About Us

A Home for Limud Hatorah

about Yagdil Torah

Yagdil Torah is dedicated to encouraging and enabling Limud Hatorah throughout the community. Over the 15 years of existence, there have been multiple innovative programs to that end, the most popularly known of which are the Heichalei Halimmud.

The Rebbe's Words

“We must place effort, as much as possible, and more than that—to the effect that each and every Jewish person, in every place and situation, should have a set class for learning Torah.”

“When you meet someone in the street, you should ask him if he has a Torah class yet.”

“If he already has a [set] class for learning Torah, we must affect him to add even more in this.”

Sicha of Braishis 5745

Background

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In 2011 Yagdil Torah founder, Levi Browd learnt in Kolel Menachem under the leadership of the Rosh Hakolel Rabbi Yosef Avraham Heller Shlit"a. Recognizing that there was a need for strengthening Mivtzah Torah close to home, Levi began brainstorming how to launch this initiative for the Crown Heights community.

The Inspiration

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When Levi suddenly lost his firstborn son that summer, work on the project began in his memory. Just 45 days later the first shiur was arranged, with the first class taking place right after Sukkos. A dozen shiurim followed in quick succession and Yagdil Torah was born.

A Dream is Born

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Upon achieving initial success in private homes, Levi moved on to arrange shiurim in shuls, followed by additional programs to promote learning, such as a chavrusa partnering service. Yagdil Torah continued to expand, eventually opening three locations for learning, including one that currently is independently owned and operated.

The Future

Yagdil Torah currently facilitates hundreds of hours of Torah learning each week by providing a comfortable space for learning and weekly shiurim. With continued support we plan to expand our operations to include new programs and additional centers.

I’m Rabbi Levi Browd.

I'm the founder and director of Yagdil Torah. I plan, create, strategize and execute programs that help people engage in Torah study. I have successfully opened 2 learning halls and one with a partner - in Crown Heights, where I make sure that the learning environment is warm and welcoming.

I also initiated many shiurim and programs and printed over a hundred publications. My passion is to make Torah learning easy and accessible to everyone, and the reason I believe what I do is so important is because the Torah is replete with emphasis on the importance of its study and it is a crucial guide and even transforms the person and his family in their Yiddishkeit and personal life.

Personally, I enjoy when I learn in depth and uncover very interesting pearls of wisdom hidden beneath the basic concept. I write and share these pearls on personal forums and sometimes on Yagdil Torah platforms.

Rabbi Levi BrowdDirector

The Team at Yagdil Torah

Rabbi Levy Browd – Founder and Director | B. Browd – Bookkeeper | Rabbi Mendy Browd – Public Relations

Shiurim Presenters Throughout the Years – Rabbi Berel Bell, Rabbi Sholom Ber Chaiken, Rabbi Sholom Dovid Geisinsky, Rabbi Yoseph Jacobson, Rabbi Sholom Ber Levin, Rabbi Yoseph Paltiel, Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Raskin, Rabbi Tzvi Hirsh Rimler, Rabbi Yosef Schmukler, Rabbi Naftali Silbeberg, Rabbi Shais Taub, and Rabbi Mendy Yusevitz.

Yagdil Torah Milestones and accomplishments

Cheshvan, 5767: First building shiur, held at 770 Empire Blvd., delivered by Rabbi Zalman Baras.
Kislev, 5767: Online presence begins.
Kislev, 5768: First learning guide printed.
Iyar, 5768: Attendance of large scale shiurim reaches triple digits.
Teves, 5769: Publication circulation reaches 5000 people per year.
Tamuz, 5769: Rabbonim sign Kol Koreh encouraging Anash to make Torah learning a central part of their lives and naming Yagdil Torah as a driving force in Mivtza Torah.
Elul, 5770: Heichal Hallimmud Tiferes Yitzchak opens its doors.
Teves, 5771: Research computer added to Heichal Halimmud
Kislev, 5772: Began updating all Kovtzei Limmud with stories, full mishnayos and expanded English section
Shvat, 5772: Otzar Hachochma in Heichal Halimmud
Nissan, 5772: “Chavrusa For You” program begins
Elul, 5772: First ever Kovetz Haaros from Heichal Halimmud learners
Sivan 5773: Rabbi Yoseph Jacobson starts weekly Shabbos morning shiur attracting close to 100 participants
Elul 5773: Second location reaches advanced stages of development*
Shvat 5774: Daily shiur started with participation of 15-30 daily
Iyar 5774: Opening of Second Location*
Cheshvan 5775: Rabbi Paltiel starts giving the weekly Chassidus Shiur
Iyar 5777: Kollel Boker Program begins
Cheshvan 5778: Kollel Tiferes Zkeinim Levi Yitzchok-A midday English Kollel launches with the assistance of Yagdil Torah
Teves 5778: Launching of Toras Chaim Program, a program that makes it practical to cover significant ground in
learning
Tammuz 5778: First Siyum Meseches with Toras Chaim Program with many of the participants concluding the Entire Meseches Brachos
Teves 5780: Rabbi Stolik added to staff to answer questions and learn with people at Heichal
Shvat 5780: Yagdil Torah at forefront in Crown heights and beyond in popularizing Project Likkutei Sichos

Iyar 5780: Yagdil Torah scrambles to bring Torah online as Corona reality sets in

Kislev 5780: Yagdil Torah starts a service which answers questions in Torah

Sivan 5781: First bus stop sign as part of massive campaign to add in Torah in honor of 50th year of Mivtza Torah

Cheshvan 5782: Toras Chaim goes international

Kislev 5782: Yagdil Torah opens Heichal Hallimud Beis Michoel

*Currently independently owned and operated

Yagdil Torah

Testimonials

"The study of Torah each day is critical for every member of our community. It will broaden our horizons, make us happier, healthier, more wholesome people, better humans, husbands and fathers. It will challenge us to grow and live our lives to the fullest. Yagdil Torah-the way to go!"

Rabbi Yoseph JacobsonDean at TheYeshivah.net

"One of the Yagdil Torah tactics I admire is the exposure of existing Torah learning as a means of inspiring others."

Rabbi Yoseph PaltielMashpia United Lubavitcher Yeshivah, Chovevei Torah

"Yagdil Torah is breathing vital life into our community. The efforts of the organization are not only important, but crucial for our very existence. So thank you Levi and the Yagdil Torah team, for bringing us life!"

Rabbi Yossi PelsCo-Director of Chayeinu Publications