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A yeshiva (; ; pl. , or ) is a traditional
Jewish Jews (, , ), or the Jewish people, are an ethnoreligious group and nation, originating from the Israelites of History of ancient Israel and Judah, ancient Israel and Judah. They also traditionally adhere to Judaism. Jewish ethnicity, rel ...
educational institution An educational institution is a place where people of different ages gain an education, including preschools, childcare, primary-elementary schools, secondary-high schools, and universities. They provide a large variety of learning environments a ...
focused on the study of
Rabbinic literature Rabbinic literature, in its broadest sense, is the entire corpus of works authored by rabbis throughout Jewish history. The term typically refers to literature from the Talmudic era (70–640 CE), as opposed to medieval and modern rabbinic ...
, primarily the
Talmud The Talmud (; ) is the central text of Rabbinic Judaism and the primary source of Jewish religious law (''halakha'') and Jewish theology. Until the advent of Haskalah#Effects, modernity, in nearly all Jewish communities, the Talmud was the cen ...
and
halacha ''Halakha'' ( ; , ), also transliterated as ''halacha'', ''halakhah'', and ''halocho'' ( ), is the collective body of Jewish religious laws that are derived from the Written and Oral Torah. ''Halakha'' is based on biblical commandments ('' mi ...
(Jewish law), while
Torah The Torah ( , "Instruction", "Teaching" or "Law") is the compilation of the first five books of the Hebrew Bible, namely the books of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. The Torah is also known as the Pentateuch () ...
and
Jewish philosophy Jewish philosophy () includes all philosophy carried out by Jews or in relation to the religion of Judaism. Until the modern ''Haskalah'' (Jewish Enlightenment) and Jewish emancipation, Jewish philosophy was preoccupied with attempts to reconc ...
are studied in parallel. The studying is usually done through daily ''
shiurim A shiur (, , ; , ) is a lecture given any Torah-related topic of study, such as Gemara, Mishnah, ''Halakha'' (Jewish law), or Tanakh (Hebrew Bible), usually given in a yeshiva, though commonly in other Jewish communal settings. Histor ...
'' (lectures or classes) as well as in study pairs called ''
chavrusa ''Chavrusa'', also spelled ''chavruta'' or ''ḥavruta'' (, lit. "fellowship"; : , ''ḥāḇrāwāṯā''), is a traditional rabbinic approach to Talmudic study in which a small group of students (usually 2–5) analyze, discuss, and debate a ...
s'' (
Aramaic Aramaic (; ) is a Northwest Semitic language that originated in the ancient region of Syria and quickly spread to Mesopotamia, the southern Levant, Sinai, southeastern Anatolia, and Eastern Arabia, where it has been continually written a ...
for 'friendship' or 'companionship'). ''
Chavrusa ''Chavrusa'', also spelled ''chavruta'' or ''ḥavruta'' (, lit. "fellowship"; : , ''ḥāḇrāwāṯā''), is a traditional rabbinic approach to Talmudic study in which a small group of students (usually 2–5) analyze, discuss, and debate a ...
''-style learning is one of the unique features of the yeshiva. In the
United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
and
Israel Israel, officially the State of Israel, is a country in West Asia. It Borders of Israel, shares borders with Lebanon to the north, Syria to the north-east, Jordan to the east, Egypt to the south-west, and the Mediterranean Sea to the west. Isr ...
, different levels of yeshiva education have different names. In the U.S., elementary-school students enroll in a ''
cheder A ''cheder'' (, lit. 'room'; Yiddish pronunciation: ''khéyder'') is a traditional primary school teaching the basics of Judaism and the Hebrew language. History ''Cheders'' were widely found in Europe before the end of the 18th century. L ...
'', post-
bar mitzvah A ''bar mitzvah'' () or ''bat mitzvah'' () is a coming of age ritual in Judaism. According to Halakha, Jewish law, before children reach a certain age, the parents are responsible for their child's actions. Once Jewish children reach that age ...
-age students learn in a ''
mesivta ''Metivta'' (also mesivta; Aramaic language, Aramaic: מתיבתא, "academy") is an Orthodox Judaism, Orthodox Jewish yeshiva secondary school for boys. The term is commonly used in the United States to describe a yeshiva that emphasizes Talmudi ...
'', and undergraduate-level students learn in a ''
beit midrash A ''beth midrash'' (, "house of learning"; : ''batei midrash''), also ''beis medrash'' or ''beit midrash'', is a hall dedicated for Torah study, often translated as a "study hall". It is distinct from a synagogue (''beth knesseth''), although ...
'' or ''
yeshiva gedola Yeshiva gedolah, known in the United States as bais medrash, is a type of yeshiva, a Jewish educational institution, which is aimed at post-secondary students in their later teens or younger twenties. This contrasts with a Yeshiva Ketana or Mesiv ...
'' (). In Israel, elementary-school students enroll in a
Talmud Torah Talmud Torah (, lit. 'Study of the Torah') schools were created in the Jewish world, both Ashkenazic and Sephardic, as a form of religious school for boys of modest backgrounds, where they were given an elementary education in Hebrew language, H ...
or ''
cheder A ''cheder'' (, lit. 'room'; Yiddish pronunciation: ''khéyder'') is a traditional primary school teaching the basics of Judaism and the Hebrew language. History ''Cheders'' were widely found in Europe before the end of the 18th century. L ...
'', post-bar mitzvah-age students learn in a ''yeshiva ketana'' (), and high-school-age students learn in a ''yeshiva gedola''. A ''
kollel A kollel (also kolel) (, , , , a "gathering" or "collection" f scholars is an institute for full-time, advanced Torah study, study of the Talmud and rabbinic literature. Like a yeshiva, a kollel features Shiur (Torah), shiurim (lectures) and ...
'' is a yeshiva for married men, in which it is common to pay a token stipend to its students. Students of
Lithuanian Lithuanian may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to Lithuania, a country in the Baltic region in northern Europe ** Lithuanian language ** Lithuanians, a Baltic ethnic group, native to Lithuania and the immediate geographical region ** L ...
and
Hasidic Hasidism () or Hasidic Judaism is a religious movement within Judaism that arose in the 18th century as a spiritual revival movement in contemporary Western Ukraine before spreading rapidly throughout Eastern Europe. Today, most of those aff ...
''yeshivot gedolot'' (plural of ''yeshiva gedola'') usually learn in yeshiva until they get married. Historically, yeshivas were for men only. Today, all non-Orthodox yeshivas are open to women. Although there are separate schools for Orthodox women and girls, (''
midrasha A ' (Hebrew: ; : ), typically, is an institute of Torah study for women of post-high-school age, somewhat equivalent to a men's yeshiva; most are located in Israel. The midrasha is also somewhat parallel to a "women's seminary" (Hebrew "semin ...
'' or "seminary") these do not follow the same structure or curriculum as the traditional yeshiva for boys and men.


Etymology

Alternate spellings and names include ''yeshivah''; ''metivta'' and ''
mesivta ''Metivta'' (also mesivta; Aramaic language, Aramaic: מתיבתא, "academy") is an Orthodox Judaism, Orthodox Jewish yeshiva secondary school for boys. The term is commonly used in the United States to describe a yeshiva that emphasizes Talmudi ...
'' ( ''methivta''); ''
beth midrash A ''beth midrash'' (, "house of learning"; : ''batei midrash''), also ''beis medrash'' or ''beit midrash'', is a hall dedicated for Torah study, often translated as a "study hall". It is distinct from a synagogue (''beth knesseth''), althoug ...
''; Talmudical academy, rabbinical academy and rabbinical school. The word ''yeshiva'' is applied to the activity of learning in class, and hence to a learning "session." The transference in meaning of the term from the learning session to the institution itself appears to have occurred by the time of the
Talmudic Academies in Babylonia The Talmudic academies in Babylonia, also known as the Geonic academies, were the center for Jewish scholarship and the development of Halakha during the Geonic era (from c. 589 to 1038 CE; Hebrew dates: 4349 AM to 4798 AM) in what is called ...
,
Sura A ''surah'' (; ; ) is an Arabic word meaning 'chapter' in the Quran. There are 114 ''suwar'' in the Quran, each divided into verses (). The ''suwar'' are of unequal length; the shortest ''surah'' ( al-Kawthar) has only three verses, while the ...
and
Pumbedita Pumbedita ( ''Pūm Bəḏīṯāʾ'', "Mouth of the Bedita"See The river "Bedita" has not been identified.) was an ancient city located in modern-day Iraq. It is known for having hosted the Pumbedita Academy. History The city of Pumbedita was s ...
, which were known as ''shte ha-yeshivot'' (the two colleges).


