Community Magazine July - August 2003

W ednesday, the day after Lag Ba'omer, 5763. As the sun began to set behind the mountains of Jerusalem, a crowd gathered in the city's Ramat Shlomo neigh- borhood. Gedolei Yisrael, Rashei Yeshivot, rabbis…Jews from all walks of life assem- bled on a stretch of land with a panoramic view of the holy city. They came to witness a moment in Jewish history: Yeshivat Mikdash Melech Yerushalayim was break- ing ground for a new campus. Mikdash Melech was founded in 1972 in Brooklyn, New York by Rabbis Haim Benoliel and David Lopian, sons-in-law of Rabbi Mendel Kaplan zt"l. It was the first Sephardic Yeshiva Gedolah in the western hemisphere. Over the years, the yeshiva has flourished, as hundreds of students have passed through its doors, warming themselves by the fire of Torah lishmah from morning 'till night. Many have gone on to lead communities and yeshivot of their own, spreading the word of Hashem throughout the world. In 1988, sensing an unmet need, Rabbi Benoliel established a branch of the yeshi- va, Mikdash Melech Jerusalem, in Bayit Vagan. Geared for English-speaking Sephardic boys who want to enjoy the unique experience of Torat Eretz Yisrael, 'Mikdash East' has succeeded in develop- ing hundreds of outstanding b'nei Torah. In addition to the students who hail from the Sephardic communities of Brooklyn and the Jersey Shore, where they graduat- ed from high schools such as Ateret Torah, Shaare Torah and Deal Yeshiva, the yeshi- va boasts students from such diverse places as Canada, Australia, England, Gibraltar, Panama and Costa Rica. The boys spend a year or two – and often- times more – in an environment steeped in Torah and Mussar, guided by a devoted menahel, a mashgiach, and several exempla- ry maggidei shiur. (The highest shiur is given by the renowned Rav Mordechai Lamet, a disciple of Rav Berel Soloveitchik zt"l.) While some eventually return to h utz la'aretz to pursue a business career, many continue on to the famed yeshivot of Mir, 66 COMMUNITY MAGAZINE Mikdash Melech Breaks NewGround in Jerusalem B Y MO S H E B . M I Z R A C H I s ” xc