The Yeshiva Blog
What's the difference between a Beis Medrash and a Yeshiva?
The Mashgiach, Rabbi Leventhal addressing how a person grows differently in yeshiva as opposed to a bei medrash.
So how are you going to grow differently, let's say in Bircas, than somewhere else you might go? I'm going to answer this question by really defining what a yeshiva is as opposed to a beis medrash. My rebbi used to make this distinction and say that the chiluk between a yeshiva and a beis hamedrash is that a beis hemedrash is a place where people come and they learn. You might have a shiur. It could be a maggid shiur that is giving it over. You might even call it yeshiva. But essentially, it's a beis medrash, where people are coming and they're learning.
He used to say that a yeshiva is a little bit different. Of course people are learning and there's a beis medrash. But really it’s a place where people come and get together in order to help each other fulfill the Torah, to do the ratzon Hashem. And that's really something all-encompassing. That's not just about what's pshat in the Tosfos or what’s going on in the acahron you are learning, or getting the shiur and learning it up. Not only that. It involves your entire life. Everything.
So, Bircas HaTorah is a yeshiva. You know when you come into the beis medrash and you're with the rebbeim and you're learning with them and getting a shiur from them, and you're schmoozing with them. You were going to get a sense that is - there's no authority figures. It's not like high school where you have people that are in charge and they're sort of giving over their wisdom to you, and teaching you how to live life from up here. We are all here. We are all together, learning the Torah, trying to mekayem to Torah and help each other people mekayem the Torah. And that's something that I think is palpable in Bircas HaTorah that might be special that you'll experience that may not be as palpable in other places that that you might go.
That distinction between a rebbe and a talmid definitely is there. There are definitely the rebbeim being here that have the mesora and what they give over, and that's definitely being done, but it's being done in a way where everyone gets a sense that we're all working hard to develop ourselves, to become better bnei Torah, better Torah Jews, to understand our Torah better, to become better in our learning. Everybody from the Rosh Yeshiva to first year talmid, everybody is struggling to understand Toras Hashem.
That environment is something that I think really inspires people to take their growth and their limmud seriously. Not just as some intellectual exercise. They know that's important, but they see what it means for a person to take thier growth seriously. We see the lives that are led by people who take that seriously and a person who looks at that and says.”that’s attractive, I want that, I want to be a part of that.” And so it's not something he really needs to be convinced about it. It’s happening and you see it and you see it in your rebbe and you see in the avreich next to you, and in the Rosh Yeshiva and everybody is doing the same thing. You can't help but want to do to do that as well.
So that's a kind of growth that comes from almost an experiential, you know, experiencing what it means to live a life of a yirei shamayim. And it's inspiring.
Testimonials and Endorsements
"Having had the privilege to be present at some of Rabbi Tagger's compelling shiurim—both on sugyos in Shas as well as in inyanei Hashkafa—I can attest firsthand to his unique ability to thoroughly engage his talmidim of all levels, provoking them to think honestly and be true to the nuance of the text, while at the same time encouraging creative solutions that can withstand rigorous critique. The process draws each talmid into the ever-expanding, magnificent worldof Hashem's Torah, and the conclusions penetrate the heart, excite the mind, and engender a pervasive love of Torah."
Rabbi Elysha Sandler
Mashgiach Ruchani, Yeshiva Sh'or Yoshuv
From his Haskama on the Rosh Yeshiva of Bircas HaTorah's Mussar Sefer
"I know Yeshivas Bircas HaTorah and Hagaon Rav Nissim Tagger. He is doing amazing work and producing wonderful Bnei Torah."
Rav Asher Weiss
World Renowned Dayan and Posek
"I have had the privilege of getting to know Yeshivas Bircas HaTorah and its great Rosh Yeshiva, Rav Nissim, along with many of the Yungelite and Bochurim. Bircas HaTorah is an outstanding Makom Torah, with talmidim who are serious, focused, engaged, and energized. I have spoken there for the talmidim and met many of them, and I see in the atmosphere—and in each of them—tremendous she'ifus for aliyah in Torah and ruchniyus, and a desire to serve Klal Yisrael. This reflects both the Rosh Yeshiva and the talmidim themselves, who create an atmosphere of real ruchniyus growth with a seriousness of purpose."
