Semicha-College Launches in LA

After several years of negotiations, a dream came into fruition with the signing of an agreement between Yeshivas Bais Toras Menachem of Los-Angeles and ORT-College of Los-Angeles.

Students will study towards an associate’s degree in business management in the afternoon, while learning semicha together with chassidus and nigleh in the morning. Classes will be men’s only, and the calendar will follow that of Yeshiva – such as ample time for Pesach break and classes will take a standard summer recess. Students will be able to complete their semicha and associate’s degree in this novel two year program.

“There is a critical need for Yeshivos to adequately equip bochurim for marriage – which includes semicha and job-skills — to be future husbands and breadwinners,” says Mrs. Rivky Katz, Bais Toras Menachem co-founder.

As in previous years, the phenomenal semicha shiur will continue to be taught by the vibrant Rabbi Levi Chazan, and the testing will be by the esteemed Rabbi Elchonen Tauber, Rov and Dayan of K’hal Bais Yehuda of Los-Angeles. This is in keeping with the Rebbe’s Hora’ah of every bochur learning semicha, so that he will be well versed in practical Halacha with which to guide his family. This is in combination with a dynamic Chassidus shiur taught by Rabbi Shaya Berkowitz, which provides the flame of the program.

The novelty in this coming year’s program will be the synthesis of the above with the terrific opportunity provided by ORT-College of Los-Angeles. As put eloquently by Mr. Fred Keivanfar, Director of Admissions and Finance, ORT-College of Los-Angeles, “To enable our Orthodox young-men to earn a respectable parnassah to support their family is a tremendous mitzvah – without which a Jewish home cannot function.”

The college program will consist of a dual track program designed to accommodate students based on their academic skills. Students in track one will study for a 65 credit-hour associate’s degree in business management. Students in track two will study for a 32 credit hour diploma in accounting, alongside studying for their GED and furthering their English and Math skills.

“The evening class structure also provides an excellent opportunity for yungerleit to achieve a degree while working without having to enroll in a secular college,” says Rabbi Mordechai Katz, Dean of Bais Toras Menachem.

“This agreement is truly remarkable in so many respects,” says Rabbi Levi Bennish, current director of Bais Toras Menachem. “We greatly appreciate the dedication of ORT-College, headed by Mr. Joseph Neman, who in addition to making this program possible, has also ensured affordable tuition for our students.”

For more information, or to apply for the upcoming academic year, please email BTM@Smicha.net or call 323-936-5226.