History
Join us for a trip down memory lane.
1972
A Yeshiva is Born
1973
1414 Caffrey
The growing Yeshiva finds a new home at 1414 Caffrey Avenue, a building previously occupied by the yeshiva of Rav Abba Berman, who had relocated to Eretz Yisrael. The building had previously belonged to New York Telephone, serving as a technical facility for the phone company.
1978
The Shaaray Building
Darchei outgrows its building. The Yeshiva finds space at Congregation Shaaray Tefila, then situated on Central Avenue in Far Rockaway.
1978
Rabbi Bender Arrives
Rabbi Yaakov Bender joins Darchei as its first seventh grade rebbi. Rabbi Yehuda Frankel leaves Darchei to become the first menahel of the Mirrer Yeshiva Ketana in Brooklyn. A year later, Rabbi Bender is appointed as menahel of Darchei while simultaneously teaching the seventh grade.
1980
First Graduating Class
Darchei reaches its first graduating class. The hanhala ensures that every student continues to the yeshiva that best suits him.
1981
Yeshiva Relocates to Gustave Hartman YM-YWHA
1983
Learning Center Established
Darchei introduces its very own Special Education department, a novelty in the yeshiva system at the time. Led by Mrs. Rivka Gutkind, assisted by Rabbi Benzion Kirsch and Mrs. Devorah Druxman, the department offers boys professional services while being integrated into the Yeshiva. Mr. Nechemia Rabenstein becomes its partner and benefactor.
1983
Rabbi Dovid Presser
1985
Rabbi Yehuda Harbater
1986
1st Parallel Class Added
1988
Mr. Richard Altabe
Dean of Secular Studies
1988
Ground Breaking
After moving around during its formative years, the time has come to find a permanent home. The Yeshiva procures a vacant lot in the heart of Far Rockaway’s frum community- the perfect spot for the school. A lavish celebration is held at Young Israel of Far Rockaway, marking the milestone with a choir. Plans for this campus on Beach 9th would soon be shelved as the pace of enrollment makes it clear that larger quarters would be needed. Today, Bnos Bais Yaakov is situated on this property.
1991
Building Purchase
After ten years of renting space at the former HILI Campus on Beach 17th Street, a stroke of hashgacha leads the Yeshiva to the unlikely scenario of purchasing the campus. The sprawling campus is disproportionately oversized for even the most optimistic forecasts of the Yeshiva’s trajectory, but the day would come when every inch of space would be occupied by the Darchei of the 21 st Century.
1993
Rabbi Shmuel Strickman
Menahel • Pre-1A, 1 & 2 Grades
1994
Darchei Brings a Kollel to Far Rockaway
Kollel Avreichim, led by Rav Feivel Cohen, serves the broader Far Rockaway community; its yungeleit are admired as role models by the boys of the neighborhood. The new kollel is comprised of some of the finest yungeleit from Lakewood.
For its first two years, the kollel is housed at the Agudah of Long Island, the very same achsanya to open the doors of their shul to the fledgling Darchei when it was established twenty-two years earlier. Later, the kollel would join the Yeshiva, moving into the ezras nashim of the new mesivta building in 1996.
The kollel later grows under the leadership of Rav Leibel Rand, eventually moving into its quarters on Beach 12th Street, becoming a gem in the community.
Founding baalebatim include: Rabbi Mendel Goldberg, Lloyd Keilson, Shimon Pluchenik, and Moshe Plaut.
1995
Founding of Mesivta Chaim Shlomo in the Waterview
Unlike the founding of Darchei’s elementary school in 1972, marked with little more than hopes and dreams, the boys of Mesivta Chaim Shlomo’s pioneering class knew they were living through a historic time.
By now, Darchei had become recognized as a jewel in the Far Rockaway community and in the greater world of chinuch. In keeping with its reputation of doing things to perfection, the Yeshiva immediately embarked on the construction of a most prestigious mesivta building with all the amenities a yeshiva bachur could dream of to enhance his learning and shteiging.
