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March 18, 2008 - Rabbinical College of Tartikov Opposes Rockland Resolution Challenging U.S. Religious Freedom Law
Rabbinical College of Tartikov Helps Restore Ancient Jewish Tradition of Rabbinical Courts
The Rabbinical College of Tartikov, Inc., (“the Congregation”), a unique religious institution whose mission is the specialized education of ordained rabbis, owns 100 acres of land at the intersection of State Highways 202 and 306 in the Town of Ramapo, Village of Pomona, Rockland County, New York. The Congregation purchased the land for the express purpose of constructing and operating a religious institution dedicated to the education and training of previously ordained Rabbis as Orthodox Jewish judges, called dayanim. Unfortunately, current village zoning completely prohibits the operation of such a religious institution anywhere within its borders.
The Orthodox Jewish mandate of settling disputes in religious courts is an ancient tradition practiced for thousands of years. This mandate is contained in the Chumash (the Five Books of Moses in the Old Testament). The religious tradition of bais din, or rabbinical courts,is central to Orthodox Jewish beliefs, allowing for resolution of civil disputes, issues of marriage, divorce, burial, cultural certification, religious conversion and other matters.
Prior to World War II, dayanim were trained in rabbinical colleges throughout Europe, and every large Jewish community had a bais din. These dayanim were almost eliminated in World War II as Jewish men who could have become dayanim were exterminated by the Nazis.
Today, the Orthodox Jewish population in the United States is approximately 600,000. Currently, there are only a few bais dins in America staffed with judges who have completed the full 15-year study program necessary to rule on all four volumes of the Shulchan Aruch (Jewish law) . These courts are extremely overburdened, thus creating the urgent need for the College. As the Orthodox Jewish population continues to grow, the need for dayanim will increase.
The Pomona site will be designed and developed as a religious college campus, incorporating the necessary educational, work, and support spaces, as well as student family housing units. On-campus housing is a necessary component of the development due to religious beliefs requiring the students to be immersed in their religious studies and in daily religious practices. The public spaces will include a 30,000 square foot main college building, a central courtyard, four bais dins, several chapels to serve members of different Jewish sects, and facilities for children.
Architectural and engineering experts hired by the Rabbinical College have determined that the site in Pomona can environmentally support up to 1,000 housing units. The initial construction phase will take between 3-5 years to complete, and will consist of the installation of access roads, an interior roadway system, utilities, and construction of the main study hall building and student housing for 250 Rabbis and their families. The ultimate enrollment figure with the attendant support services and housing will be determined through ongoing discussions with the Village and the community. This staged construction plan will allow for continued analysis of the impact on the environment, water, and sewage needs, and ensure that the infrastructures in place are able to handle the increased population.