Rochester—a place to call home.
Home is everything. Home is where you feel, well, at home. With the big cities ka”h overflowing and overcrowded, Rochester, NY may be the perfect “out-of-town,” yet close-to-town community for you and your family. This close-knit, warm, vibrant kehilla is anchored in more than a half-century of Torah Yiddishkeit, where מדות and לימוד התורה are the focal point. Warm and caring, the Torah community is located in a safe, beautiful neighborhood where you can purchase a family-friendly home without breaking the bank. In Rochester, you are not just another face in the crowd. Your children will receive personalized education, you can develop a close relationship with the Rav of your choice and contribute to a real מקום תורה.
Our family moved to Rochester almost five years ago. It’s the best decision we have ever made! Coming from Queens we felt like moving to Rochester was a breath of fresh air!
—Mayer and Chava Katz
Moved from Queens, NY
Schools & Shuls
Rochester is home to a variety of Torah schools for all ages, from preschool through Beis Medrash and Kollel, as well as to a wide range of Shuls.
Toddler & Preschool
TorahLovingCare (TLC) offers Infant (6 weeks to 17 months), Toddler (18mos-36mos) and Preschool (3 & 4 year old) programs. At TorahLovingCare, each child’s own unique social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development is valued and nurtured in a fun, loving, safe, creative learning environment imbued with Torah values and love of Hashem. The growth of Middos Tovos is nourished and further taught by example.
Contact:
Dr. Rivkah Berzow, Director
Address: 220 Idlewood Road, Rochester, NY 14618
Phone: 585-442-4486
Email: torahlovingcare@gmail.com
Elementary School
Contact:
Dr. Lea Goldstein, Principal
Address: 71 Maiden Ln, Rochester, NY 14616
Phone: 585-266-2920
Email: principal@derechhatorah.org
Website: www.derechhatorah.org
Mesivta High School
Yeshiva of Rochester, also known as Talmudical Institute of Upstate New York, was founded in 1974 by Rabbi Menachem Davidowitz and Rabbi Dovid Harris, as the first external affiliate branch of Chofetz Chaim.
Click here to see the Yeshiva Video
Today, the Yeshiva boasts a thriving Mesivta, Beis Medrash and Kollel. In this wholesome atmosphere, talmidim learn with hasmada, developing into high-quality, dedicated Bnei Torah.
The three pillars of the Mesivta’s success are the chevra, a balanced daily schedule, and a structured atmosphere of accountability. As the Yeshiva’s blend of local and out-of-town talmidim learn, grow, and excel, they develop a passion for Limud HaTorah and sterling middos.
Contact:
Rabbi Yoni Polatoff, Menahel
Address: 769 Park Avenue Rochester, NY 14607
Phone: 585-473-2810
Email: ypolatoff.tiuny@gmail.com
Website: www.tiuny.org
Girls High School
Ora Academy, located in Rochester, New York, is Upstate New York’s high school for young Jewish women. Founded in 1996, Ora Academy continues to serve students and their families from Rochester and across the country.
Our rigorous dual curriculum of Judaic and secular studies, along with our warm, inclusive atmosphere and full range of extracurricular programming, provide our students with core values, academic excellence, and lifelong friendships. This develops a strong commitment to תורה, community and Israel, and prepares Ora graduates to be the leaders of tomorrow.
Contact:
Mrs. Esti Lagunov, Principal
Address: 139 Winton Road South Rochester, NY 14610
Phone: 585-271-8711
Email: headmaster@oraacademy.com
Website: www.oraacademy.org
Bais Medrash Program & Kollel
The Yeshiva of Rochester, in more than four decades of service to כלל ישראל, has established an enviable national and international reputation. Our graduates have already assumed leadership positions in Jewish education across the nation.
Our Kollel Program has attracted some very talented young men, who have already begun spreading Torah in our community in addition to their long hours of study. In recent years, the Beis Medrash has grown into a full fledged מקום תורה where the voice of study can be heard throughout the day and into the very late evening.
Contact:
Harav Menachem Davidowitz, Rosh HaYeshiva
Address: 769 Park Avenue Rochester, NY 14607
Phone: 585-473-2810
Email: tiunyfax@gmail.com
Website: www.tiuny.org
Rochester Community Kollel
The Rochester Community Kollel is a premier Torah institution designed to educate, uplift, and unite our community. The Kollel learns two sedarim a day (morning & afternoon) and learns with community members in the evenings and on Sunday mornings. Torah learning at the Kollel has elevated and transformed the Rochester community, taking us to greater heights of spiritual growth and connection.
