Rabbi Levi Chazan, and the testing will be conducted by Rabbi Elchonen Tauber, rav and dayan of K’hal Bais Yehuda of Los-Angeles. This is consistent with the Rebbe’s hora’ah of every bachur learning semicha, so that he will be well versed in practical halacha in order to guide his family.
The uniqueness in the new program will be the synthesis of the aforementioned with the practical program opportunity offered by ORT-College of Los Angeles. As said by Fred Keivanfar, director of Admissions and Finance at ORT: “To enable our Orthodox young men to earn a respectable parnassah to support their families is a tremendous mitzvah, without which a Jewish home cannot function.”
The dual-track college program is designed to accommodate students based on their academic skills. Students in track one will study for their 65-credit-hour associate’s degree in business management. Students in track two will study for a 32-credit-hour diploma in accounting, along with studying for their GED and furthering their English and Math skills.
“The evening class structure also provides an excellent opportunity for yungerleit to achieve a degree while working without having to enroll in a secular college,” said Rabbi Mordechai Katz, dean of Bais Toras Menachem.
“This agreement is truly remarkable in so many respects,” said Rabbi Levi Bennish, director of Bais Toras Menachem. “We greatly appreciate the dedication of ORT-College, headed by Mr. Joseph Neman, who in addition to making this program possible has also ensured affordable tuition for our students.”
For more information or to apply for the first semester beginning on October 1, please e-mail [email protected] or call 323-936-5226.