He then related a conversation that Rav ELiyahu Mishkovsky, zt”l, Rosh Yeshivas Yeshiva Knesses Chizkiyahu, had with some talmidim. They were discussing which line of the tefillah of Birchas Hachodesh is most important. One talmid wanted to say that the tefillah “y’malei kol mishaloseinu l’tovah” is most important, for that encompasses all tefillos. It soon became clear that the tefillah for Ahavas Torah and Yiras Shomayim is the key. For if one does not have the proper approach to Avodas Hashem, stemming from Torah and Yiras Shomayim, the person’s bakashos can be all wrong. A Person will have difficulty recognizing the truth and what is truly good for him. Only after inculcating Torah and Yiras Shomayim can one be certain that they are ready to ask “kol mishalosom.”

Rabbi Hoffman stressed that in today’s day and age, it is not easy for bochurim to truly appreciate and recognize their proper path to success. Being surrounded by Rabbeim and Manhigim who can properly guide a bochur through their years of Yeshiva is a large part of a bochur’s success. The opportunities that abound in a small Yeshiva such as Ohr Hatorah afford each bochur to find his pathway to success. All a bochur needs to do is to tap into his ratzon and the shteiging will follow.

Following Rabbi Hoffman’s remarks, the dormitory Mashgiach, Rabbi Yonah Yaakov Lapidus laid some basic groundwork for the bochurim to follow. Telliing an amusing story about how one of his small children commented about the bochurim being part of the family, he stressed to the bochurim how the dormitory rules are set up to provide that family atmosphere. Indeed, the bochurim returning for their second or third year at Ohr Hatorah are able to relate to that sentiment well, and it will be only a short time before the new bochurim acclimate to that environment as well.

Now in its fourth year, Yeshiva Gedolah Ohr Hatorah has become known as a destination for bochurim from across the country looking for a small Yeshiva to further their shteiging. With the addition of bochurim from cities such as Toronto, Minneapolis and Denver, Ohr Hatorah continues to make its mark on the Torah landscape. From Baltimore to Los Angeles, and nearly twenty cities in between, the name Yeshiva Gedolah Ohr Hatorah has become synonymous with energized learning; a home for each talmid to reach new milestones in their learning and Avodas Hashem. The power of the individual attention given by the Rebbeim to every bochur, coupled with uniquely designed learning methods, helps them achieve success in all three sedarim each day. Founded by Rabbi Dovid Hoffman and Rabbi Moshe Aharon Rosenbaum, and housed above the Baltimore Community Kollel, the Yeshiva has become a staple of the Labyrinth/Fallstaff neighborhood as it continues to shine its light on Baltimore and beyond.