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Mesivtha Tifereth Jerusalem

Coordinates: 40°42.83′0″N 73°59.47′0″W / 40.71383°N 73.99117°W / 40.71383; -73.99117
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40°42.83′0″N 73°59.47′0″W / 40.71383°N 73.99117°W / 40.71383; -73.99117

Mesivtha Tifereth Jerusalem

Mesivtha Tifereth Jerusalem (MTJ) (Template:Lang-he, Mesivta Tiferet Yerushaláyim) is a yeshiva in New York City. It was founded in 1907 and is one of the oldest existent yeshivas in the city.[1] It is the institution formerly led by Rabbi Moshe Feinstein,[2] and then led by his son Rabbi Dovid Feinstein until his death in November 2020. MTJ is now led by Rabbi Berel Feinstein.[3]

Location

The yeshiva has two campuses. The older campus in Manhattan offers a full range of classes, from pre-kindergarten through post-high school. Rabbi Berel Feinstein succeeded his father, the late Rabbi Dovid Feinstein, who was Rabbi Moshe Feinstein's eldest son, as dean.[4] This campus does not have a dormitory.

The second campus, also known as Yeshiva of Staten Island, is located in Staten Island and led by Rabbi Reuven Feinstein, Rabbi Moshe Feinstein's youngest son. The campus contains a high school, college, and post-college facilities; it has a dormitory.

History

Interior and 1922 dedication plaque

In 1905, the yeshiva was originally organized as a synagogue called "Congregation Tifereth Jerusalem" at 115 Hester Street.[1] In 1907, the congregation moved to 87 Eldridge Street and opened the yeshiva originally calling it "Talmud Torah Tifereth Jerusalem Yeshiva."[5] The congregation hired Rabbi Yehuda Sachs Wolpert to administer the institution as he previously served as the Rabbi in the Zamut region of Libau, Lithuania.[6]

The yeshiva moved to a few temporary locations including 240 Madison Street, the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (RIETS) at 9-11 Montgomery Street, and 147 East Broadway. In 1917, the board of directors purchased 145 East Broadway and combined it with the 147 East Broadway property where they built a new permanent building.[6]

In June 1922, the new MTJ building had its grand opening marked by a parade and attendance by leading rabbis in New York along with media coverage in The Hebrew Standard and the Jewish Morning Journal.[6] The president of the yeshiva was Aaron Yaakov Dashkovitz and Yaakov Yosef Herman served on the board of directors.[7]

Originally an elementary school, a high school was established in the late 1920s, and a post–high school yeshivah and semichah program were later added.

Rabbi Yosef Adler served as rosh yeshiva and in 1936, hired his cousin Rabbi Moshe Feinstein to start a Beis Medrash and Semicha program at the yeshiva.[8] In 1938, Rabbi Adler died of a heart attack while swimming and Rabbi Feinstein became the rosh reshiva.[9]

The school was involved in a money laundering scandal in the 1980s.[10]

Rabbi Michel Barenbaum became the mashgiach of the yeshiva shortly after the war. He died on March 4, 2003.

Staten Island's mashgiach, Rabbi Chaim Mintz, also founded and runs the kiruv organization Oorah.

Sports

Rabbi Feinstein was against attending sporting events, but MTJ "participated in competitive sporting events that included spectators." [11]

References

  1. ^ a b Green, Ada (28 June 2004). "Works Progress Administration (WPA) Federal Writers Project / Survey of State and Local Historical Records (1939) / Church Records Jewish – Synagogue". Jewish Genealogical Society. Archived from the original on 24 February 2023. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  2. ^ "Rav Moshe Feinstein". Great Leaders of our People. Orthodox Union. Retrieved February 14, 2010.
  3. ^ "Rav Dovid Feinstein, Preeminent Halachic Authority, 91". The Jewish Press. November 11, 2020.
  4. ^ Pearl Markovitz (February 18, 2021). "Mesivtha Tifereth Jerusalem to Celebrate 114th Anniversary". JewishLink.news.
  5. ^ Stepanchuk, Arkadiy. "East Broadway, Chinatown". Baruch College/Macaulay Honors College. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
  6. ^ a b c Dovi Safier; Yehuda Geberer. "The Great Torah Parade". Mishpacha Magazine. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  7. ^ MTJ Building Committee / Board of Directors Plaque (Plaque inside yeshiva). New York City. 1922.
  8. ^ Rav Moshe Dovid Tendler. "Royalty, Humility, and Genius". Rav Moshe Feinstein Foundation Inc. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  9. ^ Dovi Safier; Yehuda Geberer. "Mourning Their Master". Mishpacha Magazine. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  10. ^ Johnson, Kirk (February 28, 1986). "Money Laundering at City's Oldest Yeshiva". The New York Times.
  11. ^ Joseph Schick (January 30, 2008). "Sports and the Orthodox Jewish Fan". The Jewish Press.