History


Origins

The
Mishnah The Mishnah or the Mishna (; , from the verb ''šānā'', "to study and review", also "secondary") is the first written collection of the Jewish oral traditions that are known as the Oral Torah. Having been collected in the 3rd century CE, it is ...
tractate Megillah contains the law that a town can only be called a ''city'' if it supports ten men (''batlanim'') to make up the required
quorum A quorum is the minimum number of members of a group necessary to constitute the group at a meeting. In a deliberative assembly (a body that uses parliamentary procedure, such as a legislature), a quorum is necessary to conduct the business of ...
for communal prayers. Similarly, every beth din ('house of judgement') was attended by a number of pupils up to three times the size of the court (
Mishnah The Mishnah or the Mishna (; , from the verb ''šānā'', "to study and review", also "secondary") is the first written collection of the Jewish oral traditions that are known as the Oral Torah. Having been collected in the 3rd century CE, it is ...
, tractate
Sanhedrin The Sanhedrin (Hebrew and Middle Aramaic , a loanword from , 'assembly,' 'sitting together,' hence ' assembly' or 'council') was a Jewish legislative and judicial assembly of either 23 or 70 elders, existing at both a local and central level i ...
). According to the
Talmud The Talmud (; ) is the central text of Rabbinic Judaism and the primary source of Jewish religious law (''halakha'') and Jewish theology. Until the advent of Haskalah#Effects, modernity, in nearly all Jewish communities, the Talmud was the cen ...
, adults generally took two months off every year to study, these being
Elul Elul (Hebrew language, Hebrew: , Hebrew language#Modern Hebrew, Standard , Tiberian vocalization, Tiberian ) is the twelfth month of the civil year and the sixth month of the Jewish religious year, religious year in the Hebrew calendar. It is a m ...
and
Adar Adar (Hebrew: , ; from Akkadian ''adaru'') is the sixth month of the civil year and the twelfth month of the religious year on the Hebrew calendar, roughly corresponding to the month of March in the Gregorian calendar. It is a month of 29 days. ...
, the months preceding the pilgrimage festivals of
Sukkot Sukkot, also known as the Feast of Tabernacles or Feast of Booths, is a Torah-commanded Jewish holiday celebrated for seven days, beginning on the 15th day of the month of Tishrei. It is one of the Three Pilgrimage Festivals on which Israelite ...
and
Pesach Passover, also called Pesach (; ), is a major Jewish holidays, Jewish holiday and one of the Three Pilgrimage Festivals. It celebrates the Exodus of the Israelites from slavery in Biblical Egypt, Egypt. According to the Book of Exodus, God in ...
(called ''Yarḥei Kalla,''
Aramaic Aramaic (; ) is a Northwest Semitic language that originated in the ancient region of Syria and quickly spread to Mesopotamia, the southern Levant, Sinai, southeastern Anatolia, and Eastern Arabia, where it has been continually written a ...
for ' Months of Kallah'). The rest of the year, they worked.


Geonic period

The Geonic period takes its name from ''Gaon'', the title given to the heads of the three yeshivas which existed from the third to the thirteenth century. The Geonim acted as the principals of their individual yeshivot, and as spiritual leaders and high judges for the wider communities tied to them. The yeshiva conducted all official business in the name of its Gaon, and all correspondence to or from the yeshiva was addressed directly to the Gaon. Throughout the Geonic Period there were three yeshivot, each named for the cities in which they were located:
Jerusalem Jerusalem is a city in the Southern Levant, on a plateau in the Judaean Mountains between the Mediterranean Sea, Mediterranean and the Dead Sea. It is one of the List of oldest continuously inhabited cities, oldest cities in the world, and ...
,
Sura A ''surah'' (; ; ) is an Arabic word meaning 'chapter' in the Quran. There are 114 ''suwar'' in the Quran, each divided into verses (). The ''suwar'' are of unequal length; the shortest ''surah'' ( al-Kawthar) has only three verses, while the ...
, and
Pumbedita Pumbedita ( ''Pūm Bəḏīṯāʾ'', "Mouth of the Bedita"See The river "Bedita" has not been identified.) was an ancient city located in modern-day Iraq. It is known for having hosted the Pumbedita Academy. History The city of Pumbedita was s ...
; the yeshiva of Jerusalem would later relocate to
Cairo Cairo ( ; , ) is the Capital city, capital and largest city of Egypt and the Cairo Governorate, being home to more than 10 million people. It is also part of the List of urban agglomerations in Africa, largest urban agglomeration in Africa, L ...
, and the yeshivot of Sura and Pumbedita to
Baghdad Baghdad ( or ; , ) is the capital and List of largest cities of Iraq, largest city of Iraq, located along the Tigris in the central part of the country. With a population exceeding 7 million, it ranks among the List of largest cities in the A ...
, but retain their original names. Each Jewish community would associate itself with one of the three yeshivot; Jews living around the
Mediterranean The Mediterranean Sea ( ) is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by the Mediterranean basin and almost completely enclosed by land: on the east by the Levant in West Asia, on the north by Anatolia in West Asia and Southern ...
typically followed the yeshiva in Jerusalem, while those living in the
Arabian Peninsula The Arabian Peninsula (, , or , , ) or Arabia, is a peninsula in West Asia, situated north-east of Africa on the Arabian plate. At , comparable in size to India, the Arabian Peninsula is the largest peninsula in the world. Geographically, the ...
and modern-day
Iraq Iraq, officially the Republic of Iraq, is a country in West Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to Iraq–Saudi Arabia border, the south, Turkey to Iraq–Turkey border, the north, Iran to Iran–Iraq border, the east, the Persian Gulf and ...
and
Iran Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) and also known as Persia, is a country in West Asia. It borders Iraq to the west, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Armenia to the northwest, the Caspian Sea to the north, Turkmenistan to the nort ...
typically followed one of the two yeshivot in Baghdad. There was no requirement for this, and each community could choose to associate with any of the yeshivot. The yeshiva served as the highest educational institution for the
Rabbis A rabbi (; ) is a spiritual leader or religious teacher in Judaism. One becomes a rabbi by being ordained by another rabbi—known as '' semikha''—following a course of study of Jewish history and texts such as the Talmud. The basic form of ...
of this period. In addition to this, the yeshiva wielded great power as the principal body for interpreting
Jewish law ''Halakha'' ( ; , ), also transliterated as ''halacha'', ''halakhah'', and ''halocho'' ( ), is the collective body of Jewish religious laws that are derived from the Written and Oral Torah. ''Halakha'' is based on biblical commandments ('' mit ...
. The community regarded the Gaon of a yeshiva as the highest judge on all matters of Jewish law. Each yeshiva ruled differently on matters of ritual and law; the other yeshivot accepted these divisions, and all three ranked as equally orthodox. The yeshiva also served as an administrative authority, in conjunction with local communities, by appointing members to serve as the head of local congregations. These heads of a congregation served as a link between the congregation and the larger yeshiva it was attached to. These leaders would also submit questions to the yeshiva to obtain final rulings on issues of dogma, ritual, or law. Each congregation was expected to follow only one yeshiva to prevent conflict with different rulings issued by different yeshivot. The yeshivot were financially supported by a number of means, including fixed voluntary, annual contributions; these contributions being collected and handled by local leaders appointed by the yeshiva. Private gifts and donations from individuals were also common, especially during holidays, consisting of money or goods. The yeshiva of Jerusalem was finally forced into exile in Cairo in 1127, and eventually dispersed entirely. Likewise, the yeshivot of Sura and Pumbedita were dispersed following the
Mongol Mongols are an East Asian ethnic group native to Mongolia, China (Inner Mongolia and other 11 autonomous territories), as well as the republics of Buryatia and Kalmykia in Russia. The Mongols are the principal member of the large family of M ...
invasions of the 13th century. After this education in Jewish religious studies became the responsibility of individual
synagogues A synagogue, also called a shul or a temple, is a place of worship for Jews and Samaritans. It is a place for prayer (the main sanctuary and sometimes smaller chapels) where Jews attend religious services or special ceremonies such as wed ...
. No organization ever came to replace the three great yeshivot of Jerusalem, Sura and Pumbedita.


