From the Rosh HaYeshiva
We are grateful for all of our wonderful parents , true partners with the Yeshiva who give their all to ensure the pure chinuch of their sons .
THE YESHIVA IS BOOMING !
Bli ayin hara , Yeshiva Darchei Torah is growing b ’ kamus uv ’ eichus – in quantity and in quality . This is all the result of Siyata DiShmaya and the mesirus nefesh of our educators , who are second-to-none .
How do you keep a large yeshiva small ?
My mother , Rebbetzin Basya Bender a ” h , was a lifelong mechaneches . The first Beis Yaakov teacher in America , she taught hundreds of talmidos . Most of all , she devotedly taught and raised me and my siblings — despite becoming a young almanah in her early 50s .
She was fond of sharing the following mashal : Imagine visiting a factory or a printing press . The printer uses gigantic rolls of paper which are cut down to various sizes , depending on the job . Invariably there will be leftovers of this process , remnants of paper strewn about the factory floor which the workers trample with nary a thought . These fragments are , after all , headed for the trash .
She would tell her talmidos and instill in us : “ Treitel zich nisht af di neshamos ! — Don ’ t walk over the souls !” Her message was clear . When you work with people , in a setting large or small , make sure you do not lose sight of the individual , his needs , and his feelings . It is not enough to be ‘ successful ’ or ‘ accomplish ’ on a grand scale ; you must make sure to tend to the needs of every yachid .
It is this moral that guides the Yeshiva Darchei Torah mechanech in every situation : Each individual talmid matters !
This principle is reflected in the fact that every call or email from a parent is returned within twenty-four hours ; that each division has its own menahalim and principals ; that those leaders find creative ways to keep abreast of the progress of the talmidim ( by returning their test papers in person , for example ); and that every talmid feels beloved and cherished — he knows that he is special , not a mere ‘ face in the crowd .’
He is a neshama ! A neshama with a divine spark and endless potential .
Most of all , the credit for the Yeshiva ’ s success goes to our parent body , the dream of any yeshiva . Darchei Torah parents are engaged parents , taking an interest in what goes on in the classroom . They are respectful of the rabbeim , moros , and teachers . And they are supportive of the Yeshiva in so many ways — material , moral , and emotional .
It is that material support from parents that is driving , in large measure , the success of our new building campaign and the annual dinner campaign . We are full of appreciation for this year ’ s illustrious awardees , who are working selflessly to help supercharge this campaign .
We are grateful for all of our wonderful parents , true partners with the Yeshiva who give their all to ensure the pure chinuch of their sons . It is they who ensure that our large yeshiva stays small — enabling it to become ever greater as a result .
Rabbi Yaakov Bender
BEDARCHEI HATORAH WINTER 5782 / 2022 3