The yeshiva opened in the wake of successful activities among German Jewish youth over the past few years. These include shiurim, tefillos, Shabbatons, and more.
“Many young people have grown much closer to Yiddishkeit in recent years,” says Rabbi Yehudah Tiechtel. “They are now looking to learn in a yeshiva atmosphere.”
Many of these young men were born in Germany and they live in small towns. From time to time, shluchim travel to these towns to give shiurim to Jewish youth, and once every few weeks, a Shabbaton is held for them in Berlin’s Jewish Center. News of these events is circulated by email and SMS.
A yeshiva opened for these young men two weeks ago, called Machon Torah. It is located in the Jewish Center, and so far 15 people are studying there. The new yeshiva provides full board and lodgings, of which Rabbi Yechiel Pritzker is in charge.
“The yeshiva has only just opened, and we have already seen great success,” says principal Rabbi Gedalia Perlmerchuk.
“Some of the students didn’t even know what Shabbos was before they came here, and now they are already davening three times a day.”