To 19th century

After the Geonic Period Jews established more Yeshiva academies in Europe and in Northern Africa, including the Kairuan yeshiva in Tunisia (Hebrew: ישיבת קאירואן) that was established by Chushiel Ben Elchanan (Hebrew: חושיאל בן אלחנן) in 974. Traditionally, every town
rabbi A rabbi (; ) is a spiritual leader or religious teacher in Judaism. One becomes a rabbi by being ordained by another rabbi—known as ''semikha''—following a course of study of Jewish history and texts such as the Talmud. The basic form of t ...
had the right to maintain a number of full or part-time pupils in the town's
beth midrash A ''beth midrash'' (, "house of learning"; : ''batei midrash''), also ''beis medrash'' or ''beit midrash'', is a hall dedicated for Torah study, often translated as a "study hall". It is distinct from a synagogue (''beth knesseth''), althoug ...
(study hall), which was usually adjacent to the synagogue. Their cost of living was covered by community taxation. After a number of years, the students who received ''
semikha ''Semikhah'' () is the traditional term for rabbiinic ordination in Judaism. The original ''semikhah'' was the formal "transmission of authority" from Moses through the generations. This form of ''semikhah'' ceased between 360 and 425 CE. Si ...
'' (rabbinical ordination) would either take up a vacant rabbinical position elsewhere or join the workforce.


Lithuanian

Organised
Torah study Torah study is the study of the Torah, Hebrew Bible, Talmud, responsa, rabbinic literature, and similar works, all of which are Judaism's Sifrei kodesh, religious texts. According to Rabbinic Judaism, the study is done for the purpose of the ''mi ...
was revolutionised by
Chaim Volozhin Chaim of Volozhin (also known as Chaim ben Yitzchok of Volozhin or Chaim Ickovits; 21 January 1749 – 14 June 1821)Jewish Encyclopedia Bibliography: Fuenn, Keneset Yisrael, pp. 347–349; idem, Kiryah Ne'emanah, pp. 156–158; L ...
, an influential 18th-century Lithuanian leader of Judaism and disciple of the
Vilna Gaon Elijah ben Solomon Zalman, ( ''Rabbi Eliyahu ben Shlomo Zalman''), also known as the Vilna Gaon ( ''Der Vilner Goen''; ; or Elijah of Vilna, or by his Hebrew acronym Gr"a ("Gaon Rabbenu Eliyahu": "Our great teacher Elijah"; Sialiec, April 23, 172 ...
. In his view, the traditional arrangement did not cater to those looking for more intensive study. With the support of his teacher, Volozhin gathered interested students and started a yeshiva in the town of
Valozhyn Valozhyn or Volozhin (, ; ; ; ; ) is a town in Minsk Region, Belarus. It serves as the administrative center of Valozhyn District. It is located northwest of the capital Minsk, on the Valozhynka River in the Neman, Neman River basin, and the begi ...
, located in modern-day
Belarus Belarus, officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe. It is bordered by Russia to the east and northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Belarus spans an a ...
. The
Volozhin yeshiva Yeshivas Etz Ḥayyim (), commonly called the Volozhin Yeshiva (), was a prestigious LItvak yeshiva located in the town of Volozhin in the Russian Empire (now Valozhyn, Belarus). It was founded around 1803 by Khayim Volozhiner, a student of the ...
was closed some 60 years later in 1892 following the Russian government's demands for the introduction of certain secular studies. Thereafter, a number of yeshivot opened in other towns and cities, most notably Slabodka,
Panevėžys Panevėžys () is the fifth-largest List of cities in Lithuania, city in Lithuania and the List of cities in the Baltic states by population, eighth-most-populous city in the Baltic States. it occupies with 89,100 inhabitants. As defined by Eu ...
,
Mir ''Mir'' (, ; ) was a space station operated in low Earth orbit from 1986 to 2001, first by the Soviet Union and later by the Russia, Russian Federation. ''Mir'' was the first modular space station and was assembled in orbit from 1986 to ...
, Brisk, and Telz. Many prominent contemporary ''yeshivot'' in the United States and
Israel Israel, officially the State of Israel, is a country in West Asia. It Borders of Israel, shares borders with Lebanon to the north, Syria to the north-east, Jordan to the east, Egypt to the south-west, and the Mediterranean Sea to the west. Isr ...
are continuations of these institutions, and often bear the same name. In the 19th century,
Israel Salanter Yisrael ben Ze'ev Wolf Lipkin, also known as "Israel Salanter" or "Yisroel Salanter" (November 3, 1809 – February 2, 1883), was the father of the Musar movement in Orthodox Judaism and a famed Rosh yeshiva and Talmudist. The epithet ''Salante ...
initiated the Mussar movement in non-Hasidic Lithuanian Jewry, which sought to encourage yeshiva students and the wider community to spend regular times devoted to the study of Jewish ethical works. Concerned by the new social and religious changes of the
Haskalah The ''Haskalah'' (; literally, "wisdom", "erudition" or "education"), often termed the Jewish Enlightenment, was an intellectual movement among the Jews of Central Europe, Central and Eastern Europe, with a certain influence on those in Wester ...
(the Jewish
Enlightenment Enlightenment or enlighten may refer to: Age of Enlightenment * Age of Enlightenment, period in Western intellectual history from the late 17th to late 18th century, centered in France but also encompassing (alphabetically by country or culture): ...
), and other emerging political ideologies (such as
Zionism Zionism is an Ethnic nationalism, ethnocultural nationalist movement that emerged in History of Europe#From revolution to imperialism (1789–1914), Europe in the late 19th century that aimed to establish and maintain a national home for the ...
) that often opposed traditional Judaism, the masters of Mussar saw a need to augment
Talmudic The Talmud (; ) is the central text of Rabbinic Judaism and the primary source of Jewish religious law (''halakha'') and Jewish theology. Until the advent of modernity, in nearly all Jewish communities, the Talmud was the centerpiece of Jewi ...
study with more personal works. These comprised earlier classic Jewish ethical texts ( mussar literature), as well as a new literature for the movement. After early opposition, the Lithuanian yeshiva world saw the need for this new component in their curriculum, and set aside times for individual mussar study and mussar talks ("mussar shmues"). A ''
mashgiach ruchani A mashgiach ruchani (; pl., ''mashgichim ruchani'im''), sometimes mashgiach for short, is a spiritual supervisor or guide. They are usually a rabbi who has an official position within a yeshiva and is responsible for the non-academic areas of yesh ...
'' (spiritual mentor) encouraged the personal development of each student. To some degree, this Lithuanian movement arose in response, and as an alternative, to the separate mystical study of the
Hasidic Judaism Hasidism () or Hasidic Judaism is a religious movement within Judaism that arose in the 18th century as a Spirituality, spiritual revival movement in contemporary Western Ukraine before spreading rapidly throughout Eastern Europe. Today, most ...
world. Hasidism began in the previous century within traditional Jewish life in Ukraine, and spread to Hungary, Poland and Russia. As the 19th century brought upheavals and threats to traditional Judaism, the Mussar teachers saw the benefit of the new spiritual focus in Hasidism, and developed their alternative ethical approach to spirituality. Some variety developed within Lithuanian yeshivas to methods of studying Talmud and ''mussar'', for example whether the emphasis would be placed on ''beki'ut'' (breadth) or ''iyyun'' (depth). ''
Pilpul ''Pilpul'' (, loosely meaning 'sharp analysis'; ) is a method of studying the Talmud through intense textual analysis in attempts to either explain conceptual differences between various halakhic rulings or to reconcile any apparent contradictio ...
'', a type of in-depth analytical and casuistic argumentation popular from the 16th to 18th centuries that was traditionally reserved for investigative Talmudic study, was not always given a place. The new analytical approach of the
Brisker method The Brisker method, or Brisker ''derech'', is a reductionistic approach to Talmud study innovated by Rabbi Chaim Soloveitchik of Brisk (Brest, Belarus), as opposed to the traditional approach which was rather holistic. It has since become popula ...
, developed by
Chaim Soloveitchik Chaim (Halevi) Soloveitchik (Yiddish: חיים סאָלאָווייטשיק, ), also known as Chaim Brisker (1853 – 30 July 1918), was a rabbi and Talmudic scholar credited as the founder of the Brisker method of Talmudic study within Judaism ...
, has become widely popular. Other approaches include those of
Mir ''Mir'' (, ; ) was a space station operated in low Earth orbit from 1986 to 2001, first by the Soviet Union and later by the Russia, Russian Federation. ''Mir'' was the first modular space station and was assembled in orbit from 1986 to ...
,
Chofetz Chaim The ''Sefer'' ''Chofetz Chaim'' (or ''Chafetz Chaim'' or ''Hafetz Hayim'') (, trans. "Pursuer of Life") is a book by Rabbi Yisrael Meir Kagan, who is also called "the Chofetz Chaim" after it. The book deals with the Jewish laws of speech. The ...
, and Telz. In ''mussar'', different schools developed, such as Slabodka and Novhardok, though today, a decline in devoted spiritual self-development from its earlier intensity has to some extent levelled out the differences.


