Over Two Decades of Kollel Heichal HaTorah:
Promoting Limmud and Harbotzas HaTorah

Kollel Heichal Hatorah is one of the foremost kollelim in Manchester, and among the most prestigious in Europe. Founded with just six members, close to thirty members now belong to this full-time makom Torah.

Early Years

Kollel Heichal Hatorah was founded by the Rosh Hakollel, Harav Michoel Ber Weissmandl shlita, some 22 years ago. Rav Weissmandl bears the name of his illustrious uncle who was a Rosh Yeshiva in Nitra, Hungary and who became a renowned activist for Klal Yisroel during the Holocaust and beyond. Rabbi Weissmandl is in his own right a prominent Talmid Chochom and author of popular seforim. He received semicha from HaRav Betzalel Rakow ztl, and from HaRav Tuvya Weiss ztl.

A Torah Vision

The Rosh Hakollel had a vision. He wanted to create a mosad for high calibre Avreichim with high standards in learning and in-depth iyun hatorah that would allow them to learn and grow undisturbed, all with a special emphasis on developing each and every one according to his individual talents and quality, enabling them to grow into budding Talmidei chachomim. Anyone who enters the Kollel is struck by the vibrant kol Torah and lively pilpul chaverim.

Current yungerleit and alumni have a reputation in Manchester and beyond as true talmidei chachomim. They have amassed broad Yedios so that Baalei Batim or visiting Bnei Torah learning in the kollel premises always have an able listener who can discuss a difficult sugya in all areas of Shas or Shulchan Oruch .

In past years, the Kollel has welcomed three outstanding yungeleit who joined from various esteemed kollelim in Eretz Yisroel to be part of the vibrant Chaburah. Recently, with the Kollel completing the study of Maseches Niddah and Yoreh Deah Chelek Beis, Dayan Grinfeld farhered the kollel on the topics they had learnt.

Rav Weissmandl treats each avreich with care and attention, bringing out their individual talents and qualities. He considers them all part of his extended family. Indeed his own family is also deeply involved in ensuring the success of the Kollel – a dedication that imbues Heichal Hatorah with its unique character.

“Klal Yisroel is waiting for you.”

Some years ago, after an extensive period of time learning Masechta Chulin, followed by an in-depth learning of Yoreh Deah, chelek aleph, avreichim travelled to be fahered by Gedolim in Eretz Yisroel. Wherever they went, they were showered with praise for their outstanding knowledge and understanding. HaRav Tuvya Weiss told the avreichim: “Klal Yisroel is waiting for you.”

Following the semicha, the Kollel received letters sent from Rav Tuvya Weiss, Rav Chaim Wosner and the Beis Din of HaRav Shmuel Wosner ztl, praising their high level of learning. HaRav Wosner declared: “Tell your supporters that I would like my portion to be with their portion.”

Kollel Heichal HaTorah’s graduates have taken up significant positions in rabbonus and chinuch in Manchester and beyond.

Harbotzas HaTorah

Heichal Hatorah has established new standards in learning and in-depth iyun hatorah. It has provided many avreichim returning from Eretz Yisroel, with an opportunity to develop their full potential as top class talmidei chachomim. Thus eminently qualified, many avreichim have taken up positions of responsibility in harbotzas hatorah, benefitting the whole community.

Public shiurim have been delivered by the kollel yungerleit, on Hilchos Ribbis, teaching and clarifying the intricate dinim involved in conducting business according to Torah law. They’ve also been consulted on practical sheilos of ribbis. Following the success of the shiurim, Kollel members have been asked to give a wide variety of public shiurim within the kehilla.

The kollel has created a Ribbis Line in conjunction with Kollel Lehoroah, alerting the public to issues they’d never realised were a problem. Ever conscious of their responsibilities to the kehilla, the yungerleit are always eager to share their knowledge.

A Home of Torah Learning …

Through the untiring efforts of Rav Weissmandl and generous help from kollel supporters, the beautiful, purpose-built edifice was opened, b’siyato dishmayo, some four years ago in Prestwich, at the junction of Kings Rd. and Bury Old Rd.

The new building was founded with dedication and love, qualities which permeate its atmosphere. It provides ample space for the avreichim to steig, and a new mokom Torah for ba’alei batim from the local kehilla to come and learn, and be infused with the warm ruach hatorah and simcha generated by the yungerleit.

Prestwich residents are immensely grateful to have this magnificent beis hamedrash in their midst. This vibrant mokom Torah is an ideal place for all types of Yidden to come and learn, whether weekday or Shabbos. It also gives the children of the baalei batim an opportunity to see for themselves what kollel yungerleit are all about, to witness and be inspired by their dedication to learning, and the simchas hachaim this engenders.

Besides the general kollel learning, including a Shabbos kollel, there are four chaburos taking place there, not connected to the official kollel. There is, for example, a daily evening Omud Yomi shiur, a chabura of ba’alei batim learning Mikvaos, and two evening high school chaburos.

… and a Mokom Tefillah

The shul’s davening, besides attracting local residents, draws rabbonim and bnei Torah from all different kollelim. Mispallelim are especially inspired by the tefilla of Yomim Noroim that reaches new heights, as well as by the divrei chizuk and warm personality of the Rosh Hakollel.

Altogether, the new Heichal Hatorah building is a true embodiment of the phrase, “Shivti B’veis Hashem”, enabling, as it does, aspiring talmidei chachomim to spend their days shteiging in Torah, with menuchas hanefesh, undisturbed, in conducive surroundings, extending their powerful, beneficial influence to the rest of the Manchester kehilla, and bringing kovod to Hashem and His Torah. 

FUEL OUR FUTURE

Since the Kollel's inception, Harav Weissmandl has put his heart into bringing the light of Torah into the world and has been extremely devoted to providing for the avreichim, enabling them to learn undisturbed, with complete menuchas hanefesh. The Rosh Kollel treats each yungerman with care and attention, almost as a member of his own extended family, ensuring each avreich’s personal growth.

The Kollel has a significant annual budget which is pivotal to ensure its continued operation and success. With the cost of living on the rise, the Kollel's budget has exceeded £400,000, and its sole source of income is through fundraising. However, with much siyata dishmaya the Rosh Kollel has secured generous matchers, and has launched a vital crowdfunding campaign which is now live!


With your generous support, Kollel Heichal HaTorah will be able to continue its mission, empowering our avreichim to succeed in their aspiration of Shivti bveis Hashem. Your support will also help us to continue promoting Limud and Harbotzas HaTorah for years to come.