Its main mission, though, is to train and help develop some of the greatest Talmudic minds in the world

Illustrations: Marion Bellina

Named for: the businessman and philanthropist who founded it

Born in Russia in 1865, Harry Fischel immigrated to the United States when he was 20 years old. He started working in construction and real estate in New York City and created a massive business where he employed many Jewish workers. At a time when a six-day workweek was the norm, Fischel gave his workers Shabbos and Sundays off. He also worked tirelessly to change New York Sabbath laws to recognize Saturday as the Jewish day of rest.

Fischel was supportive of and instrumental in the founding and sustainability of several major Jewish organizations, including the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, the Beth Israel Medical Center, and the American Jewish Committee. He had a vision of creating a network of Talmudic institutes with branches in New York, Eastern Europe, and Israel, but the Great Depression forced Fischel to downsize his dream. In 1931, Fischel founded the Harry Fischel Institute for Talmudic Research (Machon Harry Fischel) in Israel, though he continued to support various other learning institutions, including Yeshiva University and Yeshivat Mercaz Harav.

One of Fischel’s major philanthropic acts was taking money he had set aside for his later years and investing it in the institution he founded to promote Torah study and support Torah scholars. Machon Harry Fischel in Jerusalem houses a beautiful shul and a self-sustaining book bindery that employs elderly and disabled individuals. Its main mission, though, is to train and help develop some of the greatest Talmudic minds in the world, producing dayanim and authors of major scholarly works. The name Harry Fischel represents the ideal way to give, to fight for the betterment of the Jewish People, and to dedicate oneself to the klal with all the resources available.

Did you know

The machon was a pioneer in the area of Torah publications. Among the research and publication departments projects are:

Halachah Pesuka — a compilation of Jewish civil law based upon the works of hundreds of poskim throughout the generations.

Tosafot HaShalem — a comprehensive collection of commentaries on the Torah written by the Tosafos.

Birkat Eliyahu — a commentary on the Vilna Gaon’s writings on Choshen Mishpat.

Rishonim and manuscripts — advanced research on the works of the Rishonim.

(Originally featured in Mishpacha, Issue 878)