2005
2006
resolved to establish a yeshiva where his children could learn.
With the help of other community members, Yeshiva Darchei
Torah rented space in a shul and opened its doors for a Pre-1A
and first grade class in 1972.
Five years later, when the Yeshiva needed a rebbi for seventh grade, Rabbi
Yaakov Bender was hired. A Mirrer Yeshiva avreich with a reputation as
an outstanding Tzeirei leader, Hatzolah askan and ba’al chesed, he did
not yet have formal classroom experience. But Rav Bender’s exceptional
talent soon revealed itself, and by the end of the academic year, R' Yisroel
Bloom, R' Mendel Goldberg and Mr. Lloyd Keilson asked him to become
the menahel. Rav Bender accepted, and laid out his philosophy of
chinuch: He believed that excellent learning and excellent middos must
always go hand in hand, and that a yeshiva has an obligation to educate
every single talmid, whatever his strengths or challenges.
Since then, the combination of high achievement in Torah and sensitivity
to others’ needs has been the trademark of the Darchei talmid. From
the earliest grades—where the Middos Mission program teaches the
youngest boys—to the most senior avreichim, the Darchei hashkafah
Today, Darchei has the
distinction of being one of
America’s largest yeshivos,
and due to its excellence in
creating lamdanim and ba’alei
middos, it serves as a model
for yeshivos worldwide.
January 14, 2018
15
תשע“ח טבת לכ“ח אור
2017