{{Short description|Orthodox Jewish yeshiva high school in Teaneck, New Jersey}} {{Use American English|date=September 2025}} {{use mdy dates|date=August 2024}} {{Infobox school | name = | native_name = {{lang|he|ישיבת היכל התורה}} | image = | alt = | caption = | motto = <!-- or | mottoes = --> | motto_translation = | location = 70 Sterling Place, [[Teaneck, New Jersey]] | country = United States | coordinates = {{coord|40.8857|-74.0089|type:edu_region:US-NJ|display=inline,title}} | other_names = | former_name = <!-- or | former_names = --> | type = Private | religious_affiliation = [[Orthodox Judaism]] | established = {{Start date|2013}} | founders = {{ubl|Aryeh Stechler|Avi Goldenberg|Yehuda Jacoby}} | closed = <!-- {{End date|YYYY|MM|DD|df=yes}} --> | school_board = | district = | authority = <!-- or | educational_authority = or | local_authority = --> | oversight = <!-- use | oversight_label = to override the default label --> | principal = Aryeh Stechler | principal_label = [[Rosh yeshiva]] | principal1 = Dovid Goldman | principal_label1 = Principal of [[Judaic studies]] | principal2 = | head = <!-- use | head_label = to override the default label --> | staff = | faculty = 24<ref name="USNews"/> | grades = 9 &ndash; 12 | gender = Male | age_range = <!-- or | lower_age = and | upper_age = --> | enrollment = 221 | ratio = 8:1 | language = | campus_size = | campus_type = | colors = <!-- or | colours = --> | sports = {{flatlist| *Basketball *baseball *softball *football<ref name="USNews"/> }} | team_name = Hornets | accreditation = <!-- or | accreditations = --> | publication = | newspaper = | yearbook = | affiliation = <!-- or | affiliations = --> | website = {{URL|heichalhatorah.org}} | footnotes = }} '''Yeshivas Heichal HaTorah''' is an [[Orthodox Judaism|Orthodox Jewish]] [[mesivta|yeshiva high school]] located in [[Teaneck, New Jersey]]. The [[Educational institution|institution]] owns and operates the Jewish Center of Teaneck, where it is located. Heichal is unaffiliated with Israeli [[yeshiva]]s under the same name.

== History == Heichal HaTorah was established by Rabbi Aryeh Stechler, Mr. Avi Goldenberg, and Mr. Yehuda Jacoby. The group met in the autumn of 2012 to establish a [[Mesivta|yeshiva high school]] that would open in the fall of 2013. Their objective was to create an institution that combines a classic yeshiva schedule to sufficiently develop students' [[Torah study|Torah studies]] with a rigorous secular studies department to give them the skillset needed for college and the professional workplace. Heichal HaTorah greeted its first class of 17 students on September 4, 2013. It graduated its first class on June 14, 2017.<ref>{{Cite news|last=|first=|url=http://www.jewishlinknj.com/community-news/bergen/19556-heichal-hatorah-graduates-inaugural-class|title=Heichal HaTorah Graduates Inaugural Class|date=June 29, 2017|work=Jewish Link|location=|access-date=August 2, 2024}}</ref> The school has an enrollment of 221 students.<ref name="USNews">[https://www.usnews.com/education/k12/new-jersey/heichal-hatorah-320274 Heichal Hatorah], ''[[U.S. News & World Report]]''. Retrieved January 7, 2025.</ref> In 2017, the school introduced a Tikvah Humanities curriculum into its general studies courses. The course, in partnership with the [[Tikvah Fund]], an educational foundation in New York, implements a neo-classical historical and literary curriculum.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://heichalhatorah.org/academics/tikvah-humanities-curriculum/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190323201052/http://heichalhatorah.org/academics/tikvah-humanities-curriculum/|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 23, 2019|title=Tikvah Humanities Curriculum|website=heichalhatorah.org}}</ref><ref name="Jerusalem">{{Cite news|last=Kaufman|first=Elliot|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/jerusalem-meets-athens-in-new-jersey-11566510555|title=Opinion {{!}} Jerusalem Meets Athens in New Jersey|date=August 22, 2019|work=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|location=|access-date=November 24, 2019}}</ref>

== Campus == In 2016, Heichal HaTorah moved into its present location at the Jewish Center of Teaneck facility, located at 70 Sterling Place in [[Teaneck, New Jersey]].<ref>(June 23, 2016) [https://jewishstandard.timesofisrael.com/heichal-hatorah-holds-annual-dinner/ "Heichal HaTorah Holds Annual Dinner"], ''[[Jewish Standard]]''. Retrieved January 7, 2025.</ref> Special events are held in the school's [[ballroom]].<ref name="Greets">(November 7, 2024) [https://jewishlink.news/heichal-hatorah-greets-prospective-students-at-open-house-2/ "Heichal HaTorah Greets Prospective Students at Open House"], ''Jewish Link''. Retrieved January 7, 2025.</ref> The school hosts a townwide {{Transliteration|he|[[Simchat Beit HaShoeivah]]}} ({{lit|Rejoicing of the Water-drawing House}}) celebration on its campus each year during the [[Sukkot]] holiday.<ref name="Link Heichal">(October 31, 2024) [https://jewishlink.news/heichal-hatorah-18/ "Heichal HaTorah"], ''Jewish Link''. Retrieved January 7, 2025.</ref>

