The Shaar is a groundbreaking, exciting and unique introductory Yeshiva program based in the Five Towns and Far Rockaway community, dedicated to bringing the awareness of Hashem and the joy and knowledge of Torah study and immersive Jewish observance to secular Jewish young professionals. The program takes participants from diverse backgrounds with minimal or no formal Jewish education and assists them in their quest to engage, connect and advance in their Torah learning skills, hands-on mitzvah observance and general Jewish growth. The Shaar’s vibrant and exciting atmosphere, along with experienced and devoted Rabbis and teachers, and welcoming community members, provides the students a warm and nurturing environment for spiritual and personal growth.
We started two years ago with 10 young men, and now we currently have close to 50 young men living and integrating into the vibrant Five Towns and Far Rockaway community, engaged in yeshiva-style Torah learning - most of them for the first time in their lives - in our four exciting programs:
The Shaar Yeshiva Program is a full-service introductory baal teshuva yeshiva program housed in the magnificent and state-of-the-art Shor Yoshuv Yeshiva. Students spend the entire day and evening fully-immersed in a wide array of dedicated introductory Torah learning classes, study groups and 1-on-1 chavrusa sessions. These students live in the Shor Yoshuv residence hall, eat delicious and nutritious weekday meals in the Yeshiva and participate in the unique and exciting weekly Shaar Shabbos experience with the Five Towns community’s families.
Olami House @ the Shaar provides working young professionals with comfortable and private living quarters in the Shaar’s rented houses and apartments in Far Rockaway / Lawrence, and all of the Torah learning benefits of the Shaar Yeshiva Program. Olami House students can focus on their full-time professional careers, and plug into any of the Shaar Yeshiva Program’s day and evening Torah classes and chavrusas at any time, customized around their own work schedules and learning goals. The Shaar has a strong Tri-State area employer network and helps Olami House members with career networking and job interviews.
Shaar U is similar to the Olami House, catering to secular college and graduate students, allowing them to attend their university classes remotely from their private rooms in the Shaar’s houses while growing in Jewish learning and bonding with like-minded students.
The Olami Virtual Yeshiva @ the Shaar allows college students and young professionals to engage in Yeshiva-style learning remotely from anywhere in North America and beyond. Since its inception in April 2020, the Virtual Yeshiva has had over 200 students actively engaged and participating in our online Torah learning classes.
We deeply appreciate your support! Your generous donation will help us continue to grow and expand our programs. Please be a partner in our holy work, and help us bring the joy of Torah and Mitzvos to thirsty neshamos!
