Rabbinical College of America

Rabbinical College of America

Type	Chabad Lubavitch Chasidic Yeshiva
Established	1956
Religious affiliation	Jewish
Academic affiliations	Association of Advanced Rabbinical and Talmudic Schools, Tomchei Temimim
Location	Morris Township , New Jersey , U.S.
Campus	Urban, 82-acre (330,000 m2)
Website	www.rca.edu

The Rabbinical College of America is a yeshiva in Morris Township, New Jersey, affiliated with the Chabad movement of Hasidic Judaism. Licensed by the New Jersey Commission on Higher Education, ^{[1] [ full citation needed ]} the yeshiva grants a four-year bachelor's degree in religious studies and a master's degree program in religious education and is accredited by the Association of Advanced Rabbinical and Talmudic Schools. ^[2] The yeshiva is the New Jersey headquarters of the Chabad movement. ^[3]

Established in Newark, New Jersey, in 1956, the school moved in 1971 to a campus in Morris Township covering 82 acres (33 ha). ^[4]

Academic programs

• Yeshiva Tomchei Temimim – The international network of Chabad Yeshivas, intended for college-aged men (18–22). Hundreds of its graduates obtained ordination at advanced Rabbinical schools, and serve as Rabbis of Chabad House and community institutions around the world.
  • Rabbinical ordination program ^[5] for Tomchei Temimin graduates on-site under the supervision of Rabbi Chaim Schapiro. The ordination degrees have been signed by former Chief Rabbis of Israel, Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu and Yisroel Meir Lau.
• Yeshiva Tiferes Bachurim – One of the first programs worldwide for Ba'alei Teshuva founded in the summer of 1973 by Rabbi Avraham Lipskier, who served as its first Mashpia (and who subsequently founded Yeshiva Tiferes Menachem ^[6] in Seagate, NY). This program is accredited by the state of New Jersey to grant a Bachelor's Degree in Religious Studies. ^[7]
  • There was an ordination program instituted in 1978 with seven students under the supervision of Rabbis Dovid Wichnin, the first Rosh Yeshiva (Headmaster), and Boruch Yorkovitch. The examination committee consisted of Rabbi Sholom Ber Gordon from New Jersey, and Rabbis Avraham Osdoba and Bogomilsky from New York. However, it was phased out in 1979 due to low enrollment. The remaining four students (Rabbis Simcha Frankel, ^[8] Tzvi Freeman, ^{[9] [10] [11]} Shlomo Sawilowsky, Menachem Schmidt ^{[12] [13]} ) continued their advanced ordination studies after graduation elsewhere.^{[ citation needed ]} Many other graduates of Tiferes Bachurim subsequently received ordination at other rabbinical institutions. Examples are Rabbis Dovid Rothschild, author of a two volume series in English pertaining to the Lubavitcher Rebbe's holiday essays; ^[14] and Herschel Finman, who has hosted a radio show (WLQV 1500 am and WPON 1460 am) since 1995. ^{[15] [16]} In 2009, the ordination program was reinstituted under the supervision of Rabbi Ya'akov Wagner.
  • Notable graduates include Rabbi Tzvi Freeman, Rabbi Moshe Reuven Sheradsky, Rabbi YY Jacobson, Dr. Dovid Lazerson, author of Skullcaps n' Switchblades, ^{[17] [18]} and Shimon Waronker. ^[19]
• Kollel Tiferes Avreichim ^[20] for married students. ^[21]
• Cheder Lubavitch, ^[22] an Orthodox day school for boys and girls, whose principal is Rabbi Aaron Wilschanski. ^[23]
• Yeshiva Summer Program, is a summer program for 13- to 14-year-old boys that runs every summer. It includes half a day of learning and half a day of activities, and many trips. ^[24]
• Albert Richman, an electrical engineering executive, was the president and was awarded an honorary doctorate in 1982. ^{[25] [26]}