Rabbi Aharon Kotler
President Emeritus, Beth Medrash Govoha, Lakewood
"Valley Torah High School and Yeshivas Bircas HaTorah have had a deep relationship for many years. I personally have experienced the unique Torah atmosphere that permeates this yeshiva. The love, concern, and commitment to every talmid that they manifest—even after they leave the yeshiva—is nothing short of remarkable. For a young man mature enough to appreciate what Bircas HaTorah has to offer, there is no yeshiva like it!"
Rabbi Avrohom Stulberger
Menahel, Valley Torah, Los Angeles
"The student who enters the Yeshiva of Bircas HaTorah is not the same as the one who leaves. He is transformed into a disciple of another world—a world he never knew existed, a world he never dreamed of reaching.... Anyone who listens to the Shiurim of the Rosh Yeshiva, Rabbi Tagger Shlita cannot remain in the same place— he is automatically lifted up. After a period of serious study, he will hardly recognize himself!"
Rav Avraham Ziskind, Rosh Yeshivas Keser Torah
Former Rosh Mesivta Yeshivas Beis Shmuel and Yeshivas Netiv Hadaas (Kaplans)
"Our South African Kehillah has benefited greatly from the graduates of Bircas HaTorah, who, I have found, emerge from years of learning at Bircas with a deep appreciation for the value of achrayus—responsibility—for Klal Yisrael. Their impact when returning home has always been, and continues to be, a source of chizuk for our kehillah."
Rabbi Warren Goldstein
Chief Rabbi of South Africa
"Many of our talmidim from Yeshiva Maharsha SA have learned under the guidance of the esteemed Rosh Yeshiva HaRav Nissim Tager shlita. I can only praise and endorse the Yeshiva, not only in terms of the level of learning but for the care, nurturing and love of the talmid which instills an ahavas haTorah in them. This stands with them forever."
Rabbi Menachem Raff
Rav of Kehillas Maharsha, South Africa
"I have had the privilege of visiting the Yeshiva on a number of occasions and have witnessed the warm, family atmosphere where the Rebbeim invest in their Talmidim. Bircas HaTorah excels in the personal attention they provide for each boy and they build them and nurture them to become real Bnei Torah with a love of learning. The Rosh Yeshiva opens their minds and challenges them in learning and on their outlook in life, which develops Talmidim that are thinking and growing in their Avodas Hashem."
Rabbi Ilan Halberstadt
Rav of Beir Knesset Machzike Hadath, Golders Green
"Rabbi Tagger brought his Sefer of Shiurim on Meseches Shabbos for me to see....he was bestowed with abundant talent to be able to delve deeply into the Rishonim and draw up pearls, with good understanding and straight sevara.. Since I recognize him, as he is my neighbour, and his fear of heaven precedes his wisdom, I bless him that the merit of his fathers and that of his own merit, should allow him to continue..."
Rav Sholom Cohen zt"l
Rosh Yeshivat Porat Yosef, Moetzes Chachmei HaTorah, Sephardic Gadol Hador
In his Haskama to the Rosh Yeshiva's Sefer on Meseches Shabbos
"I know very well the great toil and intensive effort that the Rosh Yeshiva, Rav Tagger Shlita, invested in the study of Torah to reach this level... I want to publicly acknowledge that the Rosh Yeshiva makes his nights like days to raise up students to greatness in Torah and Yirah, until they are genuine Talmidei Chachamim... I am deeply impressed by this unbelievable investment that the Rosh Yeshiva puts in his students..."
Rav Shlomo Yedidya Zafrani
Rav of Kehillot Ameley HaTorah, Rosh Kollel and Av Beis Din Keter Torah
From his Haskama on the Rosh Yeshiva of Bircas HaTorah's Mussar Sefer