Leadership Announcement: A Personal Message from Rabbi Linzer

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

I write with deep gratitude and excitement as we embark on a new chapter in YCT’s journey. After six years serving as both President and Rosh HaYeshiva, I have decided to step back from the presidential role to focus entirely as Rosh HaYeshiva and the spiritual, educational, and halakhic leadership of our yeshiva.

When I first took on this dual role during a critical period, I never could have imagined the full scope of the journey ahead. Together, we’ve navigated unexpected challenges—including a pandemic and shrinking interest in the rabbinate across the denominations—while experiencing profound growth in our programs, establishing ourselves as a force in rabbinic and pastoral training in Israel, and making tremendous impact worldwide.

This has been possible through the extraordinary dedication of our lay leaders, the creativity and commitment of our faculty and staff, and our students who inspire me daily with their devotion to Torah and their future communities. I am so grateful for all that they—and you—have done to help us realize such success.

This decision follows much reflection. With the opening of our Israel office, the establishing of new Torah, rabbinic and pastoral programs for men and women, our growing and deepening network of rabbis and communities, and with 11 incoming rabbinical and beit midrash students, YCT is at a moment of tremendous strength.

This transition will allow a new president to build on our successes while I devote myself fully to my Torah role: educating students in Torah and halakha that truly sees us and meets us where we are and providing musmakhim with spiritual and halakhic guidance on challenging communal issues.

I will also head our new Torah Center to bring our deep and nuanced Torah to growing audiences through the publishing of seforim, teshuvot, and Torah articles – both mine and those of other scholars, the mentoring and training of future poskim and poskot, and through public lectures, community programming, and convenings around urgent issues facing us as religious Jews today.

I’m filled with optimism about our team and the process of appointing our next president, whom I will work in close partnership with to advance YCT’s mission.
I ask for your continued engagement and support during this exciting chapter. The work we do together—training rabbis who lead with wisdom, sensitivity, and halakhic integrity, spreading compassionate Torah, and strengthening communities—has never been more important. I am honored to continue this sacred work alongside all of you.

With the tefillah that we realize God’s blessing of תורת חיים ואהבת חסד, a Torah that is life-giving and the love of kindness and compassion in all aspects of our lives, and experience in our day God’s ultimate blessing of שלום, true and lasting peace.

Bi’vrakhah u’bi’ahavah rabbah,
Rabbi Dov Linzer
Rosh HaYeshiva, Yeshivat Chovevei Torah

Click here to read the letter from our board chair, Steve Laufer, on this transition >