Yeshiva Derech Ha Torah - History

History

In 1979, a group of Brooklyn parents met to discuss the need for a new type of Yeshiva. Not satisfied with the existing schools, they were seeking an Orthodox all boys Yeshiva completely devoted to Torah, and firmly committed to the State of Israel. Philosophical guidelines were drawn up to provide an education in Ahavat Torah, Ahavat Am Yisroel and Ahavat Eretz Yisroel.

In September 1980, the Yeshiva opened its doors as a preschool in the Beth Abraham Synagogue on Bragg Street. To accommodate the many requests for admission, the school moved the next year to larger quarters in the Young Israel of Bedford Bay on Brown Street expanding to elementary grades. The Yeshiva quickly outgrew those quarters, and relocated to its present home in the Kingsway Jewish Center. Here the school continued to grow with classes from nursery to eighth grade. In 1995 the school’s name was changed from Yeshivat Mizrachi L’Banim to Yeshiva Derech HaTorah. The name change did not represent a departure from the philosophy or ideology of the founding parents in 1979. In September 2006, Yeshiva Derech HaTorah High School opened, offering a college-preparatory program. The high school literary magazine Epiphany began publication in 2009 under the guidance of faculty advisor and chair of the English Department Carol Hagler. In 2012 the literary magazine was renamed The Write Stuff.

Beginning in the 2010-11 school year and continuing to today, the school has encountered significant worsening financial hardships. The school, which used to pride itself on always paying the staff on time, has fallen further and further behind on payroll. At one point during the 2012-13 school year the teachers were as much as two months behind in salary. Paralleling this financial decline has been the loss of students enrolled in the school. Both the elementary and high school divisions have lost students for various reasons. Many parents are beginning to doubt the continued long term viability of the school.