Plan to turn former M'kor Shalom synagogue into Jewish college gets Cherry Hill Planning Board okay.

A Yeshiva educational institution for Jewish young men got the go-ahead from the Cherry Hill Planning Board on Monday night to move into the former M'kor Shalom synagogue on Evesham Road.

Between 100 and 120 students will be housed in the renovated building, in 27 dormitory rooms ranging from 267 to 499 square feet, according to plans presented at the meeting for Yeshiva Shaar Hatalmud. 

Rabbi Yeruchom Bromberg, the project leader, said the school services the "higher academic students," some of whom continue after graduating to complete a higher-level rabbinical degree.

The "students of this town will see role models of students who are studious and excelling in their studies and most importantly are of refined character," Bromberg said. Most of the students will come from the Lakewood, Ocean County, area.

The Yeshiva intends to purchase the M'kor Shalom property at 850 Evesham Road and close its present school in Hillburn, New York. The nonprofit school also operates a high school in Lakewood.

Yeshiva Shaar Hatalmud was founded 15 years ago by Rabbi Avraham Bromberg.

Board members, who voted unanimously in favor of the site-plan waiver, said they were excited about the school moving to Cherry Hill.

Member Marlyn Kalitan said she had been worried that the former synagogue would be demolished and replaced by apartment buildings.

"I am thrilled that we're being able to educate students and keep this wonderful building," she said when casting her vote.

Added member Anne Madden Tufano: "I think it's a welcome addition to Cherry Hill."

The property, bordering both Marlton and Voorhees, is divided into three parts. Public Service Electric & Gas Co. has received board approval to build an electrical substation on the east end of the site. The Yeshiva would go into the building in the middle of the site. Plans for the parcel on the western end have yet to be made public.

Congregation M'kor Shalom and Congregation Temple Emanuel, at Springdale and Kresson Roads, in June merged into Congregation Kol Ami, which took over the Temple Emanuel building.

No exterior changes in the M'kor Shalom building are anticipated, according to the Yeshiva.

Project architect Shimon Greenebaum, of RISE Architecture NJ LLC, told the board he attended Yeshiva Shaar Hatalmud before pursuing his architectural degrees. He said the Brombergs were attracted to the beauty of the M'kor Shalom site and intend to maintain it.

Greenebaum said the size of the school would be limited to 120 students, mainly because the chief rabbi in residence on the site works closely with each student and that educational relationship could not accommodate more students.

Lawyer Donna Jennings, of Wilentz, Goldman & Spitzer, said her client has for some time searched for a new site for the New York school.

"They're very excited to become members of the Cherry Hill community," she told the board. 

Yeshiva students "are young men, ages 18 through 21, who engage in a two- to three-year program wherein they each receive a degree, equivalent to a college degree, at the conclusion," the application states.

"Students begin the day at 7:30 a.m. with morning prayer, followed by breakfast. The students then engage in morning sessions from 9:30 a.m. through 2 p.m., which consists of learning different areas of the Jewish religion with a partner and through lecture," according to the Yeshiva's operations report filed with the Township.

After lunch and a break, "afternoon sessions begin at 3:30 until 6:30 p.m., again through pair learning and lecture. The students then eat dinner and evening sessions take place from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m."

The operations report stated six educational staff members will be on site in addition to a chief rabbi. 

A "cook will be present on site from breakfast through dinner and will hire a few additional staff to assist with his or her needs. The cook will not live on site," according to plans.

Students are not permitted to have cars with them, the report notes. Every five to six weeks the students are given the weekend off and will be bused off the property, it adds.