It started with a simple, heartfelt observation — one that Rabbi Aryeh Sherwinter couldn’t ignore.

Every afternoon, as the school bell rang and children poured out into the streets, he noticed something: so many young boys and girls with time on their hands — and nowhere meaningful to go. Some wandered. Some sat idle. Some just lacked a place that felt safe, warm, and purposeful after hours.

Rabbi Sherwinter, a beloved community Rav with a deep pulse on Lakewood’s growing needs, saw more than just unstructured time. He saw potential. He saw opportunity. And with that vision, he built Bais Medrash of Lakewood Commons — a Makom that would meet children where they were and gently guide them toward where they could be.

From the very beginning, this was never “just” an after-school program. This was a mission. A calling. A way to offer our children consistent connection, uplifting friendships, and the kind of structured joy that only a Torah environment can provide — during the hours when it matters most.

With Daas Torah at every step and an unshakable commitment to each child’s spiritual, emotional, and social growth, Rabbi Sherwinter has built more than a program. He’s built a community. One filled with caring mentors, learning, laughter, and light — and powered by a belief that every child deserves to be seen, supported, and celebrated.

And thanks to his leadership, that belief becomes a reality every single day.