Photos: Shulim Goldring, Yeshivah archives

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or a yeshivah entering its second century, Torah Vodaath looks remarkably spry and, dare I say it, modern for its age. It has innovations that likely would have been laughed at when the yeshivah got its start in 1918, and a Jewish education — any Jewish education — was all that could be asked for.

The growth of the Torah world and the diversification of the frum community has crowded Torah Vodaath out of the dominance it once held, but the yeshivah can still boast of having the fabled designation of eim hayeshivos (mother of the yeshivos) in America — a title granted to such legendary yeshivos as Volozhin and Slabodka. And, as it celebrates its 100th anniversary this year, the olam hayeshivos is reveling along with it.

Entering a second century is hard on anyone, and it comes with its own joys and challenges: aching bones mixed with special nachas from great-grandchildren, planning doctor visits around numerous simchos. And the future is one of both promise and challenges for Torah Vodaath as well. The institution, which started in Williamsburg a century ago before moving to its current location in Kensington five decades later, has loosened her apron strings and set its young out to the world yonder. The children have married and moved on, setting down roots in cities across the country and around the world.

Of course, a yeshivah can’t focus only on a glorious past — it’s the future that counts. But the yeshivah’s annual dinner that will double as a centennial celebration at the Brooklyn Marriott later this month allows Torah Vodaath a chance to step back and reminisce about its great former roshei yeshivah who led Klal Yisrael through America’s Torah growth throughout the 20th century.

And looking toward the future, Torah Vodaath has introduced its new rosh yeshivah, on whom they are pinning their hopes of making the yeshivah a place where talmidim will not only learn, but also continue the Torah Vodaath tradition of gaining a rebbi for life. Rav Yitzchok Lichtenstein, talmid of Rav Dovid Soloveitchik, son of Rav Aharon Lichtenstein, and grandson of Rav Yoshe Ber Soloveitchik zichronam livrachah, and a great-great-grandson of Rav Chaim Brisker, is an acclaimed expert in Rav Chaim’s Torah and has published a number of seforim containing Rav Chaim’s shiurim. Rav Lichtenstein previously served as rosh yeshivah of Yeshiva Nesivos HaTorah in Staten Island and serves as rav of Kehillas Bais Avrohom in Monsey. He’s currently transitioning into his new role and is planning a formal move to Brooklyn, where he’ll be working together with current roshei yeshivah Rav Yosef Savitsky and Rav Yisroel Reisman.

(Excerpted from Mishpacha, Issue 759)