At the same time, Rabbi Bender was well aware that many of his boys had been looking forward to the day they would join a well-established out-of-town mesivta, something the new mesivta would essentially not be able to provide in the early stages of its existence. And so he took measures that would compensate his pioneering talmidim for their sacrifice.
Those early days turned out to be the most cherished times in the lives of the bachurim in the founding classes. Years later, they would recall with fondness how Rabbi Bender would spend quality time with them on many an evening before going home to his own family.
During the first year, Rabbi Bender filled the role of menahel. At the start of the second year, the Mesivta welcomed Rabbi Zevi Trenk, who joined the faculty as its new menahel.
As an added benefit, Rabbi Bender gave his boys the gift of a Rosh Yeshiva figure, inviting Rav Elya Brudny to spend a day at the Mesivta every week, talking to the bachurim in learning. He would come to the beis medrash and put forth exciting questions on the sugyos at hand, conversing with them as mature bnei Torah.
While the new building was being constructed, several rooms in the Waterview were designated and retrofitted. as classrooms and a makeshift beis medrash.
1995
Weiss Vocational Center Established
1996
Groundbreaking Development
Warmed by the joyous flame of Torah. Amid a winter snowstorm just one block from the Atlantic Coast, the boys of Darchei’s new Mesivta Chaim Shlomo warmed their spirits as they danced together with their rabbeim and their benefactor, Mr. Ronald Lowinger. It was an otherwise nondescript ceremony marking the groundbreaking of what was to become the epicenter of Ameilus in Torah, changing the face of Darchei and its surrounding neighborhood forever.
1996
Rabbi Zevi Trenk,
Menahel, Mesivta Chaim Shlomo
1996
Building Completed in Record Time
When Dovid Hamelech was mistakenly permitted by Nosson Hanavi to build the Beis Hamikdash, the Ribbono Shel Olam instructed the Navi to hurry back to Dovid Hamelech to rescind. “Dovid is an ish mahir b’melachto,”, the Ribbono Shel Olam said, “he will start building immediately.”
1996
איש מהיר
במלאכתו
When Mr. Ronald Lowinger initiated the founding of Mesivta Chaim Shlomo, he did not wait to test the waters. He thrust himself into the mesivta project, designing and constructing the most state-of-theart building mesivta bachurim could ever dream of, and having it completed only sixteen months later. During the second year of the new mesivta, Darchei had the good fortune to unveil a most magnificent yeshiva building, the pride of the yeshiva world at the time.
1996
Elul
At the beginning of the 1996 school year, just one year after the Mesivta was founded, two classrooms in the new building are in good enough condition to be used. On the first day of Elul zman, the boys march from their original quarters at the Waterview into the new building, still under construction.
1996
Kislev
Ushered by the blessings of overcast skies. On a cold and rainy November day in 1996, the nascent Mesivta davens in the new beis medrash for the very first time. Although they had been learning in the unfinished classrooms since Elul, this is a first for use of the beis medrash.
After davening, each Rebbi speaks to the bachurim, reiterating to them how fortunate they are to lay the foundation for what is to become a makom Torah of stature.
The building is still under construction and a torrent of rain rushes through a gap in the roof. Rabbi Trenk, the new menahel, jumps directly in the path of the rushing current, proclaiming loudly, “Rabbosai, it’s raining here and we’re building Torah for doros!”
During those early days, the Mesivta is high on adrenaline. The hanhala turns every moment into an auspicious one, giving the boys a sense of mission, responsibility and exceptional pride to be part of something big.
