TORCH Centre

What learners say about TORCH Centre's rabbis and welcome

TORCH Centre holds a 5.0 rating across 27 Google reviews. The theme you will see most is the people. Reviewers describe the staff and teachers as generous and quick to make newcomers feel at home.

The rabbis come up again and again. Learners say the lessons are enjoyable and leave them feeling lifted, and several single out Rabbi Wolbe by name. Others point to the building itself, calling it modern and pleasant to spend an evening in. A few joke that weeknights here feel more like a social scene than a study hall.

The centre says it was founded in 1998 as the Torah Outreach Resource Center of Houston, also called the Houston Community Kollel. It describes a non-judgmental approach open to Jews of any affiliation, from Orthodox to Reform to none at all. Houston has a population of 2,397,315 as of 2025, per the Census Bureau, in Harris County.

Everyday Judaism, Gemara and evening classes at TORCH Centre

Its website names Everyday Judaism, a class on the basics of daily Jewish practice, and a 12-week How To Learn Gemara course that pairs each student with a study partner. The Gemara course asks that you can already read the Hebrew alphabet. A Monday evening series with Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe works through the Gate of Trust from Chovos Halevavos.

The centre opens at 9am, runs until 10pm most evenings, closes early on Friday and stays shut Saturday. Classes stream live on Zoom and later appear as podcasts. The website lists Everyday Judaism at $199 a month, free if you bring questions for its Ask Away segment.