Building Mastery: V'Harev Na at Ohr Yisrael
The V’Harev Na program, led at Yeshiva Ohr Yisrael by Rabbi Wallin, is transforming the way students engage with Gemara. Developed by Rabbi Dovid Newman and in use worldwide, the program helps students learn, review, master and love Gemara. Through deep review and sustained focus, the program challenges students to refine their learning through repetition and clarity.
What started as a 45-minute stretch of uninterrupted learning has now expanded to 1.5 hours, as talmidim strengthen their ability to concentrate and absorb Torah at a higher level. With each review, their grasp of the material sharpens, fostering both clarity and confidence in their learning.
Hands-On Science: Biology & Physics in Action
Students at Yeshiva Ohr Yisrael are bringing science to life through hands-on learning. In 11th-grade Biology, Mr. Dov Ellenbogen’s class explored how species are classified, applying their knowledge by creating a dichotomous key to distinguish species based on their traits.
Meanwhile, in 9th-grade Physics, Mr. Nathan Riedel’s students studied Kinetic, Potential, and Thermal Energy. They put their learning to the test with a creative lab project, designing insulation devices to keep water cool overnight.
Both classes challenge students to think critically and apply their knowledge in engaging, practical ways.
A Fresh Start: Rosh Chodesh Shevat at Yeshiva
The whole Yeshiva celebrated Rosh Chodesh Shevat with a special bagel breakfast following a beautiful hallel together. During the breakfast Rabbi Halpern shared a meaningful dvar Torah, drawing a parallel between the renewal of trees and our own ability to grow and refresh ourselves. It was a morning of inspiration, connection, and renewal—setting the tone for a month of growth.
Alumni Spotlight: Issac Levin ('21)
Mr. Isaac Levin continues to embody the values of Torah and academic excellence that he cultivated during his time at YOY. Now living in Queens, NY, with his wife, Isaac is pursuing a degree in computer science at Touro College’s Lander College for Men. He finds the program to be an ideal blend of Torah learning and academic growth, learning a full seder in the morning before shifting gears to his college courses in the afternoon.
Isaac’s passion for computer science traces back to his high school years, where he had the opportunity to explore programming in Mr. Novikov’s class. But his interests weren’t limited to coding—during his junior and senior years, he and his classmate Mendy Weinreb co-hosted a podcast called Heading Home, capturing humorous reflections and lively discussions on their drive home at the end of the day. The podcast became a hit among students and faculty, a testament to Isaac’s thoughtful and engaging personality.
Today, Isaac has taken his love for podcasting in a new direction with The Daily Aliyah Podcast, where he shares the foundational wisdom of the Torah in a clear and accessible way. His passion for making Torah learning engaging and meaningful is something he credits to his Rebbeim at YOY. “My Rebbeim inspired me to continue growing in Torah,” he reflects. “Rabbi Luria would always say, ‘Feel the burn of the question—do you truly understand it? Stay with it until you find the answer.’”
We look forward to seeing all that he will continue to accomplish!
Find The Daily Aliyah Podcast on Spotify and on Apple
This week, YOY 11th graders, accompanied by Rabbi Feldman and Rabbi Halpern, arrived in Eretz Yisrael and have a full itinerary ahead.
