BK Designs & Photography Ateres Star Issue 2 | Page 3

The Ateres Yaakov Star

NOVEMBER 2014

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Yeshiva Gedolah: Moving Forward

The Yeshiva Gedolah Ateres Yaakov has seen tremendous growth
and expansion in recent years. They
have added a first year Beis
Medrash program and a thriving
kollel to what was already a strong
Yeshiva Gedolah initially geared for
young men fresh out of Eretz Yisrael.
The Yeshiva Gedolah originally received a large majority of its Yeshiva bachurim from Rabbi Senter’s
acclaimed Yeshivas Aderes Hatorah. This has evolved recently as
the Yeshiva Gedolah now provides
a post-Israel learning environment
for a large variety of young men
from many different backgrounds.

By: Betzalel Shapiro- 11th Grade
By: Shmuel Berger- 11th Grade
Several talmidim celebrated weddings in a short period of time but
expressed a desire to stay in the
Yeshiva. As a result, the newly
formed kollel already has 15 members and a new Maggid Shiur. “The
Kollel provides a wonderful Torah
environment that enables us to
grow at our own personal paces
and to form a deep kesher with the
Maggidei Shiur,” a member of the
kollel said.
The Yeshiva Gedolah has grown to
nearly 60 members and the atmosphere of learning in the Beis
Medrash has made a distinct impression on the high school students as well. According to the

Rosh Yeshiva, Rabbi Meir Braunstein, “The Yeshiva Gedolah is an
opportunity for the bochurim
themselves to grow and shteig, but
it is also an opportunity for them to
be a positive presence for both the
high school students and the
community at large.”
Now in its fourth year, the Yeshiva
Gedolah has expanded far beyond
its initial presence.
With more and more young men
joining every year, there is a palpable sense of pride and accomplishment permeating the Beis
Medrash each day.

Ateres Yaakov’s New College Program

Ateres Yaakov recently joined in
partnership with SUNY Empire
State College to provide college
classes on Ateres Yaakov’s campus
for the Beis Medrash students. The
students are able to pursue an undergraduate degree in any of the
various areas of concentration that
Empire State offers.
There are already classes in Degree
Planning and Introductory Psychology being offered on campus, with
plans to add Business and College
Writing classes for the upcoming
semester.
Nearly 20 students have already
registered for Empire State College
through the Yeshiva, and they have
begun taking classes on campus,
online, or at Empire State’s local
Old Westbury Campus.

Ateres Yaakov also recently became approved as a CLEP Testing
Site which will enable them to administer CLEPs to members of the
college program and the community.
Mr.
Chaim
Homnick
has been
brought on
board as
the College
Liaison to
help
the
students
navigate
the process and
maximize
their
college experience
with Empire State.
Empire State College is a SUNY
school and is therefore reasonably
priced. Students are also able to
apply for Financial Aid. Additionally, Empire State is on the cutting
edge of granting Prior- Learning
Assessment Credits, which enables

yeshiva students to more easily get
transfer credits for their time in Israel or in any Beis Medrash.
Empire State College believes in
creating individualized degree
plans that are catered specifically
to each student’s interests and
graduation requirements. This way,
each student maximizes his education and time spent in college. Having the added bonus of classes being offered in Ateres Yaakov has
been a big benefit as it has enabled the students to attain their
degrees while not detracting from
their learning in the Beis Medrash.
The program will continue to develop new course offerings and
credit options for the students.
However, it is already off to a great
start.