Hasidic

With the success of the yeshiva institution in Lithuanian Jewry, the
Hasidic Hasidism () or Hasidic Judaism is a religious movement within Judaism that arose in the 18th century as a spiritual revival movement in contemporary Western Ukraine before spreading rapidly throughout Eastern Europe. Today, most of those aff ...
world developed their own yeshivas, in their areas of Eastern Europe. These comprised the traditional Jewish focus on Talmudic literature that is central to
Rabbinic Judaism Rabbinic Judaism (), also called Rabbinism, Rabbinicism, Rabbanite Judaism, or Talmudic Judaism, is rooted in the many forms of Judaism that coexisted and together formed Second Temple Judaism in the land of Israel, giving birth to classical rabb ...
, augmented by study of
Hasidic philosophy Hasidic philosophy or Hasidism (), alternatively transliterated as Hasidut or Chassidus, consists of the teachings of the Hasidic movement, which are the teachings of the Hasidic ''rebbes'', often in the form of commentary on the Torah (the Five ...
(Hasidism). Examples of these Hasidic yeshivas are the
Chabad Lubavitch Chabad, also known as Lubavitch, Habad and Chabad-Lubavitch (; ; ), is a Hasidic dynasty, dynasty in Hasidic Judaism. Belonging to the Haredi Judaism, Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) branch of Orthodox Judaism, it is one of the world's best-known Hasi ...
yeshiva system of
Tomchei Temimim Tomchei Tmimim (, "supporters of the complete-wholesome ones") is the central Yeshiva (Talmudical academy) of the Chabad-Lubavitch Hasidic movement. Founded in 1897 in the town of Lubavitch by Rabbi Sholom Dovber Schneersohn, it is now ...
, founded by
Sholom Dovber Schneersohn Sholom Dovber Schneersohn () was the fifth rebbe (spiritual leader) of the Chabad-Lubavitch chasidic movement. He is known as "the Rebbe Rashab" (for Reb Sholom Ber). His teachings that encouraged outreach were further developed later. Life ...
in Russia in 1897, and the
Chachmei Lublin Yeshiva Chachmei Lublin Yeshiva (, "Academy of the Sages of Lublin"; ) was a Jewish educational institution (yeshiva) that operated in the city of Lublin, Poland from 1930 to 1939. At the time, it was one of the largest in the world. History On May 22 ...
established in Poland in 1930 by
Meir Shapiro Yehuda Meir Shapiro (; 3 March 1887 – 27 October 1933) was a prominent Polish Hasidic rabbi and rosh yeshiva, also known as the Lubliner Rav. He is noted for his promotion of the Daf Yomi study program in 1923, and establishing the Cha ...
, who is renowned in both Hasidic and Lithuanian Jewish circles for initiating the
Daf Yomi ''Daf Yomi'' (, ''Daf Yomi'', "page of the day" or "daily folio") is a daily regimen of learning the Oral Torah and its commentaries (also known as the Gemara), in which each of the 2,711 pages of the Babylonian Talmud is covered in sequence. A ' ...
daily cycle of Talmud study. (For contemporary ''yeshivas'', see, for example, under
Satmar Satmar (; ) is a group in Hasidic Judaism founded in 1905 by Grand Rebbe Joel Teitelbaum (1887–1979), in the city of Szatmárnémeti (also called Szatmár in the 1890s), Kingdom of Hungary, Hungary (now Satu Mare in Romania). The group is a b ...
,
Belz Belz (, ; ; ) is a small city in Lviv Oblast, western Ukraine, located near the border with Poland between the Solokiya River (a tributary of the Bug River) and the Richytsia stream. Belz hosts the administration of Belz urban hromada, one of ...
,
Bobov Bobov may refer to * Bobov (Hasidic dynasty), a Hasidic community from southern Poland and now headquartered in the neighborhood of Borough Park, in Brooklyn, New York, United States * Bobov Synagogue (Kraków) in Poland * Bobov Dol, a town in Bulg ...
,
Breslov Breslov (also Bratslav and Breslev) is a branch of Hasidic Judaism founded by Nachman of Breslov (1772–1810), a great-grandson of the Baal Shem Tov, founder of Hasidism. Its adherents strive to develop an intense, joyous relationship with ...
and
Pupa A pupa (; : pupae) is the life stage of some insects undergoing transformation between immature and mature stages. Insects that go through a pupal stage are holometabolous: they go through four distinct stages in their life cycle, the stages th ...
.) In many Hasidic ''yeshivas'', study of Hasidic texts is a secondary activity, similar to the additional mussar curriculum in Lithuanian yeshivas. These paths see Hasidism as a means to the end of inspiring emotional ''
devekut Devekut, debekuth, deveikuth or deveikus (; traditionally "clinging on" to God) is a Jewish concept referring to closeness to God. It may refer to a deep, trance-like meditative state attained during Jewish prayer, Torah study, or when perform ...
'' (spiritual attachment to God) and mystical enthusiasm. In this context, the personal pilgrimage of a Hasid to his
Rebbe A Rebbe () or Admor () is the spiritual leader in the Hasidic movement, and the personalities of its dynasties.Heilman, Samuel"The Rebbe and the Resurgence of Orthodox Judaism."''Religion and Spirituality (Audio)''. UCTV, 20 Oct 2011. web. ...
is a central feature of spiritual life, in order to awaken spiritual fervour. Often, such paths will reserve the
Shabbat Shabbat (, , or ; , , ) or the Sabbath (), also called Shabbos (, ) by Ashkenazi Hebrew, Ashkenazim, is Judaism's day of rest on the seventh day of the seven-day week, week—i.e., Friday prayer, Friday–Saturday. On this day, religious Jews ...
in the yeshiva for the sweeter teachings of the classic texts of Hasidism. In contrast, Chabad and
Breslov Breslov (also Bratslav and Breslev) is a branch of Hasidic Judaism founded by Nachman of Breslov (1772–1810), a great-grandson of the Baal Shem Tov, founder of Hasidism. Its adherents strive to develop an intense, joyous relationship with ...
, in their different ways, place daily study of their dynasties' Hasidic texts in central focus; see
below Below may refer to: *Earth *Ground (disambiguation) *Soil *Floor * Bottom (disambiguation) *Less than *Temperatures below freezing *Hell or underworld People with the surname * Ernst von Below (1863–1955), German World War I general * Fred Belo ...
. Illustrative of this is Sholom Dovber Schneersohn's wish in establishing the Chabad yeshiva system, that the students should spend a part of the daily curriculum learning Chabad Hasidic texts "with ''pilpul''". The idea to learn Hasidic mystical texts with similar logical profundity, derives from the unique approach in the works of the Rebbes of Chabad, initiated by its founder
Schneur Zalman of Liadi Shneur Zalman of Liadi, (; September 4, 1745 – December 15, 1812 O.S. / 18 Elul 5505 – 24 Tevet 5573) commonly known as the Alter Rebbe or Baal Hatanya, was a rabbi and the founder and first Rebbe of Chabad, a branch of Hasidic Judaism. H ...
, to systematically investigate and articulate the "Torah of the
Baal Shem Tov Israel ben Eliezer (According to a forged document from the "Kherson Geniza", accepted only by Chabad, he was born in October 1698. Some Hasidic traditions place his birth as early as 1690, while Simon Dubnow and other modern scholars argue f ...
" in intellectual forms. Further illustrative of this is the differentiation in Chabad thought (such as the "Tract on Ecstasy" by
Dovber Schneuri Dovber Schneuri (13 November 1773 – 16 November 1827 OS) was the second Rebbe (spiritual leader) of the Chabad Lubavitch Chasidic movement. Rabbi Dovber was the first Chabad rebbe to live in the town of Lyubavichi (in present-day Russia), ...
) between general Hasidism's emphasis on emotional enthusiasm and the Chabad ideal of intellectually reserved ecstasy. In the Breslov movement, in contrast, the daily study of works from the imaginative, creative radicalism of
Nachman of Breslov Nachman of Breslov ( ''Rabbī'' ''Naḥmān mīBreslev''), also known as Rabbi Nachman of Breslev, Rabbi Nachman miBreslev, Reb Nachman of Bratslav, Reb Nachman Breslover ( ''Rebe Nakhmen Breslover''), and Nachman from Uman (April 4, 1772 – O ...
awakens the necessary soulfulness with which to approach other Jewish study and observance.


