Torah Letzion: Affording High School Graduates A Year Of Spiritual And Personal Growth

Local News

Written by Rochelle Maruch Miller

Thursday, 27 January 2011 14:39

Marc Merrill was a sophomore in Yeshiva University in April, 2008 when he was approached by the rosh yeshiva of Yeshivat Lev HaTorah with a mission: to try to raise the necessary funds to enable a current shannah aleph (first year) student in Lev HaTorah to return for a second year. So inspired was Merrill by this challenge, that he was not only able to raise the required funds for this student, but for two others, as well. This was the inception of Torah Letzion, a young and dynamic tzedakah of which Marc and a group of his friends, all Y.U. students, are Founding Fathers. Recently, Marc discussed his unique organization with the Five Towns Jewish Times.

RM: How were you able to raise the initial money for the first student?

MM: Almost all the initial money that was raised came from college students. Many of them had been so positively affected by spending a year in Israel that they had to help out such a worthy cause.

RM: What is Torah Letzionâ€™s mission?

MM: Our mission is to enable boys and girls who, due to financial constraints, would otherwise not be able to afford a year in Israel to attend a yeshiva or seminary. The belief of the staff of TLZ is that every person who desires to spend the year in Israel should have the opportunity to do so, and finances should not prevent it.

RM: What can you tell us about some of the students TLZ has sent to Israel?

MM: We have sent amazing boys and girls from all over the United States and Canada. Some of the students wanted the opportunity to go to Israel for the year so badly that they began saving money as soon as they entered high school, with some taking jobs explicitly for this purpose. Some have even offered to clean the dormitories and kitchens of their respective institutions in Israel; anything to get to yeshiva so they can experience the year in Israel, and the greatness of the growth there.

RM: What makes TLZ unique?

MM: TLZ is special in that the organization is run exclusively by current college students or recent alumni of Yeshiva University. Additionally, TLZ checks up on their recipients while they are studying in yeshiva/seminary. We require every student to write divrei Torah and reflections of what they are experiencing during their yeshiva experience, so when they come back to America they can really see and appreciate how much growth they have made, both as a religious Jew and as a person.

RM: What requirements must prospective applicants meet?

MM: To date, the key element has been financially based, combined with a desire for religious growth. The main thing we try to determine during the application review process is how motivated this boy or girl is, and the direness of their financial situation. We try to find the most motivated individuals, because we know they will make the most of their time in Israel, and these are the types of individuals donors want to assist most.

RM: Which yeshivot and seminaries in Israel have the students attended?

MM: Hakotel, Har Etzion, Harovah, Lev HaTorah, Midreshet Lindenbaum, Michlalah, MMY, Netiv Aryeh, Shaâ€™alvim for Men, Sharfmanâ€™s, Tiferet, Tomer Devorah, and Torat Shraga.

RM: What aspect of your work do you find most rewarding?

MM: For me, the most rewarding aspect is seeing the difference the year makes to our recipients. They come back so much more mature; itâ€™s very rewarding to know that we were partly responsible for their growth.

RM: What do you consider most challenging?

MM: Fundraising is extremely difficult. As we are young, we are constantly learning how to improve the infrastructure of the organization. Furthermore, rejecting applicants is also very difficult. However, unfortunately, we just cannot afford to assist everyone in our current stage. When someone applies, we hope to be able to send them, but that just is not a reality. Unfortunately, the plethora of applications has created a situation where assisting everyone is currently impossible.

RM: What response has TLZ elicited from the students and the community-at-large?

MM: The students obviously have been extremely excited and honored when they receive their scholarships. For them, TLZ represents a communal concern for their religious development. The fact that donors across the country have committed to ensuring that students will be able to continue their religious growth is uplifting, both for us and the scholarship recipients. The YU community has been especially helpful. Countless students have not only offered their own hard-earned money, but also were desperate to volunteer in any possible way, realizing from their own experience how important this year in Israel is. Rabbi Hershel Schachter, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva University, has also been a guiding light, and his backing has garnered support for TLZ. TLZ is also currently undergoing a major campaign to develop relationships with the communities and high schools. So far, we have had a successful basketball tournament in Teaneck, and hope to replicate it elsewhere, as well as begin to have parlor meetings in communities across the tri-state area. We believe that everyone stands to benefit from this relationship, and hope it is successful.

RM: What message would you like to convey to our readers?

MM: TLZ is a tzedakah that was started by college students, and in a little over two years has raised over $100,000. We are clearly up and coming! Everyone involved in the organization really understands the importance of the year in Israel and devotes many hours over the course of the day to constantly improving and growing the organization, and raising as much funds as possible. Every year we run a raffle in February, with prizes to the YU Seforim Sale, which last year raised $18,000, and we are well beyond that pace so far this year. TLZ recently held our first ever 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament in Teaneck. Through these events, and other forms of fundraising, we were able to help ten students get to Israel for this year, and as we move forward, we would really appreciate anyone who can help us out in any way. We operate with 501-3-C nonprofit status, which makes us tax exempt. TLZ is a young, dynamic, and exciting organization! To learn more, visit torahletzion.org or e-mail marc@torahletzion.org.