Testimonials collected in June 2016…
From some of our partners (click names to open their letters, in .pdf):
Beth Avaham Yoseph of Toronto Congregation (BAYT)
Beth Lida
Bnai Torah
Bnei Akiva
Bnei Akiva Schools
Clanton Park Synagogue
Forest Hill Jewish Centre
JLIC-OU
Mizrachi Canada
TanenbaumCHAT
Shaarei Shomayim
Shaarei Tefillah
Thornhill Community Shul / Aish Thornhill
Torah in Motion
The Village Shul / Aish Toronto
From our university student “Chaverim”:
Being able to sit and learn in the Kollel over the last 2 years has been an amazing experience. Learning together with my Charvusa, and with the help that the Avreichim have given us has provided us with the opportunity to learn in a way that we could not have achieved on our own. The commitment that the Avreichim have to serving Hashem is unparalleled, and is obviously seen through the way their lives are dedicated to learning and helping everyone do the same.
Over the past few months, the Avreichim have been giving a kashrut chaburah in order to give us the practical application of a topic which many of us had been learning theoretically. It is a really great feeling to be considered and treated as part of the kollel by being published in the newsletter every week in the chaverim category. All of us feel that we are being given the chance to regain that yeshiva experience which we all so desperately want back. The ability to learn Toras Hashem in an atmosphere that not many University students get is not comparable to any other program. I hope to continue on with the YU Kollel for as many years as I can.
– Jacob Posluns
For the past year, I have been learning in the YU Torah MiTzion Beit Midrash at Or Chaim in the mornings. Learning with the Rabbis and the other chaverim in the Kollel is an amazing way to start my day, whether in a chavruta, chaburah or by myself. The Beit Midrash has an inspiring and comfortable environment, where learning is enjoyable and the Rabbis are always willing to help. I love being able to learn at the Kollel during the week in between my college studies, so I can go to school, while not neglecting my Torah studies. Learning at the Kollel made my tradition from Yeshiva easier, and helps me grow further in my Torah knowledge and Judaism.
– Zack Mincer
When I got back to Toronto from yeshiva, I was worried that there wouldn’t be a place for me to continue learning and growing. I had been on such a high from Israel and I was searching for a way to keep that going here. When I discovered the YU kollel, I knew right away that this was my answer. For the past year and a half I have been learning in the kollel at Or Chaim for a couple hours in the mornings. It’s incredible! The atmosphere is amazing and warm and the kol torah is like no other. Rabbi Torczyner, Rabbi Ziring and the avreichim are always there for us whenever we have any questions and even set up a personalized chabura based on our needs. I can’t imagine a better way to start off my day every morning!
– Ariel Shields
From our Yeshivat Or Chaim chavrutot:
I have had the privilege of learning with Rabbi Torczyner over the past two years in the Bronka Weintraub Bekius Program. I look forward to his weekly Thursday lunch shiur which is both thought provoking and challenging. Rabbi Torczyner delivers all the tools necessary for success in Gemara. I have had the zechut of learning Gemara in a Yeshiva environment for a few years now, however I can honestly say that I have never felt the commitment or enthusiasm for learning as I do now since joining this program. Continued success to the YU Beit Medrash.
– Yaakob Bendayan, Grade 11
It has been a great privilege to learn from Rabbi Ziring throughout this past year. I am grateful for the endless dedication Rabbi Ziring put in to our Chaburah, on one occasion or two consecutive nights he spent 6 hours baking different kinds of dough to show us what is and is not chametz. From all of us here in our Chaburah, we would like to thank Rabbi Ziring for teaching us and showing us literally “the more you know, the more you realize how little you know” regarding torah. We wish you much success in the future.
– Uriel Weisz, Grade 12
From Community Members:
Toronto is so fortunate to have the YU Kollel. I feel so privileged to be able to learn with Rabbi Torczyner. He has the ability to reach out to a group of people, all with different levels of knowledge and make the Book of Job relevant and fascinating to each one of us. Rabbi Torczyner brings a breadth of knowledge and wide variety of source material and even humour to a very serious topic and constantly encourage us to be involved by allowing up to participate in the discussion.
As I speak to people, so many of them express their gratitude in having access to such wonderful learning through the Kollel.
May you go from strength to strength.
– Joyce Eklove
On Thursday afternoons I have had the privilege of learning Sefer Hoshea, Yehoshua and now Shoftim with Rabbi Mordechai Torczyner. His shiur allows for a group of women to come together and discuss many wonderful insights into the sefer and all of Tanach. His weekly dedication is is evident in the years of commitment he has to this shuir for women. Kol Hakovod Rabbi Torczyner, my week would not be complete without coming to the shuir and learning from you and your Torah knowledge.
Tamar R.
My daughter and I have the pleasure of attending Rabbi Ziring’s weekly Torah shiur, and my husband attends his weekly iyun Gemara shiur. Each shiur is extremely interesting and we are always amazed at Rabbi Ziring’s wealth and depth of knowledge and his outstanding presentation. We can also say the same about every shiur we hear from Rabbi Torczyner and every other member of the Beit Midrash.
We feel so fortunate that our city has such a high calibre of learning thanks to the YU Kollel Torah MiTzion. The Beit Midrash has invigorated our personal learning and the Torah knowledge of the entire city, bringing a fresh and much needed perspective to our understanding of Yahadut.
– Annie Winter
I call YU Beit Midrash my friend, because of its warmth and non-judgmental character, which treats each person as unique. The Beit Midrash has a multi-faceted approach to learning and an honest belief in shiv’im panim latorah.
I have been associated with the YU Beit Midrash for 2 years. I learn in the Beit Midrash and I attend its learning series in other locales, including regularly in a Conservative shul.
I have enjoyed events sponsored by the Beit Midrash, and my wife, Frances, enjoyed sponsoring an event with the Beit Midrash.
Truly, my life would be impoverished without the YU Beit Midrash – it makes a difference.
Chazak, Chazak, VeNitchazek
– Moishe Goldstein
Since it first started in Toronto, the YU Beit Midrash has greatly enhanced our community. Rabbi Torczyner and his avreichim are all exemplary people – friendly, approachable and scholarly. The finest that you will ever meet. They have so many programs going on all over the city. I look forward to Rabbi Ziring’s shiur every week, his depth of knowledge is boundless, his sources are varied, his class is always interesting and well researched. I have gained so much knowledge from his shiur and from the many other YU shiurim that I have attended over the years.
– Heather Tanen
The YU Beit Midrash has been part of our local community for years providing an injection of Torah learning and inspiration to all of us. The Roshei Kollel and the Avreichim have raised the level of local learning and brought great inspiration and spirituality to us. Yasher Koach on their great work – may the Kollel to continue to reach new heights in Torah learning and have continued great success.
– MDM
Rabbi Torczyner is a master educator. He has been my chavrusa for the past year and half and our meetings are now one of the highlights of my week. I have never met a Rabbi with such a breadth of knowledge in all areas of Judaism. He is a gift to the Toronto Jewish Community.
– Matthew F.