Contacts:
Rabbi Avi Mammon – Rosh Mossad- 585-490-3147 Rabbi@lightofisrael.org
Rabbi Yosef Nochomovitz – Rosh Kollel – 443-301-9493 yosefnochomovitz@gmail.com
Rabbi Dovid Lagunov- Director – 347-330-8857 –dovidlagunov@gmail.com
Address: 1675 Monroe Avenue Rochester, NY 14618
Bais Menachem Chabad Center
The Kessler Family Chabad Center For Jewish Life, located in the heart of Brighton at 12 Corners, is a Jewish haven where “Jewish batteries” can be “recharged”. Everyone is cordially invited to step inside to explore and discover our beautiful Jewish heritage. The Kessler Family Chabad Center, is a no-strings-attached place for study, browsing, asking questions and receiving answers. A place where every single Jew, will feel warmly welcome, with a true sense of belonging. Davening Shabbos morning is followed by a lavish kiddush and there is a mikveh for men on the premises.
Contact:
Rabbi Nechemia Vogel & Rabbi Dovid Mochkin
Address: 1037 Winton Road South Rochester, NY 14618
Phone: 585-271-0330
Website: www.chabadrochester.com
Email: info@chabadrochester.com
Congregation Beth Hakneses Hachodosh
Congregation Beth Hakneses Hachodosh (BHH) is an Orthodox synagogue located in Rochester, NY. The oldest active Orthodox synagogue in the city, BHH provides local residents and those traveling through Rochester with a warm and welcoming place to daven and learn.
Contact:
Rabbi Simcha Snaid
Address: 19 St. Regis Drive North Rochester, NY 14618
Website: www.congbhh.org
Email: rabbisnaid@congbhh.org
Congregation Beth Sholom
From its beginnings in 1929, Congregation Beth Sholom has been the center of a community of Jews committed to the beauty of traditional Judaism. The original Field Street synagogue was a beacon to Jews moving into the neighborhood. As the congregation grew, the leaders dreamed of a larger home. They built the present Monroe Avenue site in stages, reflecting congregational priorties, including a keilim mikvah.
Currently, there is excitement filling every corner of Beth Sholom’s Monroe Avenue building. On Shabbat, families fill the sanctuary, and youth– from preschoolers to teenagers — take over the basement, library, chapel, and hallways. The friendly buzz of greetings and conversations at Shabbat and holiday kiddush, the Succot hoshanot procession accented with a hundred lulavim, and the noise of costumed children and adults drowning out Haman’s name during the megillah reading are testimony to the congregational commitment to Shabbat and holiday observance.
Contact:
Rabbi Dov Winston
Phone: 585-473-1625
Website: www.bethsholomrochester.org
Email: rabbi@bethsholomrochester.org
Congregation Light of Israel
Congregation Light of Israel, a warm and vibrant synagogue has moved into it’s new building in 2012 on 1675 Monroe Avenue. This home is a center of learning and growth, laughter and joy connecting Jews together from diverse backgrounds. Believed to be the oldest Sephardic Synagogue in the state outside of the New York City area, Light of Israel offers many cultural and educational learning opportunities for the Jewish community of Rochester. Light of Israel strives to be a home to any Jew regardless of their background and their beliefs in a non-judgmental or patronizing way. Part of our mission is to connect Jews with Judaism by establishing and sustaining meaningful learning opportunities for every Jewish adult in the Rochester area regardless of affiliation, and to enable them to experience the joy and vibrancy of Judaism.
Contact:
Contact:
Rabbi Avi Mammon
Address: 1675 Monroe Avenue Rochester, NY 14618
Phone: 585-490-3147
Website: www.lightofisrael.org
Email: rabbi@lightofisrael.org
Schedule Your Visit Today!
Come for a Shabbos. Tour our schools. Experience the warmth. Meet the community.
Rochester is close to many main Jewish communities, making it convenient to drive in for an occasion, family Simcha, or event.
- 3 hour drive from Toronto
- 4 hour from Cleveland
- 5 hours from Monsey
- 5 hours from Detroit
- 6 hours from Brooklyn
