About Us
The Even Shesiya Torah Center
Rooted in tradition, dedicated to spreading the light of Torah throughout the Five Towns community and beyond.
Our Story
A Foundation of Learning
The Even Shesiya Torah Center was founded with a singular vision: to create a home for serious Torah learning that is welcoming to every Jew, regardless of background or level of observance. It serves as the venue for podcasts, broadcasts & events that reach audiences internationally and online.
Named for the foundational stone — the Even Shesiya — upon which the world was created, our center embodies the belief that Torah study is the bedrock of Jewish life. Even Shesiya is the name of Rabbi Bechhofer's monumental work on the Rambam's 13 Principles of Faith, published originally in 2005 in Lashon HaKodesh. Even Shesiya has the same numeric value in Gematria of Yochanan Meir Bechhofer! From our home in Cedarhurst, NY, we have grown into a vibrant center of learning and community.
Each year, we gather to celebrate the Yahrzeit of the holy Arizal — the great Kabbalist Rabbi Yitzchak Luria — with a Siyum marking the completion of Torah study and a festive dinner that brings our entire community together.
Rosh HaYeshiva
Rabbi Yochanan Meir Bechhofer
Rabbi Yochanan Meir Bechhofer is a renowned authority in Torah thought and Jewish law, carrying forward a legacy of scholarship that spans generations and continents.
Rabbi Bechhofer hails (matriarchally) from a regal Rabbinical family; his grandparents were Rabbi Dov Yehuda and Rebbetzin Sora Sosha Schochet (a''h), originally of Telze, who traced their lineage back to the Maharal of Prague (Rabbi Yehuda ben Bezalel Loew) and ultimately to David HaMelech (a''h). Rabbi Yochanan Bechhofer is a noted disciple of both HaGaon Rabbi Shmuel Yaakov Weinberg, zt''l, Rosh Yeshivas Ner Yisroel in Baltimore, and the acclaimed rabbinic authority and Baal Machshava, HaGaon HaRav Moshe Shapira, zt''l.
In the course of his eclectic 30-year teaching career, he has served as a senior lecturer in renowned Yeshivas, including Aish HaTorah in Jerusalem and Binyan Av — a yeshiva under the tutelage of Israel's former Sephardic Chief Rabbi, Rabbi Eliyahu Bakshi-Doron — as well as establishing his own Yeshiva and Kollel, Yesodos HaTorah. Additionally, he has often served as a guest lecturer at Yeshivat Sha'alvim, Michlala, and Neve Yerushalayim. He has also served as a Dayan in the rabbinical court, Chukas Mishpat, under the auspices of Rabbi Chaim Pinchas Scheinberg, zt''l.
Professional Services
Rabbinical & Scholarly Services
Rabbi Bechhofer offers a range of professional services drawing on his decades of halachic expertise and literary scholarship.
Arbitration & Mediation
As a seasoned Dayan in Choshen Mishpat (Jewish Civil Law), Rabbi Bechhofer offers professional arbitration and mediation services to resolve disputes within a Torah framework, ensuring both justice and communal harmony.
Drafting Halachically Binding Contracts
Ensure your business interests align with Halacha. Rabbi Bechhofer specializes in drafting complex contracts, including ownership transfers for partners of different faiths, to ensure full compliance with the laws of Shabbos and Festivals and to avoid Issurei D'Oraissa (Biblical prohibitions).
Speech-Writing & Chiddushei Torah
Expertly crafted speeches and original Torah thoughts (Chiddushei Torah) for any occasion, available in both Hebrew and English. Whether for a simcha, a public address, or a publication, Rabbi Bechhofer provides profound and engaging content.
Translation, Editing & Ghost-Writing
Professional literary services for Rabbinical and academic manuscripts. This includes high-level translation (English to Hebrew and Hebrew to English), meticulous editing, and collaborative ghost-writing for authors seeking to bring their Torah works to light.
Custom Epitaphs for Tombstones
Mark the passing of a loved one with a meaningful, appropriate, and halachically sensitive epitaph. Rabbi Bechhofer composes poignant inscriptions in both Hebrew and English that honor the legacy of the departed.
Contact for Inquiries
What We Stand For
Our Core Values
Accessibility
Torah learning should be available to every Jew. We offer programs for all levels, from beginners to advanced scholars.
Excellence
We are committed to the highest standards of Torah scholarship, guided by our rabbinic leadership.
Community
Learning is most powerful when shared. We foster deep bonds of friendship and mutual support among our members.
Continuity
We carry forward the eternal chain of Torah transmission, connecting each generation to the wisdom of the past.
Visit Us
Our Home in Cedarhurst
We are conveniently located in the heart of the Five Towns. Our current location is temporary as we work to purchase our new Torah Center. All are welcome to join us at our current location.
600 Oceanpoint Avenue
Cedarhurst, NY
Join Our Community
Whether you are looking to learn, grow, or give back — there is a place for you at the Even Shesiya Torah Center.