Sephardi

Although the yeshiva as an institution is in some ways a continuation of the
Talmudic Academies in Babylonia The Talmudic academies in Babylonia, also known as the Geonic academies, were the center for Jewish scholarship and the development of Halakha during the Geonic era (from c. 589 to 1038 CE; Hebrew dates: 4349 AM to 4798 AM) in what is called ...
, large scale educational institutions of this kind were not characteristic of the North African and Middle Eastern
Sephardi Sephardic Jews, also known as Sephardi Jews or Sephardim, and rarely as Iberian Peninsular Jews, are a Jewish diaspora population associated with the historic Jewish communities of the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal) and their descendant ...
Jewish world in pre-modern times: education typically took place in a more informal setting in the synagogue or in the entourage of a famous rabbi. In medieval Spain, and immediately following the expulsion in 1492, there were some schools which combined Jewish studies with sciences such as logic and astronomy, similar to the contemporary Islamic
madrasa Madrasa (, also , ; Arabic: مدرسة , ), sometimes Romanization of Arabic, romanized as madrasah or madrassa, is the Arabic word for any Educational institution, type of educational institution, secular or religious (of any religion), whet ...
s. In 19th century Jerusalem, a college was typically an endowment for supporting ten adult scholars rather than an educational institution in the modern sense; towards the end of the century a school for orphans was founded providing for some rabbinic studies. Early educational institutions on the European model were
Midrash Bet Zilkha Midrash Bet Zilkha (or Midrash Abu Menashi) was an important Bet Midrash in Baghdad which was renowned among Eastern Jewry from the mid-19th to mid-20th centuries. Many of the great Babylonian rabbis of modern times arose from its halls, and rabbi ...
founded in 1870s Iraq and
Porat Yosef Yeshiva Porat Yosef Yeshiva () is a Sephardic yeshiva in Jerusalem, with locations in both the Old City and the Geula neighborhood. The name Porat Yosef means "Joseph is a fruitful tree" after the biblical verse Genesis 49:22. History Yeshivat Ohel ...
founded in Jerusalem in 1914. Also notable is the Bet El yeshiva founded in 1737 in Jerusalem for advanced Kabbalistic studies. Later Sephardic yeshivot are usually on the model either of Porat Yosef or of the Ashkenazi institutions. The Sephardic world has traditionally placed the study of
Kabbalah Kabbalah or Qabalah ( ; , ; ) is an esoteric method, discipline and school of thought in Jewish mysticism. It forms the foundation of Mysticism, mystical religious interpretations within Judaism. A traditional Kabbalist is called a Mekubbal ...
(esoteric Jewish mysticism) in a more mainstream position than in the European
Ashkenazi Ashkenazi Jews ( ; also known as Ashkenazic Jews or Ashkenazim) form a distinct subgroup of the Jewish diaspora, that Ethnogenesis, emerged in the Holy Roman Empire around the end of the first millennium Common era, CE. They traditionally spe ...
world. This difference of emphasis arose as a result of the
Sabbatean The Sabbateans (or Sabbatians) are a variety of Jewish followers, disciples, and believers in Sabbatai Zevi (1626–1676), an Ottoman Jewish rabbi and Kabbalist who was proclaimed to be the Jewish Messiah in 1666 by Nathan of Gaza. Vast ...
heresy in the 17th century, that suppressed widespread study of Kabbalah in Europe in favour of Rabbinic Talmudic study. In Eastern European Lithuanian life, Kabbalah was reserved for an intellectual elite, while the mystical revival of Hasidism articulated Kabbalistic theology through Hasidic thought. These factors did not affect the Sephardi Jewish world, which retained a wider connection to Kabbalah in its traditionally observant communities. With the establishment of Sephardi yeshivas in Israel after the immigration of the Arabic Jewish communities there, some Sephardi yeshivas incorporated study of more accessible Kabbalistic texts into their curriculum. The European prescriptions to restrict advanced Kabbalistic study to mature and elite students also influence the choice of texts in such yeshivas.


19th century to present


Conservative movement

In 1854, the
Jewish Theological Seminary of Breslau The Jewish Theological Seminary of Breslau (official name: ) was an institution in Breslau for the training of rabbis, founded under the will of Jonah Frankel (businessman), Jonah Fränckel, and opened in 1854. It was the first modern rabbinical ...
was founded. It was headed by
Zecharias Frankel Zecharias Frankel (30 September 1801 – 13 February 1875) was a Bohemian-German rabbi and a historian who studied the historical development of Judaism. He was born in Prague and died in Breslau. He was the founder and the most eminent member o ...
, and was viewed as the first educational institution associated with "positive-historical Judaism", the predecessor of
Conservative Judaism Conservative Judaism, also known as Masorti Judaism, is a Jewish religious movements, Jewish religious movement that regards the authority of Jewish law and tradition as emanating primarily from the assent of the people through the generations ...
. In subsequent years, Conservative Judaism established a number of other institutions of higher learning (such as the
Jewish Theological Seminary of America The Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS) is a Conservative Jewish education organization in New York City, New York. It is one of the academic and spiritual centers of Conservative Judaism as well as a hub for academic scholarship in Jewish studies ...
in New York City) that emulate the style of traditional yeshivas in significant ways. Many do not officially refer to themselves as "yeshivas" (one exception is the Conservative Yeshiva in Jerusalem), and all are open to both women and men, who study in the same classrooms and follow the same curriculum. Students may study part-time, as in a kollel, or full-time, and they may study ''lishmah'' (for the sake of studying itself) or towards earning rabbinic ordination.


Nondenominational or mixed

Non-denominational yeshivas and kollels with connections to Conservative Judaism include
Yeshivat Hadar Hadar is an educational institution on the Upper West Side of Manhattan.Hadar website The institute offers various programs to support the development of Judaism that is both traditional and egalitarian. A major component of the institute is Ye ...
in New York, whose leaders include
Rabbinical Assembly The Rabbinical Assembly (RA) is the international association of Conservative rabbis. The RA was founded in 1901 to shape the ideology, programs, and practices of the Conservative movement. It publishes prayerbooks and books of Jewish interest, an ...
members
Elie Kaunfer Elie Kaunfer (b. 1973) is an American rabbi who serves as president and CEO of Yeshivat Hadar in Manhattan. Kaunfer has been named as a leading American rabbi by ''The Forward'' and ''Newsweek''. Career Kaunfer received a doctorate from the Jew ...
and
Shai Held Shai Held (born July 2, 1971) is President, Dean, and Chair in Jewish Thought at the Hadar institute, which he founded in 2006 with Rabbis Elie Kaunfer and Ethan Tucker. Education Held attended Ramaz High School and studied at Yeshivat HaMi ...
. The rabbinical school of the
Academy for Jewish Religion in California An academy (Attic Greek: Ἀκαδήμεια; Koine Greek Ἀκαδημία) is an institution of tertiary education. The name traces back to Plato's school of philosophy, founded approximately 386 BC at Akademia, a sanctuary of Athena, the go ...
is led by Conservative rabbi Mel Gottlieb. The faculty of the Academy for Jewish Religion in New York and of the Rabbinical School of
Hebrew College Hebrew College is a private college of Jewish studies in Newton Centre, Massachusetts. Founded in 1921, the college conducts Jewish scholarship in a pluralistic, trans-denominational academic environment. Its president is Rabbi Sharon Cohen ...
in Newton Centre, Massachusetts also includes many Conservative rabbis. See also Institute of Traditional Judaism. More recently, several non-traditional, and nondenominational (also called "transdenominational" or "postdenominational") seminaries have been established. These grant semikha in a shorter time, and with a modified curriculum, generally focusing on leadership and pastoral roles. These are JSLI, RSI,
PRS PRS or prs may refer to: Science and technology * Peripheral Reflex System, an implementation of autonomous peripheral operations in microcontrollers * Personal response system, in audience response * Phenotypic response surfaces, in medicine * P ...
and Ateret Tzvi. The Wolkowisk Mesifta is aimed at community professionals with significant knowledge and experience, and provides a tailored program to each candidate.


