Posted to Chabad News on

Jewish Technical Vocational School Builds on Success with Chabad Students

BROOKLYN, NY [CHI] — A bold new vocational school/Yeshiva for Chassidishe young men opened this year, offering students a supportive environment to learn professional skills. At Bramson ORT College, these students earn an Associate’s degree in Business Management– while continuing their religious growth at yeshiva in Crown Heights.

The Jewish Technical Vocational School has enrolled more than 25 Bochurim as part of this joint effort. Since September, the program has been nurturing and challenging talmidim who have not been able to follow the traditional career paths: either shlichus or developing the family’s business.

“The school has given the talmidim a chance to succeed while increasing in their Torah observant and an active participant in the community,” said Rabbi Levi Kaplan, Director of JTVS.

“The students are motivated and excited about learning for the first time,” Kaplan said. “They are also gaining the professional skills they will need to earn a living and support their families.”

The students in the program spend four hours every morning learning Judaic studies, including Talmud, Hashkafa and Halacha, at the JTVS’ yeshivas in Crown Heights. Night seder, with either a farbrengen or a shiur twice a week provides a nurturing environment for roundtable discussions. In the afternoon, they take courses at Bramson ORT College’s Brooklyn extension campus, in disciplines such as business management, computer science and graphic design.

By the end of the two-year program, they will earn a General Equivalency Diploma (GED) and Associate Degrees, and can work in a wide range of fields, including computers, electronics, web design, and health care. They can also continue their education at a four-year college and complete a Bachelor’s Degree. Bramson ORT College’s credits are accepted at many area colleges and universities. The students may apply for various forms of financial aid including, but not limited to, government assistance and ORT subsidies.

Yair Rosenrauch, Director of the Bramson ORT College Brooklyn campus, said JTVS has worked hard to create an environment where the students feel comfortable and thrive.

“The teachers at the school know every student by name, and work closely with each of them to help them learn and grow,” said Rosenrauch. “The students have been achieving and feel confident, while learning important skills for the workplace. The unique blend of small classroom settings, state-of-the-art laboratories and equipment, as well as a state-accredited curriculum allows us to uniquely cater to the community. ”

“Many Charedi and Orthodox students don’t fit the typical mold, and their parents have been looking for this type of program for years,” said Kaplan. “The need is out there, and we are going to continue to give our teenagers the tools they need to succeed.”

Bramson ORT College is part of ORT, which has been providing service, both economic and educational, for over 120 years.

JTVS: Rabbi Levi Kaplan 718-755-9335 levke@myjli.com

Bramson ORT College: Yair Rosenrauch 718-259-5300 x13 yrosen@bramsonort.edu

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24 Comments

  • Rosy

    Crown Heights is very fortunate to have this program.
    Can you post the contact information please

  • proud cousin

    I am so proud of my two cousins, Ephraim Stock and Mendel Turner… Keep up the good work and much success to you both!!

  • As far as I know

    Rabbi Abraham is responsible for the learning/ruchnius of the program. He deserves a lot of credit for his dedication to the bochurim and JTVS.

  • Old Yeshiva Parent

    You bet! This is the answer to our Yeshiva problem. Keep up the great work Rabbis Kaplan, Abraham and Storfer.

  • moshe

    Great stuff. Like seeing positive action in the direction of helping our yourh. Keep up the awesome work.

  • Me

    Great! Shame the Yeshiva system is not interested in doing things that motivate the Bochurim.

  • To Yael

    Yael, you do not know what you are talking about. This type of school was unssuccesfuly started several times in CH WITH the Rebbe’s brochos. this is the first time that such a school was succesful

  • Yair Rosenrauch

    We are very proud of our students, their successes and our affiliation with the Crown Heights community.

    Registration is in its final stages for the summer semester and Rabbi Kaplan is currently interviewing new students for the Fall semester.

    For further information about the program please contact:

    JTVS: R’ Levi Kaplan 718-755-9335 levke@myjli.com http://www.jtvs.org
    Bramson ORT College: Yair Rosenrauch 718-259-5300 x13 yrosen@bramsonort.edu

  • To Yael

    Yael,
    I am not sure if you really know what you are saying. But I do know that the Rebbe did say if you are quoting him to have it in writing, so please post the letter that the Rebbe wrote not to make such a school.
    Finally, someone did something for the benefit of our children, and you have to knock it with things you know nothing about. I wish the Yeshivos would have done something that gave the boys some incentive for the past many years.
    Thanks you JTVS.

  • Proud to be part of the JTVS -family-

    Yechi JTVS l’olam voed!!!!
    An outstanding program that was long overdue in the making & is BH filling a huge void/need in our community…continued success to the program & its fantastic & dedicated staff… To Yael: OPEN your eyes woman and look on the streets at what is going on as result of our Yeshiva ‘system’ & then tell me that the Rebbe would not have ok’ed this program…FINALLY we have a yeshiva that REALLY cares, with REAL results.

  • Shalom

    Great idea! This must continue. Everything must be done to solve the educational problem that is present in CH.

  • its about time

    Beautiful! IT’S ABOUT TIME!!THANKS MERKOS AND BRAMSON ORT!! YOU ARE SAVING LIVES WITH THIS PROGRAM.

  • thak you moshe

    and also thank moshe kotlorski, who was instrumental in puting this togeher. and also came up with the intial funds.

  • Joseph

    Can you just tell us if this Yeshiva has a Dorm and are bochurim from abroad accepted too; Could more information be posted. . we’re REALLY interested. . it sounds so ideal !!!!!!!!!!!

  • mendle t aunt

    its def. a great program with learning and getting an education so they can get a real job and support there family i think if people dont have anything nice to say DONT mendle T keep it up !