Yeshiva Zichron Yaakov
| Motto | Torah U'Mussar (unofficial) |
|---|---|
| Type | Private, Jewish |
| Established | 1999 |
| Location |
 New Hempstead, New York, NY |
Yeshiva Zichron Yaakov (ישיבה זכרון יעקב) was an all-male Jewish Orthodox high school located in New Hempstead, New York which operated under the direction and leadership of Rabbi Eliyahu Maza and Secular Studies Principle Rabbi Benyamin Plotzker. It closed in 2013.
History
Otherwise known as Chofetz Chaim of Monsey, Yeshiva Zichron Yaakov was founded in 1999 and graduated its first class in 2003. Attendance peaked at around 70 students in 2005,[1] and fell to a modest 40 students per year on average. It ran its high school program until 2013.
Affiliation
The school was an affiliate of the Rabbinical Seminary of America,[2] (which is more commonly known as Chofetz Chaim). As such, its curriculum and ideals match those of the Chofetz Chaim Yeshivas.
Curriculum
The school combines a traditional Lithuanian-style Yeshiva schedule in the morning with a notable General Studies program in the afternoon to provide a proper education to its students.
Judaic studies
The primary portion of the Judaic Studies curriculum was study of the Babylonian Talmud. Mussar study was considered paramount, and the study of the book Chofetz Chaim highly recommended by the school. The Judaic Studies program also consisted of Halacha and Tanakh. (Study of the Hebrew Language was part of the General Studies program.)
General studies
The typical student in the school took all the required Regents Examinations by the conclusion of four years of schooling: English, two courses in Mathematics, two Sciences (usually Biology and Chemistry), two History courses (World History and Geography and U.S. History and Government), and one foreign language.
Controversy
Success of the High School program ran into two key issues within its Math and English department in 2009-2010 academic year. The math teacher hired for this year was unaccredited, and many wondered whether this teacher's appointment was because of a lack of funding for an accredited teacher, an aversion towards hiring female teachers, or both. This resulted in a poor class average for that year's math regent. Furthermore, the English teacher for that year simply left one day in the middle of the Fall, and never returned (with no explanation for the absence given). The administration could not find a replacement, which lead to English not being taught for months on end. That summer, half the incoming Junior year class transferred to schools with stronger Secular Studies departments for the 2010-2011 academic year. Because the school only had around 40 students total any given year, the impact of such a departure was massive, and Yeshiva Zichron Yaakov never truly recovered (nor did its reputation). It closed its doors two years later, in 2013.
Alumni
Most (if not all) Yeshiva Zichron Yaakov graduates continue their studies upon graduation at more advanced yeshivas and/or universities.
References
- ↑ http://high-schools.com/directory/ny/cities/spring-valley/yeshiva-zichron-yaakov/a0108088/
- ↑ "PTI About Us". Ptibc.org. Retrieved 2013-04-22.
External links
Coordinates: 41°08′32″N 74°03′16″W / 41.142209°N 74.054331°W