The mission of Beit Midrash Zichron Dov is to create a communal atmosphere of learning, engaging and inspiring the Jewish community of the Greater Toronto Area. We apply our Torah heritage to the daily lives of modern Jews in our home Beit Midrash at Yeshivat Or Chaim and in the synagogues, campuses and workplaces of the GTA.
Our Beit Midrash is named “Zichron Dov” in memory of Mr. Bill Rubinstein, of blessed memory, whose ideals are represented in the Torah we learn and teach every day. We are an affiliate of Torah MiTzion and Yeshiva University.
Our Beit Midrash is a community-funded institution; we thank you for your continued partnership.
We are a resource for community education: In any given week of the year, we offer 20-25 classes and programs for a broad variety of audiences in a range of venues. Some 1500-2000 individuals attend our programs each week.
In particular, we focus on these areas:
* High School Students – The high school years are the beginning of a student’s active formation of Jewish identity, and we are positioned to be a positive influence. Housed in Yeshivat Or Chaim, we learn and daven side-by-side with high school students, and act as a resource for personal learning and special programs. The members of our Beit Midrash present daily chabura classes for students, and present special classes as well. We offer special programs for students at Ulpanat Orot;
* University Students – As our students return home from Israel and embark on university careers, their opportunities to continue Torah study are reduced, even as their need for Torah-based role models and resources increases. Our program provides those opportunities, role models and resources. Our Chaverim program for males at Yeshivat Or Chaim, and our Women’s Beit Midrash coordinated with JLIC at Ulpanat Orot, host dozens of students for daily learning and special programs;
* Women’s Programming – We believe strongly in providing sophisticated Torah study opportunities for women. Toward that end, we offer three weekly shiurim for women in different parts Toronto. We also present our special Sunday morning Midreshet Yom Rishon program at area synagogues more than a dozen times each year, hosting hundreds of women for erudite presentations. Of course, our Women’s Beit Midrash at Ulpanat Orot also serves the goal of advancing women’s Torah education.;
* Professionals’ Programming – With the number of hours spent by medical professionals, legal professionals and financial services professionals on their work, we believe it is crucial that Torah perspectives be integrated into those careers. Toward that end, we offer classes in Jewish ethics and halachah for members of each of these professions, often with approval for relevant professional continuing education credits. We present these classes in both synagogues and offices;
* Israel – Our Jewish community is staunchly Zionist, with many organizations providing programming that emphasizes the centrality of Israel in our lives and futures. Our role is to provide education around this theme, with classes on the Torah of the Land of Israel, as well as Israel-themed learning programs throughout the year. We are proud to partner with Bnei Akiva and Nishmat for many of these programs;
* Community Education – We spread our ideology of embracing the broader world, studying sophisticated Torah and promoting Zionism throughout our Jewish community. Through theme-based Shabbatonim, weekly classes in synagogues and homes, chavrutot with individuals in our Beit Midrash, articles on contemporary issues in our weekly Toronto Torah bulletin and programs extending beyond the Orthodox community, we meet the challenge set by our founders: to become a flagship Torah institution for the GTA.
We are also an incubator for rabbinic leaders: Our avreichim teach community classes and learn with community members, even as they further their personal development as Rabbis. They are paired with local synagogues as Rabbinic Assistants, present community adult education classes, and work with students (including teaching daily chaburot) at our local Yeshivot Bnei Akiva. They write for publication in our weekly Toronto Torah. They meet with leaders of the local and global Jewish community, and learn from experts in local rabbinic agencies, so that each avreich grows in Torah knowledge and pedagogic and leadership skills.
Come learn with us! We invite community participation in all of our daily sedarim (learning sessions). We also offer classes and programs each day; please see our calendar for more information, and sign up for our email list.
