Kol Yaakov Torah Center

Kol Yaakov Torah Center was founded in 1981 by Rabbi Leibel Tropper after he left Ohr Somayach in Monsey. He was at Shema Yisrael Yeshiva when it split into Aish HaTorah and Ohr Somayach. When Ohr Somayach sent Rabbi Braun and Rabbi Rokowsky to Monsey, he went with them, but only stayed a short while before being asked to leave, and starting his own school nearby.

He subscribed to the Ohr Somayach Philosophy of teaching all of Judaism while learning the Talmud but wants to get students fired up and dressed charedi immediately, where Ohr Somayach only rewards certain students with permission to wear a black hat.

It is based in Monsey, New York in rural Rockland County (35 miles Northwest of Manhattan). His school is not connected to any other institution and says they employ a non-coercive approach designed to educate boys and men about their Jewish heritage.

Despite the claim of non-coercion, Kol Yaakov is an intense Charedi environment that operates from a "Torah only" philosophy. As contrasted with the Torah Im Derech Eretz philosophy of Modern Orthodoxy, Kol Yaakov generally takes an oppositional stance to secular teaching or culture. Some graduates have complained that such a philosophy produces de facto coercion due to the extreme contrast of such a philosophy with the back-ground of its typical student. Notably, the staff at Kol Yaakov is exclusively Charedi. Kol Yaakov does not have classes that address basic questions about Judaism as does Aish HaTorah. Rather, its educational program operates as does the typical Lithuanian Yeshiva by focusing on Talmud and other textual study. While much talk is given to intellectual rigor, study is mostly confined to rote memorization

They have daily lectures and classes to provide answers to both basic and challenging questions and set up study programs for anyone who wants to delve into the world of Jewish learning.

Description of Kol Yaakov's program

Kol Yaakov Torah Center is designed to introduce the beginner to a variety of skill developments and knowledge of the multiple aspects of Torah Judaism placing them in the path of independent scholarship in the field of advanced Rabbinical and Talmudic studies. The Program is divided into four major categories:

1. Introductory 2. Intermediate 3. Advanced 4. Bais Achiezer Rabbinical Training Program

Since its inception in 1981, the Kol Yaakov Torah Center has been an institution focussed on educating Jews with limited background.

At the Kol Yaakov Torah Center, the Bible and the Talmud are the main teaching tools and subjects.

Thousands of young men from United States and abroad have passed through its doors. They have come to hear the eternal echo and beauty of Torah Judaism.

Many of these young men have already searched elsewhere for guidance and meaning. With the Torah as their guide, they come to find out how their own heritage can enrich their lives and give purpose to their other educational and professional pursuits. One underlying principle that makes Kol Yaakov unique is not to succumb to the temptation of compromising academic excellence in order to make Torah more palatable, for the ultimate goal is to educate and bring these young men into the sphere of Torah Judaism. A professional career integrated with traditional Jewish values is a common goal among Kol Yaakov students. Graduates of Kol Yaakov who want to continue learning more intensively enjoy the unique advantage of being able to study in virtually any mainstream yeshiva.

Kol Yaakov presents a steadfast commitment to Torah Judaism in an appealing, non-coercive and accessible setting. Students who come to learn to Kol Yaakov are provided with intellectually challenging and satisfying ways to explore the vast depths of Jewish knowledge and wisdom.

Kol Yaakov's rabbinical staff helps the students acquire skills in Torah studies, Jewish Law, Talmud and Jewish Philosophy, and also give them spiritual guidance with a view to actualizing the humanity and Torah greatness within themselves.

Kol Yaakov maximizes the opportunity for personal growth by providing individualized attention designed to meet the needs of each student. Kol Yaakov's full time programs provide classes for the Winter, Spring and Summer terms on all levels from introductory to advanced. Day, evening and Sunday classes are also available for the part-time students.

Kol Yaakov is an accredited College. It provides an opportunity for students to acquire a clear perspective on their Jewish Heritage, and at the same time obtain a few more credits towards a degree.

The full day's schedule begins with Morning Prayers at 7:30 am and culminated with Evening Services at 9:45 p.m.

Kol Yaakov is currently completing its 25th year and has been a fully accredited educational center since 1984. Kol Yaakov's success has been unusual in expediting the mainstreaming of students to the conventional and more mature Torah Community. Some 2,000 students have crossed the threshold of Kol Yaakov's door.

The student body is usually about 90 percent Baal Tshuva and people from frum families are in the minority. Out of 25 students there are usually about 15 - 20 regular students and rest turn over 90 percent every few months. He also has about 15 residents who are fans of his and come to the yeshiva or support it in other ways.

In maximizing the student's potential, the educational administration of Kol Yaakov has an individually structured program, with little collectively structure. Guided by the Torah expertise of Rabbi Yaakov Kaminetsky ZT"L, Kol Yaakov has had unparalleled success in its mainstreaming goal. Our focus is primarily on the individual and on one on one skill development, juxtaposed against a background of reinforcement through classes.

Is Kol Yaakov Harmful?

To remain within the strict mental and social confines of Kol Yaakov for even a short time can have the following disastrous effects:

Loss of choice and free will. Diminished intellectual ability, vocabulary and sense of humour. Reduced use of irony, abstractions and metaphors. Reduced capacity to form flexible and intimate relationships. Poor judgement. Physical deterioration. Malnutrition. Hallucinations, panic, dissociation, guilt, identity diffusion and paranoia. Neurotic, psychotic or suicidal tendencies.

The two basic principles of psychological coercion are:

If you can make a person BEHAVE the way you want, you can make that person BELIEVE the way you want. Sudden, drastic changes in environment lead to heightened suggestibility and to drastic changes in attitudes and beliefs.

Who Does Kol Yaakov Recruit?

Kol Yaakov wants people who are:

Intelligent. Idealistic. Well educated. Economically advantaged. Intellectually or Spiritually curious. Any age.

BEWARE!

Protect yourself! Why go away for a weekend or longer with a stranger or a strange group unless:

You know the name of the sponsoring group. You know its ideas, beliefs and affiliations. You know what is going to happen at the gathering. You know what will be expected of you. You know that you will be free and able to leave at any time.

Every cult can be defined as a group having all of the following five characteristics:

1. It uses psychological coercion to recruit, indoctrinate and retain its members

2. It forms an elitist totalitarian society.

3. Its founder leader is self-appointed, dogmatic, messianic, not accountable and has charisma.

4. It believes 'the end justifies the means' in order to solicit funds recruit people.

5. Its wealth does not benefit its members or society.

Characteristics of Kol Yaakov:

Communal living.

Members may leave or not join society's workforce.

Members usually report on each others private lives to the Rabbis.

Average age at the point of recruitment is in the 20's.

Registered as a religious group.

Appears to offer association with a group interested in making the world a better place via political, spiritual or other means.