Reform and Reconstructionist seminaries

Hebrew Union College Hebrew (; ''ʿÎbrit'') is a Northwest Semitic language within the Afroasiatic language family. A regional dialect of the Canaanite languages, it was natively spoken by the Israelites and remained in regular use as a first language until ...
(HUC), affiliated with
Reform Judaism Reform Judaism, also known as Liberal Judaism or Progressive Judaism, is a major Jewish religious movements, Jewish denomination that emphasizes the evolving nature of Judaism, the superiority of its Jewish ethics, ethical aspects to its ceremo ...
, was founded in 1875 under the leadership of
Isaac Mayer Wise Isaac Mayer Wise (29 March 1819 – 26 March 1900) was an American Reform rabbi, editor, and author. Early life Wise was born on 29 March 1819 in Steingrub in Bohemia (today Lomnička, a part of Plesná in the Czech Republic). He was the son ...
in Cincinnati, Ohio. HUC later opened additional locations in New York, Los Angeles, and Jerusalem. It is a rabbinical seminary or college mostly geared for the training of rabbis and clergy specifically. Similarly, the
Reconstructionist Rabbinical College The Reconstructionist Rabbinical College (RRC) is a Jewish seminary in Wyncote, Pennsylvania. It is the only seminary affiliated with Reconstructionist Judaism. It is accredited by the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Assoc ...
of
Reconstructionist Judaism Reconstructionist Judaism () is a Jewish religious movements, Jewish movement based on the concepts developed by Rabbi Mordecai Kaplan (1881–1983)—namely, that Judaism as a Civilization, Judaism is a progressively evolving civilization rather ...
, founded in Pennsylvania in 1968, functions to train its future clergy. Some Reform and Reconstructionist teachers also teach at the non-denominational seminaries mentioned above. In Europe, Reform Judaism trains rabbis at
Leo Baeck College Leo Baeck College is a privately funded rabbinical seminary and centre for the training of teachers in Jewish education. Based now at the Sternberg Centre, East End Road, Finchley, in the London Borough of Barnet, it was founded by Werner va ...
in London, UK and Abraham Geiger Kolleg in Potsdam, Germany. None of these institutions describes itself as a "yeshiva".


Contemporary Orthodox

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
and the
Holocaust The Holocaust (), known in Hebrew language, Hebrew as the (), was the genocide of History of the Jews in Europe, European Jews during World War II. From 1941 to 1945, Nazi Germany and Collaboration with Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy ...
brought the yeshivot of Eastern and Central Europe to an end; although many scholars and rabbinic students who survived the war established yeshivot in Israel as well a number of Western countries. The Yeshiva of Nitra was the last surviving in occupied Europe. Many students and faculty of the Mir Yeshiva were able to escape to Siberia, with the Yeshiva ultimately continuing to operate in Shanghai; see
Yeshivas in World War II After the German invasion of Poland in World War II and the division of Second Polish Republic, Poland between Germany and the Soviet Union, many yeshivas (Jewish schools of Torah study, generally for boys and men) that had previously been part of ...
. From the mid-20th century"Yeshiva"
jewishvirtuallibrary.org
the greatest number of yeshivot, and the most important were centered in Israel and in the U.S.; they were also found in many other Western countries, prominent examples being
Gateshead Yeshiva Gateshead Talmudical College (), popularly known as Gateshead Yeshiva, is located in the Bensham area of Gateshead in North East England. It is the largest yeshiva in Europe and considered to be one of the most prestigious advanced yeshivas in ...
in England (one of the descendants of Novardok) and the Yeshiva of Aix-les-Bains, France. The
Chabad Chabad, also known as Lubavitch, Habad and Chabad-Lubavitch (; ; ), is a dynasty in Hasidic Judaism. Belonging to the Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) branch of Orthodox Judaism, it is one of the world's best-known Hasidic movements, as well as one of ...
movement was particularly active in this direction, establishing yeshivot also in France, North Africa, Australia, and South Africa; this "network of institutions" is known as ''
Tomchei Temimim Tomchei Tmimim (, "supporters of the complete-wholesome ones") is the central Yeshiva (Talmudical academy) of the Chabad-Lubavitch Hasidic movement. Founded in 1897 in the town of Lubavitch by Rabbi Sholom Dovber Schneersohn, it is now ...
''. Many prominent contemporary yeshivot in the U.S. and Israel are continuations of European institutions, and often bear the same name.


