Ya’akov Reterink was born and raised in San Jose, California. He was brought up in what he describes as “a typical West Coast American Reform family.” He went to Sunday School and had a bar mitzvah ceremony. His family always had a Pesach seder and, depending on the year, observed some of the other holidays. But by his late teens he had lost any interest in religion. But he had a great interest in helping others.
After graduating high school, Ya’akov joined the United States Army at 18 years old. After completing basic training he was assigned to a Special Operation Communication unit with the general mission of supporting worldwide Special Forces operations. During his time in the army he spent time in Bosnia where his unit’s primary mission was the location and capture of war criminals. He also spent time in Qatar and Jordan where his unit provided support for the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq respectively. He also spent time in Kuwait, Germany and Romania mostly in training or peacekeeping capacities.
After leaving the army, Ya’akov returned to California and began working for the Jewish Community Center in San Francisco. It was in his late 20’s while living in San Francisco that he began his teshuva process. He became a member of a small orthodox community and began to realize that he needed to spend time learning in a Yeshiva. He decided to look for a Yeshiva that would not only teach him how to learn, but also to be able to contribute to his community. After reading about Shapell’s and consulting with his Rebbeim, he decided to apply. Ya’akov shared, “The next day Hashem decided to test whether I was dedicated to my decision. I was called into my director’s office. He told me that my boss was leaving and asked me if I wanted the job. I told him that I had just applied to a Yeshiva in Jerusalem and that if I was accepted I would be leaving…so it was better for him to start looking for someone else. Two weeks later I received my acceptance letter and officially gave my notice. It was the best decision I have ever made.”
Ya’akov has already learned at Shapell’s two years, and has become a student leader. He is the dormitory manager and as is always available to assist students (at staff). He is also deeply appreciative of all that he is gaining at the Yeshiva. He said, “I cannot begin to express the gratitude I have for the 2 years I have been able to spend at Shapell’s so far. Whether it is the rebbeim who clearly dedicate so much of themselves to the talmidim, or my fellow talmidim themselves, everyone here is dedicated to helping others grow in their Yiddishkeit and that is truly an amazing thing to be a part of. With Hashem’s help I will be here until next July and I look forward to taking all the growth I have experienced here and using it to help grow my community back in the States.”
We have no doubt that, with Hashem’s help, Ya’akov will be a true leader in the Jewish community.