References

1. Rabbinical Schools / Theological Seminaries in New Jersey, accessed December 6, 2006
2. Rabbinical College of America, State of New Jersey, updated January 29, 2026.
3. About Us, Rabbinical College of America. Accessed January 31, 2026. "The Rabbinical College of America is part of the worldwide Chabad movement, which boasts more than 4000 centers worldwide."
4. Dinges, Tomás. "Hasidic Rabbinical college celebrates 40 years in Morris County", The Star-Ledger , November 17, 2010. Accessed January 31, 2026. "Over the past 40 years at its tree-lined 82-acre campus in Morris County, the Rabbinical College of America has educated thousands of people from all over the world in the principles of the Lubavitch sect of Judaism.... This year, the college, which urges graduates to help bolster the spiritual lives of other Jews, is celebrating the 40th anniversary at the campus, which actually lies in Morris Township.... It was held just minutes from the single-family home that served as the school’s first location when it was founded in 1956. The school moved from the Newark site in 1971 to the larger and more serene Morris County location, partly to make way for continued growth of the student body, Solomon said."
5. "Rabbinical Ordination Program | Lubavitch of New Jersey Regional Hdqts". Rca.edu. Archived from the original on October 1, 2011. Retrieved October 18, 2011.
6. "Yeshiva Tiferes Menachem – Torah Study for Men". Tiferes.org. Retrieved October 18, 2011.
7. "Tiferes Bachurim". Theworldsgreatestyeshiva.com. Archived from the original on March 23, 2018. Retrieved October 18, 2011.
8. "MFF Features". Mff.org. Archived from the original on September 27, 2011. Retrieved October 18, 2011.
9. Schneerson, Menachem Mendel (May 18, 2007). Bringing heaven down to earth: 365 ... – Tzvi Freeman, Menaḥem Mendel Schneersohn – Google Books. Class One Press. ISBN   9780968240809 . Retrieved October 18, 2011.
10. Freeman, Tzvi (May 2004). Men, Women & Kabala: A Handbook from ... – Tzvi Freeman – Google Books. Class One Press. ISBN   9780968240830 . Retrieved October 18, 2011.
11. Freeman, Tzvi (2004). The Book of Purpose: Meditations My ... – Tzvi Freeman – Google Books. Class One Press. ISBN   9780968240854 . Retrieved October 18, 2011.
12. "Orthodox Jewish Philadelphia Directory". Philly-direct.com. August 23, 2011. Archived from the original on October 16, 2011. Retrieved October 18, 2011.
13. Thompson, Andrew. "Too Cool for Shul :: Cover Story :: Article :: Philadelphia City Paper". Citypaper.net. Archived from the original on September 16, 2009. Retrieved October 18, 2011.
14. "Holiday Maamarim 2 Vol Set :: Kehotonline". Store.kehotonline.com. Retrieved October 18, 2011.
15. "Radio Show". Rabbi Finman. Retrieved October 18, 2011.
16. "Rabbi Herschel Finman – Askmoses Resident Scholar – Judaism Jewish History Expert". Askmoses.com. Retrieved October 18, 2011.
17. "Welcome to Dr Laz's Web Site". Drlaz.com. May 9, 2003. Retrieved October 18, 2011.
18. Lazerson, David B. (June 1999). Skullcaps 'n' Switchblades: Survival ... – David B Lazerson – Google Books. Bristol Rhein & Englander. ISBN   9780936063300 . Retrieved October 18, 2011.
19. "Shimon Waronker, former RCA student". Rca.edu. February 8, 2008. Retrieved October 18, 2011.
20. "Kollel Tiferes Avreichim | Lubavitch of New Jersey Regional Hdqts". Rca.edu. Retrieved October 18, 2011.
21. "Worldwide Synchronized Lecture". Archived from the original on October 8, 2014. Retrieved October 8, 2014.
22. "Cheder Lubavitch | Lubavitch of New Jersey Regional Hdqts". Rca.edu. Retrieved October 18, 2011.
23. "New Exploration of Jewish Civil Law Scheduled" . Retrieved Oct 8, 2014.
24. "Yeshiva Summer Program". Archived from the original on March 25, 2020. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
25. "Obituary for Albert A. Richman (Aged 88)". The Item of Millburn and Short Hills. 1985-01-17. p. 11. Retrieved 2024-02-02.
26. "New Jersey Jewish News - October 28, 1982 — Jewish Historical Society of New Jersey Archives". jhsnj-archives.org. Retrieved 2024-02-02.

External links

• Official website

40°48′21″N74°29′56″W / 40.8057°N 74.4989°W / 40.8057; -74.4989