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Beth Medrash Govoha

Lakewood, NJ

private nonprofitgraduate

About Beth Medrash Govoha

America's pioneering center for advanced Talmudic study and rabbinic scholarship.

Beth Medrash Govoha stands as a unique and venerable institution, a beacon for advanced Talmudic study and rabbinic scholarship in the United States. Founded as the nation's very first kollel in 1942 by dedicated alumni of the Kelm Talmud Torah, it quickly evolved under the transformative leadership of the esteemed Rabbi Aharon Kotler in 1943. Prospective students and families will find BMG to be a deeply immersive environment, dedicated to the rigorous pursuit of Jewish law and thought, fostering a profound connection to generations of Torah learning.

Its historical roots run deep, reaching back to the renowned Yeshivas Etz Chaim in Slutzk, a revered European institution led by Rabbi Kotler himself before its disruption by historical events. After being reestablished in Kletzk and thriving until World War II, Rabbi Kotler brought this rich scholarly tradition to American shores, opening Beth Medrash Govoha to continue a legacy of uninterrupted Jewish scholarship. This direct lineage from centuries-old centers of learning underscores BMG's commitment to academic excellence and spiritual growth.

Students at Beth Medrash Govoha become part of a vibrant community committed to full-time, intensive study of the Talmud and other classical Jewish texts. The institution offers a distinctive path for those seeking to dedicate their lives to scholarly pursuit, rabbinic leadership, or advanced religious education. It represents an unparalleled opportunity to engage in profound intellectual and spiritual development within a supportive and highly focused academic setting.

Key Highlights

  • Established as the first kollel in the United States in spring 1942.
  • Founded with an initial 20 kollel members in White Plains, New York.
  • Led by the revered Rabbi Aharon Kotler starting in 1943.
  • Expanded into a yeshiva gedola in Lakewood with an initial enrollment of 14 students.
  • Successor institution to the historic Yeshivas Etz Chaim in Slutzk and Kletzk.

Timeline

1917
Yeshivas Etz Chaim in Slutzk, led by Rabbi Aharon Kotler, forcibly closed by the Soviet Revolution.
1941
Rabbi Aharon Kotler escapes the Nazis and arrives in the United States.
1942
Beth Medrash Govoha established as the first kollel in the United States in White Plains, New York.
1943
Rabbi Aharon Kotler assumes leadership of the kollel.
1943
Kollel moved to Lakewood and expanded with a yeshiva gedola, opening with 14 students.

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