Yeshiva Ner Yisrael: Ner Israel Rabbinical College
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Yeshiva Ner Yisrael: Ner Israel Rabbinical College also known as NIRC and known colloquially as Ner, is a prominent Orthodox Judaism yeshiva in Baltimore, Maryland founded in 1933 by Rabbi Yakov Yitzchok Ruderman who was a key disciple of Rabbi Nosson Tzvi Finkel, the Mashgiach, or alter (elder) of the famous Slabodka yeshiva in Lithuania. It is affiliated with Agudath Israel of America.
It was founded and named soon after the passing of Rabbi Yisrael Meir Kagan in Europe in 1933 and the name Ner Yisrael (meaning "Light [of] Israel" in Hebrew) was derived from the two names Meir (meaning: "[one that] lights up") and Yisrael (meaning "Israel"). Rabbi Yisrael Meir Kagan was also known as the Chofetz Chaim. Some claim that it is named after Rabbi Yisroel Salanter, as was Knesses Yisroel, the yeshiva Rabbi Ruderman studied in.
The yeshiva is reputed to be named for Rabbi Yisrael Lipkin Salanter who was the founder of the Mussar Movement and was the teacher of Rabbi Nosson Tzvi Finkel (affectionately known as "De Alter") who was the teacher of Rabbi Yaakov Yitzchok Ruderman - founder of Ner Yisrael.
It is primarily an all-male, modern American, Lithuanian-style Talmudic Haredi Judaism but non-Hasidic yeshiva. It presently consists of a high school numbering over 200 students, a post-high school beth midrash program numbering about 400 students, and a kollel post-graduate rabbinical division numbering about 200 students.
Apart from its prominence in religious studies, Ner Israel is unique as it is recoginzed as an accredited college itself by the state of Maryland, and for its agreements with Johns Hopkins University, Towson University, Community College of Baltimore County, Loyola College in Maryland, University of Baltimore and University of Maryland Baltimore County whereby the yeshiva's students can take courses at these colleges and universities in a variety of academic fields to study and train for secular professions, and in turn gain academic credits for their religious studies. This is a very appealing feature to many Orthodox young men who seek to have the basis for becoming future professionals. A large percentage of students also choose to pursue law school after receiving an undergraduate degree at NIRC.
It is currently headed by Rabbi Aharon Feldman who serves as the Rosh Yeshiva (dean), Rabbi Herman N. Neuberger who is the president of the college, and Rabbi Beryl Weisbord who is the mashgiach (supervisor of students).
External links
- NIRC official homepage (http://www.nirc.edu) (limited information)
- Ner Israel's entry on universities.com (http://www.universities.com/Schools/N/Ner_Israel_Rabbinical_College.asp)
- Ner Israel students review (http://www.studentsreview.com/MD/Ner_Israel_Rabbinical_College.html)
- Degrees offered at NIRC (http://www.micua.org/nerisrael.htm)