A few other points. Many of these so-called BT yeshivas consist mostly of frum from birth guys that either were raised modern and now are trying to be 'frummer' or guys who left religion for a time. Many of them don't offer introductory classes. They just open up the Gemara and start learning. Most of them are yeshivish. Why is this so? It's because most Chassidic groups are insular these days, so they aren't opening yeshivas for BTs (except for Chabad and Belz). And the yeshiva world - since it has reduced life to Gemara study - has all these guys who can't earn a living, so they start a BT yeshiva since it's easier to fundraise for BTs then for regular yeshivas. They don't bother to figure out what the BT needs. They really just want to continue in their own studies, so they start you off with where they left off - Gemara lomdus. To them, that's all you need. It's magic. They don't realize they had a full childhood of religious life before they started Gemara. So watch out for all those pitfalls. Go to a place that has a true beginner's program.
And now the yeshivos. All of these have instruction in English except maybe the Belz yeshiva and Shavu Banim.
USA:
Hadar HaTorah - Chabad Chassidus in Crown Heights. Smaller than Morristown, but hey, it's in Crown Heights and that's pretty wonderful if you are Chabad. https://hadarhatorah.org/ info@hadarhatorah.org No classes in Hebrew grammar.
Morristown/Tiferes Bochurim - Chabad Chassidus on a big campus that serves also as a yeshiva for FFBs. https://yeshivanj.com/ No classes in Hebrew grammar.
Shor Yashuv/the Shaar - BT program in a yeshiva for FFBs. Nice facility. In Lawrence, NY. https://www.the-shaar.com/, For Inquiries regarding the Introductory Program email Rabbi Mayer Hurwitz at mhurwitz@shoryoshuv.org. Class schedule is pretty broad but needs a class in mitzvos.
Toras Dovid - Litivsh Yeshiva in Monsey. On Carleton Road. I don' t know the program so well, but it sounds like its fairly well balanced. They teach Hebrew/Ulpan for example and Mishnah, which means it's not Gemara only. https://torasdovid.org/
James Striar School, Yeshiva University - Torah u'maddah and the resources of the massive Yeshiva University. https://www.yu.edu/academics/torah-studies/men/uts/jss Lots of classes in Hebrew grammar.
Torah Ohr - Chabad in North Miami. https://www.miamitorah.com/templates/articlecco_cdo/aid/1232259/jewish/About.htm
https://collive.com/miami-new-baalei-teshuva-yeshiva/ Class in Hebrew grammar, probably not a major part of the program though.
Israel:
The Breslov Yeshiva, The Exploration Program-Program in English with two tracks, one for baalei teshuvah. Har Nof, Jerusalem. Featuring schedule of daily hisbodedus, classes on Likutei Mohoran amongst other classic Chassidic sefarim, and the advanced tools for learning Talmud.
Yeshivat Darche Noam/Shapell's - Right wing Yeshiva University style. It's even an official YU program. In Beit HaKaren, Jerusalem, an interesting, mixed community near the museums and government district. Mid-sized in a nice building. More personal than the bigger places but pretty big on its own. Describes itself as a "second stage yeshiva" that focuses primarily on Gemara -- so not for brand new BTs. But it does have a rich program in addition to Gemara. Claims to encourage each student to find his own derech. However, it appears that there's lots of pressure to move to Israel. Zionistic. Classes in Hebrew grammar. https://darchenoam.org/shapells/about-shapells/#vision
Ohr Somayach, Jerusalem - Used to be a traditional Litvish yeshivish place, but they have on staff now (he's the "Rav" of the community) a guy who pressures everyone to move to Israel. And that's not a goood choice for most BTs. It's a bigger kind of program in a new facility near Meah She'arim. Not so good for those with Chassidic leanings but appropriate if you want to be a Litvish yeshiva man whose main focus is 'learning.' Claims to have introductory courses including Hebrew grammar, but students have told me that it doesn't really exist. https://ohr.edu/ohr_somayach/about_ohr_somayach/
Aish HaTorah - Good location in lovely facility. Broader and more flexible program. Generally more on the Litvish yeshivish side of things. Has branches in many cities that you can utilize to feel connected to the school. https://yeshiva.aish.com/. Introductory classes in Hebrew grammar and mitzvos.
Mayanot - Chabad Chassidus. In the center of Jerusalem, near Geulah in a charming older building. A big brand new center is being renovated. https://mayanot.edu/, Classes in Hebrew grammar. Chabad Chassidus in general, thanks to the Rebbe, is full of introductory material to the religion.