1996
Rabbi Rephael Skaist
Menahel
1997
3 Parallel Class Added GRADE S PRE 1A - 5
1997
Rabbi Menachem Gold
Principal, Mesivta Chaim Shlomo
1997
The Seder Limud
היו נכונים לשלשת ימים
The beis medrash building is inaugurated with a marathon of special sedarim. Bachurim and members of the community learn late into the night on Thursday and the entire night on Motzoei Shabbos leading up to the Chanukas Habayis. The boys are young — ninth and tenth graders — but on that day they cross the threshold to a new world of Torah. Their kol Torah is embedded into the very walls that come to echo those sounds for generations.
Shuttle buses are arranged, providing transportation for shifts throughout the night.
1998
4 Parallel Class Added GRADE S 6 - 8
1999
Beis Medrash Heichal Dovid
On the Summit of the Mountain. As the pioneer class of Mesivta Chaim Shlomo is set to graduate, Rabbi Bender expands the horizons of his talmidim by founding a beis medrash of their own.
Rav Pinchas Wachsman, then eleventh grade rebbi, becomes the first maggid shiur of Beis Medrash Heichal Dovid.
Later that year, Rav Shlomo Avigdor Altusky, a marbitz Torah and Rosh Yeshiva from Montreal, is appointed Rosh Yeshiva.
The founding of the Beis Medrash brings a level of chashivus and prestige to the Yeshiva.
1999
והלוים יחנו
סביב למשכן העדות
Building a Community
In the twenty-five years since Darchei’s founding, the greater Far Rockaway neighborhood has become a vibrant Torah community, with scores of families settling in the area.
Recognizing this trend, Yeshiva Darchei Torah seizes the opportunity to build a new community surrounding the Yeshiva campus.
The time would come when the oncefloundering neighborhood would be revitalized, growing into a flourishing Torah community.
2000
Dr. Wendy Devorah Gerson
Preschool Director
2000
Rabbi Dovid Geller
Mashgiach Ruchani, Beis Medrash
2000
Rabbi Avrohom Nusbaum
Menahel, Mesivta Chaim Shlomo
2000
Rabbi Shimon Dachs
Principal, Mesivta Chaim Shlomo
2001
Rabbi Dov Keilson
Mashgiach, Mesivta Chaim Shlomo
2001
Kollel Mechanchim
Yeshiva invites Rabbi Mendel Goldberg, one of its founders and a veteran marbitz Torah, to lead the establishment of a new afternoon kollel for Far Rockaway’s mechanchim.
2001
Rabbi Dovid Bender
Sho’el Umaishiv
Rosh Kollel Tirtza Devorah
Posek of Darchei
2004
Rabbi Moshe Bender
Sgan Rosh HaYeshiva
2004
2 Floors Added to Mesivta
When the building was built eight years earlier, the prevailing attitude was that it was more than adequate for the Mesivta’s growing needs. The exponential growth experienced in its first decade necessitates the expansion of its already spacious and prestigious quarters. Mr. Ronald Lowinger, the benefactor of Mesivta Chaim Shlomo, initiates the ambitious construction project to add two floors to the building.
2005
Rabbi Dovid Morgenstern
Menahel 4 & 5 Grades
2005
Rabbi Dovid Lan
Menahel, Mechina
2005
Bold Plans
Around 2005, the Board takes the bold step of pursuing a complete rebuild of the elementary and middle school building.
2005
Growing out of the campus
Burgeoning enrollment forces the Yeshiva to build makeshift classrooms in trailers on campus. They are dedicated by Mr. Ronald Lowinger in memory of Rebbetzin Basya Bender a”h.
2005
Kollel Tirtza Devorah
In 2005, a group of alumni scheduled to return from learning in Eretz Yisrael approach Rav Bender and ask if they could rejoin the Beis Medrash to form a post-Eretz Yisrael chaburah. They could find no better makom Torah for themselves in America than their own beloved yeshiva, Darchei Torah. Rav Bender embraces the idea and the “Kibbutz” is created. Rav Dovid Bender, son of Rav Yaakov Bender, serves as the rosh chaburah.
