Community Magazine September 2009

as they were in previous generations. Jewish law treats this subject so seriously that an established custom is afforded greater halachic weight than even the strongest halachic proofs, as the Sages comment, “ Minhag avotenu Torah – The customs of our fathers is [the true] Torah.” Both the parents and the educators at Keter Torah take this goal, of accurately transmitting the Sephardic tradition, very seriously. Jewish education entails not only conveying general Torah knowledge that is taught in all yeshivot, but also emphasizing the specific mesorah of the community each school represents, the customs and practices of past generations which we must instruct our children to follow. Beginning as an elementary school, Keter Torah answered this call. With the tireless efforts of Mr Ronnie Safdieh, President of Keter Torah in Lakewood, the yeshiva grew gradually, year by year. Eventually Rabbi Dabbah opened the Keter Torah Metivta High School to meet the educational needs of the expanding number of teenage boys in Lakewood’s Sephardic community. Amazingly, in a town full of outstanding yeshivot, Rabbi Dabbah succeeded in building an institution that is now considered to be among Lakewood’s finest – a reputation acquired through its comprehensive curriculum and professional, devoted educational staff. “It is a bastion of Torah in Lakewood for the Sephardic boys, and they can proudly carry the torch of their family forward,” explained Mrs. Laurie Abady, a mother in the school. A Sense of Belonging Aside from the mandate to educate students according to their mesorah , Keter Torah empowers students to excel in an environment where they feel a sense of belonging and acceptance. This feature is precisely what has drawn so many families to Keter Torah. “Children – especially in their formidable teen and preteen years – develop in a healthier manner when it’s their place, their home, when they don’t feel self conscious about somehow being different,” Rabbi Dabbah explains. Many of the parents described the special unity the boys feel toward each other, even among varying age groups. “There is a nice sense of camaraderie between the boys, being that it is the only Syrian school in Lakewood,” observed Mrs. Giordana Shalom, mother of two boys at Keter Torah. Keter Torah is a community school in every sense of the word. It is attended by Sephardic boys and run by professional educators and administrators from the community. Both the students and the parents feel a genuine sense of connection with the school’s staff and leadership, with whom they share a strong communal bond. Dedicated Role Models The extraordinary dedication of the entire administrative staff is also apparent on every level. Rabbi Dabbah himself, despite his busy schedule, makes the time to personally acquaint himself with each and every boy and analyze the best methods to educate him. The yeshiva’s success is also due to the hard work of Executive Director A.J. Gindi. “Three years ago,” Mr. Gindi recalls, “I left my wholesale business to assist Rabbi Dabbah in the yeshiva. That day changed my life. Working hand-in-hand with Rabbi Dabbah on a daily basis is a dream come true. The man is obsessed with the well-being of each and every child. He spends endless hours with the principals, rabbis and teachers discussing strategies of education in order to enhance the learning of the children and help them reach their full potential.” Keter Torah’s staff of rabbis has earned a reputation for exceptional warmth and devotion. They create a “warm and homey” atmosphere that allows the students to thrive and grow. “I’ve never seen anything like it,” Mrs. Meryl Schmool, the mother of an eighth grade student, enthused. “The rebbeim understand and care for the children in an unusual way. Even the Rosh Yeshiva himself builds a relationship with each and every boy. He avails himself to them and makes it a point to speak with them.” Mrs. Laurie Abady described the atmosphere as, “full of simha (joy) for the learning of Torah,” where students “learn and enjoy it, ensuring that they will enjoy learning for the rest of their lives.” Many of the rabbis themselves hail from the Sephardic community, and thus serve as realistic role models for the boys to follow. The students look to their rabbis with respect and admiration, anxious to emulate them and grow in Torah and yirat Shamayim (fear of Heaven) in accordance with Sephardic tradition. The rabbis’ Sephardic background also enables them to relate to and keenly understand the community dynamics, giving them an accurate sense of the students’ needs, concerns and culture-related difficulties. “They understand the children much better,” Mrs. Giordana Shalom commented. “They speak the same lingo and know where they are coming from.” Another mother noted that having been brought up with the same mesorah , the rabbis are able to convey it to their students with greater enthusiasm, zeal and emotion than someone who had simply learned the material from a book. The shared background has also facilitates a special understanding and collaboration between the teachers and parents, who work closely together to achieve the same goals. “Sephardic rebbeim understand the community more – there is simply no comparison,” explains Mrs. Schmool. A Unique Curriculum While Keter Torah’s curriculum generally follows the mainstream yeshivot in Lakewood, incorporating all the standard subjects in both religious and general studies, the method of instruction it employs sets it apart from other institutions. It follows a skill- based approach to education, equipping the students with the tools 44 COMMUNITY MAGAZINE