Amid Rising Anti-Semitism, Newly Observant Jews Flood Local Yeshiva Learning Center, Eager To Learn, More Deeply Practice Their Faith

 As Antisemitism Rises, Jewish Observance Soars: Returnees to Faith Flood a Local Yeshiva Learning Center

One might think that record high levels of antisemitism would make many Jews hide outward appearances of Jewishness.  Surprisingly, many Jews responded with a dramatic increase of interest in and public expression of their religion.

 

Antisemitic acts have increased by 400% in the U.S. in 2023, and 31 per day in the last few months, targeting local individuals, restaurants, parochial schools, and houses of worship with no direct ties to Israeli policies.  Documented in that figure are graffiti, vandalism, invading stores, physical assault, cyber death threats against private individuals, and publishing lists of addresses of religious institutions, including some with the slogan “know your enemy.”

 

It’s enough to make even the most nonreligious Jews feel unwelcome, if not unsafe.  Yet paradoxically, unprecedented numbers of secular Jews are seeking expressions of Jewish identity they never felt before: wearing a necklace with a Jewish star, attending synagogue more often, or placing mezuzahs on their front doors.

As a sign of “new meets old,” thousands have posted “tefillin selfies” on their social media, including photos of their recent first time wearing Jewish prayer phylacteries, spawning a global shortage of tefillin and mezuzahs.  A recent survey of 211 Orthodox rabbis found 86% reported seeing increased synagogue and program attendance, and 98.6% reported seeing an increase “in personal practice related to Jewish traditions and observances among community members.”

 

Amid this great awakening, a small yeshiva (learning center) in Passaic, New Jersey, is suddenly bursting at the seams, flooded with many newly observant adults, or “baalei teshuva.”  Passaic Torah Institute (PTI) was founded by Rabbi Shlomo Singer with the belief that “every Jew belongs in a yeshiva.” He developed a method to make rigorous in-depth learning accessible, even to people with no background.

“We pitch Torah (Jewish law and Bible) at a very high level, but make it accessible no matter what your background,” says Rabbi Singer.  There are dozens of programs for men and women and multiple levels of day and night classes, from the rote beginner to the most advanced student.

 

 

Singer has spent a life in outreach to secular Jews, literally from birth, when his rabbinical father’s dream was to find a pulpit “where there are no religious Jews,” landing in a coal mining town in Pennsylvania.  Rabbi Singer developed a prototype of accessible, inclusive learning while employed as a synagogue cantor (musical prayer leader).  Upon retiring, he started PTI in his dining room, and it was soon moved to its current location in a converted Mediterranean style house.

 

Just in the last few months, an explosion of new college-age to 30-somethings has overrun the yeshiva, stretching its capacity to the limit, and necessitating plans for a larger building.

 

 

Recruiting this new influx is Ben Rand, 32, who himself has been at PTI a matter of months after a stint at Aish Hatorah Yeshiva in Jerusalem that changed his life.  “This is a strange time for the Jewish people and for the whole world.  One major disruption after the other.  It defies reason–the world blaming victims, antisemitism in the name of civil rights, the double standard for Jews,” Rand says. “The world has lost all its values, and a lot of us are asking why all this is happening.  It’s like a spiritual alarm clock.  It’s a miracle Jews still exist despite being 0.1% of the world’s population. We feel a need to find our purpose.”

 

Surprisingly, Rand discovered only after starting at PTI that his father and uncle had studied at PTI during the yeshiva’s infancy many years ago.  It was their ties in the construction field that originally converted the house into a yeshiva.  Indeed, the original generation of PTI learners came during the golden age of outreach, returning inspired from new outreach yeshivas like Aish and Ohr Somayach.  They feel they’re mentoring younger versions of themselves in this incoming generation. “It brings back memories of the most exciting time of my life,” recalls Steve Brodsky, who followed a similar path decades ago. “This is a place to inspire and be inspired.”

 

 

The latest addition to the PTI lineup is the Young Professionals program, coordinated by Rand.  The group meets every Thursday night.  It features a free hot buffet, guest speakers, guided group learning, and always concludes with a musical kumzits (a combination of storytelling and sing-along) that builds the camaraderie and momentum of the group.

 

Integrating the daunting number of PTI’s new programs and students into the greater yeshiva is Rabbi Baruch Bodenheim, Associate Head of the Yeshiva and long-time columnist in the New Jersey Jewish Link and Monsey Mevasser Jewish newspapers.  Rabbi Bodenheim has been racing to keep up with the rush of new entrants by creating more programs for men and women, recruiting teachers and volunteers, and upgrading technology and communication systems.

 

 

Welcoming the new entrants, he set the tone, “It’s an upside-down world.  Yeshivas are a haven of sanity, and the Torah (Jewish bible or Old Testament) is a place of wisdom.  The Jewish world is feeling we’re all in this together as one people, and you men are taking up the calling.”

 

There is learning literally around the clock, day and night, seven days a week.  There are four levels of Talmud learning in the evening, morning programs for retirees, a day program for advanced scholars, Sunday classes, Zoom classes for distance learners, distinguished speakers series, one-to-one learning, and programs for women all week.  Everything is free.

 

“Come in, and we’ll find a class that fits your background, interest, and schedule,” invites Rabbi Bodenheim.

 

 

 

 

 

Summing up PTI’s place in the trend, Rabbi Yitz Greenman, a 40-year veteran of numerous outreach programs including as former Executive Director of Aish Worldwide, reflects, “There is great confusion in the world now, and many are wondering what is happening and why.  The Torah is a source of moral clarity, and provides answers that people are looking for.  We must share the meaning, relevance, and depth of Torah with every member of our tribe, and right now!  That’s PTI.”

 

 

For more information about all PTI’s programs visit https://pti.shulcloud.com or call/text Rabbi Bodenheim at 862-371-3816 or Ben Rand at 201-280-8145.  YNB-PTI is located at 441 Passaic Avenue in Passaic, NJ.

Banner Image: A group of Baalei Teshuva (newly religious) lock arms and savor a recent PTI celebration. Image Credit – YNB-PTI

 

 

 

 

 

 

PHOTOS SEE ATTACHMENT OR ON REQUEST:

 

1. Rabbi Shlomo Singer, Senior Head and Founder of YNB-PTI in Passaic

 

2. Ben Rand addressing a group of Baalei Tshuva (newly religious) men who join PTI’s Young Professionals program every Thursday at 8pm.

 

3. Every Thursday night’s program at PTI ends with a musical “kumzitz” sing-along and story telling.

 

4. Rabbi Baruch Bodenheim, Associate Head of YNB-PTI addressing the new Young Professionals program.

 

5. A Sabbath gathering of PTI’s Young Professionals program with Rabbi Baruch Bodenheim.

 

6. Rabbi Yitz Greenman, former executive director of Aish Worldwide outreach program. “In these confusing times we must share the relevance and depth of Torah.”

 

7. Rabbi Bodenheim celebrating with new PTI entrants.

 

8. A group of Baalei Teshuva (newly religious) lock arms and savor a recent PTI celebration.