Kollel Torah MiTzion/Bat Ami

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n the fall of 1996, four outstanding young single Israeli men (bachurim), freshly graduated from Hesder Yeshivot (where advanced Jewish study is combined with military service in the Israeli army), stepped off the plane in Memphis to embark on a mission of enhancing the ideals of Torah and Zionism at Margolin Hebrew Academy/Feinstone Yeshiva of the South and infusing the community at large with a love of Torah and Israel. They were led by Rabbi Jay Salid.

The idea for this group was conceived and funded for the first three years by the Margolin family in memory of their father and grandfather, Sam Margolin. Project SAM (Scholarship and Middot), as it was called then, evolved into the Kollel Torah MiTzion in 1999.

The members of the MHA/FYOS Kollel Torah MiTzion are carefully selected and trained by the Torah MiTzion organizaton in Israel, founded 1999 and directed by Dr. Zev Schwartz, who recognized the need for such a national association when he heard about Project SAM. They serve for one to two years as role models and teachers strengthening Jewish identity and knowledge among all sectors of the local community, particularly young adults

Each fall a new group of bachurim arrive in Memphis. They are knowledgeable, warm and friendly, and make a positive impact on everyone at the school and in the community. The current Rosh Kollel is Rabbi Avraham Goldberg.

Every day each Kollel fellow has his own seder (learning sessions) in the morning and afternoon, and chavrutot (one-on-one learning) with MHA/FYOS students as well as Jewish public school students and members of the community. The Rosh Kollel and bachurim also plan special events to help community members prepare spiritually for holidays, such as Yom Kippur and Pesach, and to celebrate holidays, such as Yom HaShoah, Yom Hazikaron and Yom Ha’atzmaut.

There are now more than 25 Torah MiTzion kollelim in 15 cities and six college campuses in the United States and in six countries abroad. Each kollel is funded privately by local benefactors. “The faculty of these Kollelim are idealistic and dedicated,” says the Torah MiTzion website (www.torahmitzion.org). “Their impact in the Jewish communities has been remarkable and is clearly an important tool in helping meet the challenges of assimilation, strengthening Jewish young leadership, and creating bridges between the Diaspora and Israel.”

MHA/FYOS is also proud to host two young Israeli women each year who act as dorm counselors for the Goldie Margolin High School for Girls and as assistants in the lower school. The women are participants in Bat Ami, a division of Sherut L’eumi (national service), a program that enables young Orthodox Israeli women to fulfill their army commitment by doing volunteer work for their country.  The first year is served in Israel and the second year is served abroad promoting Israeli culture.  They do Israeli programming for the girls’ high school and lead a program called Chibat Tzion (love of Zion) for grades 1-6 where they teach interactive, experiential lessons about Israel—its culture, history, cities, geography, customs, etc.

Margolin Hebrew Academy/Feinstone Yeshiva of the South is proud to be in the forefront of these successful endeavors to increase the level of Torah study and Zionism in the Memphis Jewish community through the unique programs of the Kollel Torah MiTzion and Bat Ami. These programs are made possible by the Lemsky Foundation of the Memphis Jewish Federation and by generous contributions from individuals in the community who are dedicated to the Zionist and educational ideals promoted by these Israeli organizations.

If you would like to help sponsor the Kollel Torah MiTzion or Bat Ami's programs, please click the Donate Now link below or contact the school at 682-2400 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . For general information about Kollel classes contact Rabbi Avraham Goldberg at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

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