Emet Creates New Division For Advanced Students

As Emet Outreach grows and thrives, a “good” problem has arisen—many students have outgrown the curriculum they’re currently offered, making the organization a “victim” of its own success. As a result, there is a growing need among students for more challenging and stimulating programming to help strengthen their commitment to Torah observance.

“Step-It-Up” for girls already addressed this need for Emet’s female students. Now Emet has launched an exciting new division for advanced boys known as Torat Emet, led by Rabbi Nissim Musheyev in conjunction with Rabbi Michael Fuzaylov and Rabbi Eliyahu Maksumov.

Yeshiva Atmosphere

Torat Emet’s core program is its weekly Beit Midrash Program at Yeshiva Chofetz Chaim. It offers students a taste of what it feels like to learn in a real yeshivah—small-group learning with Emet rabbis or members of the yeshiva’s kollel, followed by an Emet staff member or guest speaker addressing the entire group. The program was founded almost four years ago by Rabbi Fuzaylov and quickly became very popular.

Campus Coordinator Rabbi Reuven Kigel is an integral part of the Beit Midrash program. It’s not easy for Rabbi Kigel, who lives in Passaic, to come to Queens each Wednesday evening, but he says it’s rewarding and worthwhile, and when students want to learn, he simply cannot say no. “I feel an obligation to allow students who don’t have a set learning seder to continue to learn and spend time in the bais medrash, and maintain a connection to Emet and Torah learning. I’m so happy they want to stay connected.”

Beyond the Beit Midrash

Torat Emet offers two shabbatons per semester, in Passaic, Far Rockaway / Lawrence, or Monsey. Each Shabbaton is centered around a local yeshiva—either Shor Yoshuv, the Passaic Yeshiva, or Ohr Somayach. This gives students a taste of yeshiva, which hopefully whets their appetite for further learning. Just this past Shabbat, Torat Emet held a Shabbaton in Woodmere. It was particularly unique and exciting, as many of the families who hosted students were Emet alumni themselves who are now raising frum families and are able to help the next wave of students discover the same path they did.

Students attend at least two trips per year, which are a blend of intense learning with fun downtime. Students learn each morning with a chavrusa in an intense analytical way, and the rest of the day is packed with activities. These trips are extremely impactful, because rather than learning for a couple of hours and going back to “regular” life, the students are immersed in a yeshiva atmosphere for several days, and engage in meaningful conversations with Rabbis that help deepen their commitment.

In January, students took a memorable trip to Arizona. Each morning they spent hours in the Bais Medrash, preparing a sugya in Gemara, followed by an in-depth shiur. They asked questions and engaged in lively debate. For many, it was the first time in their lives they experienced what it’s like to learn in yeshiva, and they seemed to love every minute.

Rabbi Fuzaylov says that bringing students to a gorgeous atmosphere made it easier to inspire them. “Traveling out of the bitter cold into a sunny 70 degree climate can give anyone a boost. And on a deeper level, bringing students away from everyday life allows them to get away from distractions, and really immerse themselves in learning.“

Tomi, a student who attended the trip, said “Of all the organizations I’ve ever seen and been a part of, EMET hands down cares about its students more than anyone else. The staff is so devoted, they gave us everything you can imagine, even when they were literally sick and had fever.”

Rapid Growth

Virtually all Torat Emet students began with no yeshiva background and little exposure to Torah observance before they entered college. After a year or two of beginner programming, many commit themselves to more Torah observance, and some are so advanced that they thirst for more learning and events designed to help them achieve lasting growth and development.

Rabbi Musheyev says Torat Emet can accomplish many amazing goals. “In the short term, our goal is to give boys the opportunity to learn on a higher level in the best possible atmosphere,” he explains. “In the long term, our ambitious yet realistic goal is to send each boy to learn in yeshiva in Israel for a minimum of 3 months, followed by continued part-time yeshiva study while they’re in college.”

Since its launch this year, students have embraced Torat Emet, and ambitious senior staff members expect to see incredible results, including more students learning in yeshiva, and a deeper commitment to Shmirat Shabbat and keeping Halacha. They believe that as this new division continues to grow and develop, it will have the potential to impact the lives of hundreds and possibly thousands of students.