Dvar Yerushalayim - Rabbi Horowitz, who helped to translate Rav Hirsch's Horeb, gives you freedom to study what you want. Ulpan program. Big English library. The closest you'll find to a Torah Im Derech Eretz program. http://dvar.org.il/index.php?lang=en
Orayta - Chumash, Gemara, and lot of Kabbalah and singing. Carlebach style. In the Old City, connected to Isralight. https://www.orayta.org/about/about-oryata.html. Classes in Hebrew grammar.
Sha’arei Shalom - Chassidic yeshiva for BTs. In Nachalot, Jerusalem, which is an older neighborhood with lots of charm. For creative types. Might be defunct.
Machon Shlomo - Basic textual study of a few pages Gemara and Chumash with Rashi and an emphasis on musar then back to America to resume your career. Not for brand new BTs. Limited program. Hebrew grammar and language are not studied there. There's no class in mitzvos and only an hour a week in halacha. No guest speakers. Maybe 1 trip a year. 1st year students not allowed to date. 10-15 students total. Located in old apartment. Lots of career-oriented guys. Har Nof, Jerusalem.
Machon Yaakov - Similar to Machon Shlomo, it's sister school, but more structure, staff, and students. Judging by some of the staff biographies and alumni biographies, it has, like Machon Shlomo, a palpable identification with conventionally prestigious credentials, careers, and pursuits. This is not necessarily a bad thing. There are many parents who are very caught up in careers and fear their sons going to yeshiva as there are many stories of Wharton graduates and such abandoning their careers for full time study. So the fixation on that stuff at these two schools presents an option that serves a purpose. Nevertheless, these two schools are not for Charedim, Chassidim, artists, or true intellectuals but are not for typical Modern Orthodox either. MS and MY are their own animal. Hebrew is studied at MY. Har Nof. https://www.machonyaakov.org/
Belz, Torah v'Emunah. 11 Moshe Khagiz St. in Zichron Moshe, Jerusalem. - Program for BTs in genuine Chassidic environment. https://worldofbelz.org/ Might be Hebrew only.
Ohr Temimim - Chabad for beginners in Kfar Chabad. Currently, online only. https://www.ohrtmimim.org/learning_program
Diaspora Yeshiva - Great location in the Old City. "If you are a baal teshuva whose heart is for HaShem, and are seeking to delve deeper into His Torah than ever before, and to unite with the Jewish people in embracing your G-d given calling as His Kingdom of Priests and Holy Nation, welcome home!" Yeshivish - their goal is make gadolim (their words), which doesn't sound so realistic to me. But maybe that motivates some people. Programs for Baalei Teshuva | Diaspora Yeshiva | Mount Zion, Jerusalem https://www.diasporayeshiva.org/
Yeshiva Temimei Darech - Chabad in Sefas. "YTD follows the holistic Chabad approach to Torah study that students find both satisfying and energizing: Classic Talmudic and legal study is integrated with the study of ancient Kabbalah, Chassidic thought, and contemporary mysticism. Students tackle Jewish law with the same vigor with which they embrace spirituality, and apply logical analysis to the study of metaphysics." Class in Hebrew grammar.
Machon Meir - Religious Zionist, in Givat Shaul. Classes in Hebrew grammar.
Shuvu Banim. Breslov, Old City, Arab quarter but supposed to be safe. It's hard core Breslov Chassidus. Very passionate. For some people it's the way to go.
Now let me say a few words about study in Israel. I personally believe that a person should hesitate before studying in Israel. As a BT, you are going through enough changes. Israel has a very different culture, plus you don't know the language so it's hard to navigate the place. You don't have your support system in Israel. In my view, most people, if they are going to go to yeshiva, should study in the USA. You don't need the culture shock of Israel on top of the culture shock of becoming Torah observant in the USA.
I want to add another point. Try not to trust strangers. There's so much blind trust in the frum world. It's very dangerous. Don't trust people you don't know. Get to know them before you start innocently accepting what comes out of their mouths. Watch them. Make sure they are moral, make sure they have common sense, make sure they have a heart. It can even be a mistake to go to a stranger's house for dinner. You do that and the next thing you know they have you getting involved in things that are not good for you. Be careful with people, even Jews, even frum people. Actually you should be extra careful around frum people because so many of them are selling something, so many of them want to tell you how to live and what kind of person you should be. There are many dominating personalities in the Orthodox Jewish world. Combine that with this notion that you are supposed to turn off your brain and obey, and you get some real problems. Look out for your dignity and don't shut off your brain no matter how many people tell you to.
