About | Beit Midrash of Teaneck

OUR STORY

The Beit Midrash of Teaneck (BMT) was born of a desire to fill a gap in the Jewish community for services tailored to meet the spiritual, intellectual and social needs of retiring baby boomers.

The program’s conceptual design was formulated in 2018 by then local residents Leonard Grunstein, Tim Levart, Simcha Katz, David Jacobowitz and Carl Feit. The official members of BMT’s founding board are Len, Tim and Simcha, who were its incorporators as a New Jersey not-for-profit corporation and 501(c)(3) religious organization.

Their original vision has evolved and become a fundamental part of the spiritual life of the Teaneck community. BMT serves and impacts the lives of so many in Teaneck, as well as the surrounding communities and online. It has become a paradigm for how the spiritual, intellectual and social needs of retirees can be integrated through the medium of Torah study at BMT. It has also facilitated what so many recognize to be an essential part of a successful retirement.

Mission Statement

The mission of Beit Midrash of Teaneck is to provide a Tuition-Free Daytime Torah study program for retirees and those with flexible schedules.

It is an innovative and stimulating program, with topical and text- based Shiurim (classes) offered three mornings a week by renowned and world class Torah educators and scholars in Gemara (Talmud), Neviim and Ketuvim (Prophets and Writings), Halacha and Machshava (Jewish Law and Philosophy), Jewish History and the weekly Torah (Bible) portion.

BMT offers in-person and remote learning options, fosters intellectual and social camaraderie, and has become a vital part of the community.

A fundamental part of the program is the innovative plan to replicate the Beit Midrash experience of Torah study. The BMT program is designed to empower all participants, no matter what the skill level, to have a meaningful experience.

The Beit Midrash is not only a venue where a person can sit and study Torah; it is also a place where people can assemble and interact with each other, as an integral part of the Torah study process. This includes breaks between classes for coffee, snacks and old-fashioned in-person socialization.