The first group of six is Yacov Asher Engel, Moshe Chaim Horowitz, Shaya Kraus, Ezra Rosner, Mordechai Rosen and Shmuel Trenk. That summer zman, they begin learning in the beis medrash and become the nucleus of Kollel Tirtza Devorah.
They are joined by yungeleit Naftali Kolodny, Shelomo Sarway, and Yoni Tusk. Together with the Rosh Kollel, Rav Dovid Bender, this creates five charusahshafts, bringing an avira of intense limud haTorah in the middle of the beis medrash.
2006
5 Parallel Class Added GRADES 1-2
2006
Mrs. Ariella Kelman
Mrs. Sara Malka Krasnow
Principals, Elementary School
2007
Rabbi Dovid Frischman
Menahel, Middle School
2007
Lakewood Alumni Kollel Established
Keeping talmidim close to their roots.
Yeshiva establishes an evening kollel in Lakewood for its alumni and provides a stipend for participating yungeleit. The kollel is especially beloved to the Rosh Hayeshiva, who encourages Darchei’s board of directors to keep the kollel as an essential budget item even as cuts are discussed. In 2011, Yeshiva establishes a similar kollel in the Sanhedria neighborhood of Yerushalayim.
2010
Back to the drawing board.
During the construction of the new building, the continued growth of Darchei’s enrollment sends planners back to the table to redraw plans to accommodate additional enrollment.
2011
A Moving Experience
The Yeshiva moves into its new building on December 20, 2010, while preparations are underway for a gala Chanukas Habayis celebration to be held in the spring.
2011
Alumni Kollel in Eretz Yisrael
2012
Shaimos Levaya
לב חכם מצוות יקח
2012
Early Morning Seder Limud Established by Mr. Motty Klein
Mr. Motty Klein sponsors an early morning seder limud for bachurim,
L’iluy nishmas his son, Binyomin Tzvi a”h ben Reb Mordechai HaLevi
2013
Rabbi Yisroel Feder
Mashpia, Mesivta
2014
Mesivta moves to its own Beis Medrash
With the Yeshiva bursting at its seams it is no longer feasible for the entire Mesivta, Beis Medrash and Kollel divisions to share the same beis medrash for davening. As a result, the Mesivta starts its own minyan in the Waterview.
2014
קיץ וחורף לא ישבתו
Ameilus BaTorah in the Summer
An opportunity arises for the Yeshiva to lease campgrounds of its own in the Catskills. After a few years, Darchei purchases the grounds, largely through the generosity of Mr. Rubin Schron, a grandparent of Darchei talmidim. In 2022, shortly after the passing of Mrs. Marta Schron, the Yeshiva dedicates the camp in her memory.
2015
Rabbi Moshe Leff
Principal, Middle School
2018
Rabbi Avrohom Bender
Menahel, 3rd Grade
2020
Rabbi Shloime Sender
Menahel, 12th Grade
2020
Community Night Seder
Rabbi Yitzchok Spiegel launches a bi-weekly night seder program for his sixth grade boys at Rabbi Mottel Katz’s shul on Hicksville Road.
The boys exhibit an unusual thirst for learning with their peers during the evening hours, and the program becomes a sensation in the Five Towns community.
During the day, all learning takes place in a classroom structure — but at night they get to be yeshiva bachurim, learning with peers on their own. Rabbi Spiegel suggests suitable pairs and monitors the progress of the boys, but the model they follow is of independent learning. Here, the sixth-grade boys get a taste of maturity and they savor every moment.
The boys find the program so rewarding that the boys of Lawrence and Cedarhurst ask for similar programs to be established in their neighborhoods.
In response, Rabbi Frischman coordinates what becomes the Yeshiva’s most comprehensive —and by far its most enthusiastic — extracurricular learning seder.
Seven locations are established throughout the communities of Inwood, Far Rockaway and Bayswater to the west of the 878, and Cedarhurst, Lawrence and Woodmere to the east. Rabbeim are hired, refreshments are served, and young sixth-grade boys become bachurim overnight.