Meor Dovid: Lighting Up Lancaster with Torah By Yitzchok Singer “Lancaster.” Mention the name of this South Central Pennsylvania city and it’ll conjure up memories of summer and bein hazemanim trips, visits to the 48-acre Dutch Wonderland Amusement Park, and tours of Amish Country. Those who paid attention during history class might recall that during the American Revolution, Lancaster was the capital of the United States for one day, on September 27, 1777. Lancaster is a popular destination for frum vacationers. In fact, between five and ten thousand frum tourists make their way to Lancaster each summer.  Nevertheless, at this time, the true attraction of Lancaster to Torah Jews should be something else entirely. And it might just be the best-kept secret in the Torah world. We’re talking about Yeshiva Gedolah Meor Dovid of Lancaster. You might be surprised to learn that Lancaster is home to a high-level yeshiva gedolah, where the sounds of limud haTorah can be heard from morning to night.  The bais medrash-level yeshiva, led by Rav Avrohom Notis, is located at the Degel Israel shul, which has had a presence in Lancaster for over 100 years. One year ago, the shul opened its doors to Yeshiva Meor Dovid and Rav Notis assumed the position of mara d’asra of the kehillah.  Rav Notis, who has been a marbitz Torah for many years, has an impressive Torah pedigree. He was raised in the hallowed confines of Telshe Yeshiva in Cleveland, Ohio, where his father, Rav Yitzchok, served as a maggid shiur for over 50 years. Rav Notis’ grandfather, Rav Eliyahu Meir Bloch, restored the former glory of the original Telshe in Lithuania from the ashes of the Holocaust, becoming rosh yeshiva of Telshe in Ohio. Rav Avrohom learned under Rav Elya Ber Wachtfogel at Yeshiva Gedolah Zichron Moshe in South Fallsburg, NY, and then at Yeshivas Brisk in Yerushalayim, before joining Bais Medrash Govoah in Lakewood. He married Chaya Rivka Barkin, daughter of Rav Dovid Barkin, renowned maggid shiur at Telshe Yeshiva who was Rav Notis’ rebbi. Yeshiva Meor Dovid is named in memory of Rav Barkin. A mechanech of note and a respected talmid chochom, Rav Avremel, as he is affectionately known, has had a profound impact on bnei Torah who have benefitted from his wealth of yedios haTorah, his scintillating shiurim, and his understanding of a bochur. He utilized his skills in molding bochurim while teaching at Telshe Yeshiva and elsewhere. In 2012, seeking to do more, Rav Notis founded Yeshivas Meor Dovid, which subsequently relocated to Lancaster. The yeshiva has seen great success, igniting many a spark in its talmidim, helping them realize their potential. The yeshiva is now a home away from home for some 30 talmidim. Alumni of Meor Dovid have gone on to learn in prestigious yeshivos in Eretz Yisroel and elsewhere, while maintaining an ongoing connection with Rav Notis. Those who have tasted the Meor Dovid “experience” understand why Lancaster is the perfect environment for a bais medrash comprised of bnei aliyah.  “It’s an atmosphere where bochurim can grow and thrive without distractions,” says Rav Notis. “It’s serene and calm, close enough to home but not too close.” Indeed, Lancaster is just one hour from Baltimore and Philadelphia, and two hours from Lakewood, making it an ideal location for this yeshiva.   […]