=Israel

= Yeshivot in Israel have operated since Talmudic times,
as above ''As Above...'' is an album released in 1982 by Þeyr, an Icelandic new wave and rock group. It was issued through the Shout record label on a 12" vinyl record. Consisting of 12 tracks, ''As above...'' contained English versions of the band' ...
; see Talmudic academies in Eretz Yisrael. More recent examples include the
Great Academy of Paris The Great Academy of Paris (''Midrash HaGadol d'Paris'') was a 13th-century Talmudic academy in Acre, established by Rabbi Jehiel of Paris. History In around 1258, Rabbi Jehiel of Paris immigrated to the Kingdom of Jerusalem from Northern Franc ...
(c. 1280); the
Ari Ashkenazi Synagogue The Ashkenazi Ari Synagogue () is an Orthodox Jewish congregation and synagogue, located on Israel Najara Street, in Safed, in the Northern District of Israel. Dedicated in memory of Rabbi Isaac Luria, a kabbalist who was known by the Hebrew ...
(since the mid-1500s); the Bet El yeshiva (operating since 1737); and
Etz Chaim Yeshiva Etz Chaim Yeshiva (, ''Yeshivat Etz Hayyim'', lit. "Tree of Life") was an orthodox yeshiva located on Jaffa Road close to the Mahane Yehuda Market in downtown Jerusalem. History Etz Chaim Yeshiva was originally a Talmud Torah that was establish ...
(since 1841). Various yeshivot were established in Israel in the early 20th century: Shaar Hashamayim in 1906, Chabad's Toras Emes in 1911,
Hebron Yeshiva Hebron Yeshiva, also known as ''Yeshivas Hevron'', or Knesses Yisroel, is a yeshiva (school for Talmudic study). It originated in 1924 when the Rosh yeshiva, roshei yeshiva (deans) and 150 students of the Yeshivas Knesses Yisrael (Slabodka), Slabo ...
in 1924, Sfas Emes in 1925, Lomza in 1926. After (and during) World War II, numerous other Haredi and Hasidic Yeshivot were re-established there by survivors. The Mir Yeshiva in Jerusalem – today the largest Yeshiva in the world – was established in 1944, by Rabbi Eliezer Yehuda Finkel who had traveled to Palestine to obtain visas for his students; Ponevezh similarly by Rabbi
Yosef Shlomo Kahaneman Yosef Shlomo Kahaneman (; ; , known also as the Ponevezher Rav), was an Orthodox rabbi and rosh yeshiva (dean) of the Ponevezh Yeshiva. He was also a member of the Council of Torah Sages of Agudath Israel. Biography Kahaneman was born 13 ...
; and
Knesses Chizkiyahu Knesses Chizkiyahu was one of the first Litvak yeshivas founded after the establishment of the State of Israel and one of the first Torah institutions in the northern part of the country. Founded in Zikhron Ya'akov in 1949, it relocated to Kfar ...
in 1949. The leading Sephardi Yeshiva, Porat Yosef, was founded in 1914; its predecessor, Yeshivat Ohel Moed was founded in 1904. From the 1940s and onward, especially following immigration of the Arabic Jewish communities, Sephardi leaders, such as
Ovadia Yosef Ovadia Yosef (, ; September 24, 1920 – October 7, 2013) also known as Maran (Hebrew language, Hebrew: מרן) "Our Master", was an History of the Jews in Iraq#Otoman rule, Iraqi-born Talmudic scholar, hakham, posek, and the Sephardi Jews, Sephar ...
and
Ben-Zion Meir Hai Uziel Ben-Zion Meir Hai Uziel (; born 23 May 1880, died 4 September 1953), sometimes rendered as Ouziel, was the Sephardi chief rabbi of Mandatory Palestine from 1939 to 1948, and of Israel from 1948 until his death in 1953. Biography Ben-Zion Meir Ha ...
, established various yeshivot to facilitate Torah education for Sephardi and
Mizrahi Jews Mizrahi Jews (), also known as ''Mizrahim'' () in plural and ''Mizrahi'' () in singular, and alternatively referred to as Oriental Jews or ''Edot HaMizrach'' (, ), are terms used in Israeli discourse to refer to a grouping of Jews, Jewish c ...
(and alternative to Lithuanian yeshivot). The
Haredi Haredi Judaism (, ) is a branch of Orthodox Judaism that is characterized by its strict interpretation of religious sources and its accepted (Jewish law) and traditions, in opposition to more accommodating values and practices. Its members are ...
community has grown with time – In 2018, 12% of Israel's population was Haredi, including
Sephardic Haredim Sephardic Haredim are Jews of Sephardi and Mizrahi descent who are adherents of Haredi Judaism. Sephardic Haredim today constitute a significant stream of Haredi Judaism, along with Sephardic Hasidim, and the Ashkenazi Hasidim and Lita'im. ...
– supporting numerous yeshivot correspondingly. Boys and girls here attend separate schools, and proceed to higher Torah study, in a yeshiva or seminary, respectively, starting anywhere between the ages of 13 and 18; see ''
Chinuch Atzmai Jewish education (, ''Chinuch'') is the transmission of the tenets, principles, and religious laws of Judaism. Jews value education, and the value of education is strongly embedded in Jewish culture. Judaism places a heavy emphasis on Torah s ...
'' and ''
Bais Yaakov Bais Yaakov (, also Beis Yaakov, Beit Yaakov, Beth Jacob or Beys Yankev; ) is a genericized name for full-time Haredi Jewish elementary and secondary schools for girls worldwide. Bais Yaakov, started by Sarah Schenirer in post-World War I K ...
''. A significant proportion of young men then remain in yeshiva until their marriage; thereafter many continue their Torah studies in a kollel. (In 2018, there were 133,000 in full-time learning .Gilad Malach, Lee Cahaner (2019)
2019 Statistical Report on Ultra-Orthodox Society in Israel
Israel Democracy Institute
) Kollel studies usually focus on deep analysis of Talmud, and those Tractates not usually covered in the standard "undergraduate" program; see below. Some Kollels similarly focus on halacha in total, others specifically on those topics required for ''
Semikha ''Semikhah'' () is the traditional term for rabbiinic ordination in Judaism. The original ''semikhah'' was the formal "transmission of authority" from Moses through the generations. This form of ''semikhah'' ceased between 360 and 425 CE. Si ...
'' (Rabbinic ordination) or ''Dayanut'' (qualification as a Rabbinic Judge). The certification in question is often conferred by the Rosh Yeshiva.
Mercaz Harav Mercaz HaRav (officially, , "The Center of Rabbi ook- the Central Universal Yeshiva") is a national-religious ( Hardal) yeshiva in Jerusalem, founded in 1924 by Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook. Located in the city's Kiryat Moshe neighbo ...
, the foundational and leading Religious-Zionist yeshiva was established in 1924 by Ashkenazi
Chief Rabbi Chief Rabbi () is a title given in several countries to the recognized religious leader of that country's Jewish community, or to a rabbinic leader appointed by the local secular authorities. Since 1911, through a capitulation by Ben-Zion Meir ...
Abraham Isaac Kook Abraham Isaac HaCohen Kook (; 7 September 1865 – 1 September 1935), known as HaRav Kook, and also known by the Hebrew-language acronym Hara'ayah (), was an Orthodox Judaism, Orthodox rabbi, and the first Ashkenazi Jews, Ashkenazi Chief Rabbina ...
. Many in the
Religious Zionist Religious Zionism () is a religious denomination that views Zionism as a fundamental component of Orthodox Judaism. Its adherents are also referred to as ''Dati Leumi'' (), and in Israel, they are most commonly known by the plural form of the fi ...
community today attend a
Hesder Hesder ( "arrangement"; also Yeshivat Hesder ) is an Israeli yeshiva program which combines advanced Talmudic studies with military service in the Israel Defense Forces, usually within a Religious Zionist framework. The program allows Orthodox J ...
yeshiva (discussed
below Below may refer to: *Earth *Ground (disambiguation) *Soil *Floor * Bottom (disambiguation) *Less than *Temperatures below freezing *Hell or underworld People with the surname * Ernst von Below (1863–1955), German World War I general * Fred Belo ...
) during their national service; these offer a kollel for Rabbinical students. (Students generally prepare for the ''Semikha'' test of the
Chief Rabbinate of Israel The Chief Rabbinate of Israel (, ''Ha-Rabbanut Ha-Rashit Li-Yisra'el'') is recognized by law as the supreme rabbinic authority for Judaism in Israel. It was established in 1921 under the British Mandate, and today operates on the basis of the ...
; until his recent passing (2020) commonly for that of the
posek In Jewish law, a ''posek'' ( , pl. ''poskim'', ) is a legal scholar who determines the application of ''halakha'', the Jewish religious laws derived from the written and Oral Torah, in cases of Jewish law where previous authorities are incon ...
R.
Zalman Nechemia Goldberg Zalman Nechemia Goldberg (; 28 January 1931 – 20 August 2020) was an Ashkenazi rabbi, posek (decider on points of religious law), and rosh yeshiva (dean) in Israel. He was a son-in-law of Shlomo Zalman Auerbach. Goldberg was an authority on h ...
.) Training as a ''Dayan'' in this community is usually through ''Machon Ariel'' (''
Machon Harry Fischel Harry Fischel Institute for Talmudic Research ("Machon Harry Fischel") is a Jewish theological institute in Jerusalem that specializes in training dayanim (religious court judges). The institute was founded in 1931 by the American philanthropist Ha ...
''), also founded by Rav Kook, or ''Kollel Eretz Hemda''. Women in this community, as above, study in a
Midrasha A ' (Hebrew: ; : ), typically, is an institute of Torah study for women of post-high-school age, somewhat equivalent to a men's yeshiva; most are located in Israel. The midrasha is also somewhat parallel to a "women's seminary" (Hebrew "semin ...
. High school students study at ''Mamlachti dati'' schools, often associated with ''
Bnei Akiva Bnei Akiva (, , "Children of Akiva") is the largest religious Zionist youth movement in the world, with over 125,000 members in 42 countries. It was first established in Mandatory Palestine in 1929, advocating the values of Torah and labor. Bne ...
''.
Bar Ilan University Bar-Ilan University (BIU, , ''Universitat Bar-Ilan'') is a public research university in the Tel Aviv District city of Ramat Gan, Israel. Established in 1955, Bar Ilan is Israel's second-largest academic university institution. It has 20,000 ...
allows students to combine Yeshiva studies with university study;
Jerusalem College of Technology The Jerusalem College of Technology - Lev Academic Center (JCT; ) is a private college in Israel, recognized by the Council for Higher Education, which specializes in providing high-level science and technology education to the Jewish community. ...
similarly, which also offers a Haredi track; there are several colleges of education associated with
Hesder Hesder ( "arrangement"; also Yeshivat Hesder ) is an Israeli yeshiva program which combines advanced Talmudic studies with military service in the Israel Defense Forces, usually within a Religious Zionist framework. The program allows Orthodox J ...
and the ''Midrashot'' (these often offer specializations in ''Tanakh'' and ''Machshavah'' – discussed
below Below may refer to: *Earth *Ground (disambiguation) *Soil *Floor * Bottom (disambiguation) *Less than *Temperatures below freezing *Hell or underworld People with the surname * Ernst von Below (1863–1955), German World War I general * Fred Belo ...
). See .


