Mesivta Tiferet Torah To Expand Its Space

A once-bustling Persian synagogue in Kew Gardens has a new owner in Mesivta Tiferes Torah, one of the only high school for boys in Queens that is based in Sephardic customs. As its founding administrator Rabbi Nerya Aminov sees it, the sizable facility has potential for more than a school. “My goal is to create a full-time kollel here along with programs for kids,” said Rabbi Aminov. “In the model of Beth Gavriel it would be a community center. It has potential.”

The sizable facility is the former Shaare Tova synagogue in Kew Gardens, built in 1983 by Masshadi Jews who settled in Queens after fleeing the Islamic revolution in Iran. As members of that community established themselves in their new home, most of them relocated to the upscale suburb of Great Neck. In their place, Kew Gardens experienced an influx of Bukharian Jews, many of whom attended this synagogue on account of the cultural and linguistic similarities shared by Persian and Bukharian Jews.

While many children of Bukharian immigrants also found success in a variety of careers, some took a path of spiritual leadership. Rabbi Aminov learned in the kollel of Yeshiva Chofetz Chaim, where he received his semichah. Upon completing their studies, many of its rabbis disperse throughout the country and the world to strengthen existing Jewish communities. For Rabbi Aminov, this mission was found close to home, as he sought to provide a yeshiva education to public school students. “This yeshiva began 13 years ago and we now have nearly 70 boys learning with us.”

Rabbi Aminov’s partner in founding Mesivta Tiferes Torah is Rabbi Nachum Zlotnick, who sees the school as the beginning of a lifelong relationship. “It’s about being connected to their rebbe. My graduates stay with me and return to learn here.” They return to learn in its kollel and worship at its synagogue Congregation Ner Mordechai, named after Rabbi Aminov’s father-in-law. Having outgrown its current space at the Kew Gardens Synagogue, it found the Shaare Tova facility ideal for expansion, conveniently located across the street. “This property has potential for eight floors with 70,000 square feet of space and we can build up,” said Rabbi Aminov. “It can serve as a community center and source of Torah.”

Along with Rabbis Aminov and Zlitnick, Rabbi Tzvi Kramer also runs the school, taking note of the students’ paths after graduation. “I’m in contact with them on average once a week and they’ve mainstreamed into post-high school yeshivas where they are comfortable,” said Rabbi Kramer. Nearly all go on to college and establish careers while maintaining time to learn through its kollel.

With its yeshiva, synagogue, and kollel, the new space acquired by Mesivta Tiferes Torah is certain to foster its growth, benefiting Bukharian Jews and the larger Queens Jewish community.