== Curriculum == Heichal HaTorah students embark on a two-fold course of study familiar to them from their time in [[Jewish day school|day school]]. On the one hand, there is a regimen of [[Judaic studies]], with particular emphasis being placed on the [[Hebrew Bible]] and [[Talmud]]. The latter's importance can be seen from Heichal's encouragement of their students to complete the study of the scheduled {{Transliteration|he|[[masekhet]]}} (tractate) over the summer recess, with a subsequent {{Transliteration|he|[[siyum]]}} ({{lit|completion}}) celebration being held for them after the start of the fall semester, during Sukkot.<ref name="Link Heichal"/> In addition to the above, the school offers a full academic studies program (including some [[STEM]] subjects)<ref name="Greets"/> such as biology, mathematics, English, history, business and finance.<ref name="New">(August 26, 2021) [https://jewishlink.news/heichal-hatorah-welcomes-new-faculty/ "Heichal HaTorah Welcomes New Faculty"], ''Jewish Link''. Retrieved January 7, 2025.</ref>

== Programs == === Athletic === Heichal HaTorah sponsors its own [[Varsity team|varsity]] and [[Junior varsity team|junior varsity]] (JV) basketball and softball teams known as the Heichal Hornets. In 2018, the Heichal Hornets won the NCYI JV Basketball League championship.<ref>{{cite news |last=|first=|url=https://www.jewishlinknj.com/sports/25529-heichal-hatorah-captures-the-ncyi-jv-basketball-league-championship |title=Heichal HaTorah Captures the NCYI JV Basketball League Championship |date=June 14, 2018|work=Jewish Link|location=|accessdate=March 2, 2019 }}</ref> On May 23, 2022, Heichal JV athlete Sachi Zauderer shot a game-winning 3-pointer in the championships, making it to [[ESPN]]'s [[SportCenter]] Top 10.<ref>(June 1, 2023) [https://jewishlink.news/heichal-hatorah-takes-tbl-division/ "Heichal HaTorah Takes TBL Division"], ''Jewish Link''. Retrieved January 7, 2025.</ref>

=== ''Vehaer Eineinu'' === {{Transliteration|he|Vehaer Eineinu}} ({{lit|Enlighten our eyes}}/enlighten us) is a program spearheaded by Heichal's ''[[mashgiach ruchani]]'' (spiritual guidance counselor) Rabbi Reuven Tzvi Schwechter. The program is focused on incentivizing students to limit their [[screen time]] in order to enhance their spiritual lives. The program consists of three tiers, encompassing 4 hours, 8 hours, and 12 hours per week of screen time respectively. There are engaging [[raffle]]s and programs on a weekly, monthly and yearly basis. The Vehaer Eineinu website can be viewed at [https://hhve.org hhve.org] and was developed by [https://vascad.com Vascad Marketing] <ref>{{Cite web |title=Vehaer Eineinu – Soar Above the Screen |url=https://hhve.org |access-date=2025-01-07 |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Leadership == <!-- This section is for highest tier school leadership only; unnotable faculty names will be removed --> * Rabbi Aryeh Stechler, [[rosh yeshiva]]<ref name="Jerusalem"/><ref>(November 6, 2023) [https://jewishlink.news/33-yeshiva-high-schools-take-pledge-to-fight-college-antisemitism/ "33 Yeshiva High Schools Take Pledge to Fight College Antisemitism"], ''Jewish Link''. Retrieved August 2, 2024.</ref> * Rabbi Dovid Goldman, Menahel (principal) of Judaic studies<ref name="Greets"/> * Rabbi Dr. Joshua Strulowitz, director of faculty advancements<ref name="Welcomes">(August 31, 2023) [https://jewishlink.news/heichal-hatorah-welcomes-new-faculty-for-2023-2024/ "Heichal HaTorah Welcomes New Faculty for 2023-2024"], ''Jewish Link''. Retrieved September 14, 2023.</ref>

=== Former === * Rabbi Maccabee Avishur, academic dean and principal of general studies<ref>Klein Leichman, Abigail (February 16, 2022) [https://jewishstandard.timesofisrael.com/much-more-inspirational-than-sad/ "Much More Inspirational Than Sad"], ''Jewish Standard''. Retrieved September 14, 2023.</ref> * Rabbi Avi Oberlander (died in 2024),<ref>(June 22, 2024) [https://www.theyeshivaworld.com/news/general/2291900/bde-petirah-of-rav-avi-oberlander-zl-menahel-at-yeshiva-heichal-hatorah.html "BD'E: Petirah of Rav Avi Oberlander z'l, Menahel at Yeshiva Heichal Hatorah"], ''[[Yeshiva World News]]''. Retrieved January 7, 2025.</ref> former Menahel (principal) of Judaic studies<ref name="New"/> * Dr. Seth Taylor, academic [[dean (education)|dean]] of students<ref name="Welcomes" />

== References == <references />

== External links == * [http://heichalhatorah.org/ Official website] * [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCENUntrQArcO_dXQr-Q956Q YouTube channel]

{{Metropolitan Yeshiva High School Athletic League}} {{authority control}}

[[Category:2013 in Judaism]] [[Category:2013 establishments in New Jersey]] [[Category:Educational institutions established in 2013]] [[Category:Jewish day schools in New Jersey]] [[Category:Modern Orthodox Jewish day schools in the United States]] [[Category:Modern Orthodox Judaism in New Jersey]] [[Category:Private high schools in Bergen County, New Jersey]] [[Category:Orthodox yeshivas in New Jersey]] [[Category:Teaneck, New Jersey]]