=United States

= The first Orthodox yeshiva in the U.S. was
Etz Chaim Etz Hayim, also transliterated as Eitz Chaim ( , meaning "Tree of Life"), is a common term used in Judaism. The expression can be found in , referring to the Tree of Life in the Garden of Eden. It is also found in the Book of Proverbs, where it i ...
of
New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York New York may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * ...
(1886), modeled after Volozhin. It developed into the
Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (RIETS ) is the rabbinical seminary of Yeshiva University (YU). It is located along Amsterdam Avenue in the Washington Heights neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City. Named after Yitzchak Elchanan S ...
(1896; "RIETS") and eventually
Yeshiva University Yeshiva University is a Private university, private Modern Orthodox Judaism, Orthodox Jewish university with four campuses in New York City.
in 1945. It was established in the wake of the immigration of Central and Eastern European Jews (1880s – 1924).
Mesivtha Tifereth Jerusalem Mesivtha Tifereth Jerusalem (MTJ) (, ) is a yeshiva on the Lower East Side of New York City. One of the oldest yeshivas in the city, MTJ was once led by Moshe Feinstein. A second campus, known as Yeshiva of Staten Island, is located in Staten Is ...
, founded in 1907, was led by Rabbi
Moshe Feinstein Moshe Feinstein (; Lithuanian pronunciation: ''Moishe Fainshtein''; ; March 3, 1895 – March 23, 1986) was a Russian-born American Orthodox Jewish rabbi, scholar, and ''posek'' (authority on ''halakha''—Jewish law). He has been called ...
from the 1940s through 1986;
Yeshiva Rabbi Chaim Berlin Yeshiva Rabbi Chaim Berlin or Yeshivas Rabbeinu Chaim Berlin () is an American Haredi Lithuanian-type boys' and men's yeshiva in Brooklyn, New York. The school's divisions include a preschool, a ''yeshiva ketana'' (elementary school), a ''mesivta ...
, est 1904, was headed by Rabbi
Yitzchok Hutner Yitzchak Hutner (; 1906November 28, 1980), also known as Isaac Hutner, was an American Orthodox rabbi and rosh yeshiva (dean). Originally from Warsaw, Hutner was the long-time dean of Yeshiva Rabbi Chaim Berlin in Brooklyn, New York, an older i ...
from 1943 to 1980. Many Hasidic dynasties have their main Yeshivot in America, typically established in the 1940s; the Central Lubavitcher Yeshiva has over 1000 students. The postwar establishment of Ashkenazi yeshivot and ''kollelim'' parallels that in Israel; as does the educational pattern in the American Haredi community, although more obtain a secular education at the college level.
Beth Medrash Govoha Beth Medrash Govoha (, pronounced: ''Beis Medrash Gavo'ha''. lit: "High House of Learning"; also known as Lakewood Yeshiva or BMG) is a Haredi Jewish Litvishe ''yeshiva'' in Lakewood Township, New Jersey. It was founded by Rabbi Aharon Kotle ...
in Lakewood,
New Jersey New Jersey is a U.S. state, state located in both the Mid-Atlantic States, Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, Northeastern regions of the United States. Located at the geographic hub of the urban area, heavily urbanized Northeas ...
with 3,000 students in the early 2000s was founded in 1943 by R. Aaron Kotler on the "rigid Lithuanian model" that demanded full-time study; it now offers a
Bachelor of Talmudic Law The Bachelor of Talmudic Law (BTL), Bachelor of Talmudic Studies (BTS), or First Talmudic Degree (FTD), is a law degree, comprising the study, analysis and application of ancient Talmudical, Biblical, and other historical sources. The laws derived ...
degree which allows students to go on to
graduate school Postgraduate education, graduate education, or graduate school consists of academic or professional degrees, certificates, diplomas, or other qualifications usually pursued by post-secondary students who have earned an undergraduate (bachel ...
. The best known of the numerous Haredi yeshivas are, additional to "Lakewood", Telz, Yeshivas Rabbeinu Yisrael Meir HaKohen, "Rabbinical Seminary of America", Yeshivas Ner Yisroel, Ner Yisroel, Chaim Berlin, and Hebrew Theological College; ''Yeshivish'' (i.e. satellite) communities often maintain a Kollel#Community kollelim, community kollel. Many Hasidic sects have their own yeshivas, such as
Satmar Satmar (; ) is a group in Hasidic Judaism founded in 1905 by Grand Rebbe Joel Teitelbaum (1887–1979), in the city of Szatmárnémeti (also called Szatmár in the 1890s), Kingdom of Hungary, Hungary (now Satu Mare in Romania). The group is a b ...
and
Bobov Bobov may refer to * Bobov (Hasidic dynasty), a Hasidic community from southern Poland and now headquartered in the neighborhood of Borough Park, in Brooklyn, New York, United States * Bobov Synagogue (Kraków) in Poland * Bobov Dol, a town in Bulg ...
, while Chabad operates its ''Tomchei Temimim'' nationwide. The first Sephardic yeshiva in the Americas was Yeshivat Mikdash Melech, established in 1972 by Rabbi Haim Benoliel. (In 1988, the yeshiva opened a branch in Israel, Mikdash Melech Jerusalem, to serve English-speaking Sephardic students.) There are over today 600 junior and high schools, typically a Mesivta or
Bais Yaakov Bais Yaakov (, also Beis Yaakov, Beit Yaakov, Beth Jacob or Beys Yankev; ) is a genericized name for full-time Haredi Jewish elementary and secondary schools for girls worldwide. Bais Yaakov, started by Sarah Schenirer in post-World War I K ...
; see Torah Umesorah. Modern Orthodox typically spend a year, often two, post-high school in a yeshiva (sometimes
Hesder Hesder ( "arrangement"; also Yeshivat Hesder ) is an Israeli yeshiva program which combines advanced Talmudic studies with military service in the Israel Defense Forces, usually within a Religious Zionist framework. The program allows Orthodox J ...
) or ''Midrasha'' in Israel. Many thereafter, or instead, attend
Yeshiva University Yeshiva University is a Private university, private Modern Orthodox Judaism, Orthodox Jewish university with four campuses in New York City.
, undertaking a dual curriculum, combining academic education with Torah study; see ''Torah Umadda'', and Yeshiva University#Campuses, S. Daniel Abraham Israel Program. (A percentage stay in Israel, "making ''Aliyah''"; many also go on to higher education in other American colleges.) Semikha is usually through RIETS, although many Modern Orthodox Rabbis study through ''
Hesder Hesder ( "arrangement"; also Yeshivat Hesder ) is an Israeli yeshiva program which combines advanced Talmudic studies with military service in the Israel Defense Forces, usually within a Religious Zionist framework. The program allows Orthodox J ...
'', or other Yeshivot in Israel such as Yeshivat HaMivtar, Mizrachi (religious Zionism), Mizrachi's ''Musmachim'' program, and Machon Ariel. RIETS also houses several post-semikha kollelim, including one focused on ''Dayanut''. Dayanim also train through Kollel Eretz Hemda and Machon Ariel; while Mizrachi's post-semikha ''Manhigut Toranit'' program focuses on leadership and scholarship, with the advanced semikha of Chief Rabbinate of Israel#Semikhah, "Rav Ir". Communities will often host a :he:תורה מציון (ארגון), ''Torah MiTzion'' kollel, where ''
Hesder Hesder ( "arrangement"; also Yeshivat Hesder ) is an Israeli yeshiva program which combines advanced Talmudic studies with military service in the Israel Defense Forces, usually within a Religious Zionist framework. The program allows Orthodox J ...
'' graduates learn and teach, generally for one year. There are numerous :Modern Orthodox Jewish day schools in the United States, Modern Orthodox Jewish day schools, typically offering a ''beit midrash'' / ''metivta'' program in parallel with the Secondary education in the United States#Curriculum, standard curriculum, (often) structured such that students are able to join the first ''shiur'' in an Israeli yeshiva. The US educational pattern is to be found around the Jewish world, with regional differences; see :Orthodox yeshivas in Europe and :Orthodox yeshivas by country.


Structure and features

Yeshiva study is differentiated from, for example university study, by several features, apart from the curriculum. The year is structured into "''zmanim''"; the day is structured into "''seders''". The learning itself is delivered through a "''shiur''", a discursive-lecture with pre-specified sources, or "''marei mekomot''" (מראה מקומות; "bibliography", lit. "indication of the (textual) locations");Example ''marei mekomot'' - Halacha
/ref>Example ''marei mekomot'' - Gemara
/ref> study in general, and particularly the preparation for ''shiur'', takes place in "" or paired-study. This study is in a common venue called the ''beth midrash, bet midrash'' (Yiddish, "zal" i.e. "hall"). The institution is headed by its ''rosh yeshiva'', while other senior rabbis are referred to as "Ram" (''rosh mesivta or reish metivta''); the Mashgiach ruchani, ''mashgiach'' assumes responsibility for students' spiritual development (''mashpia'', in Hasidic yeshivot). A ''kollel'' is headed by its ''Kollel#Leadership, rosh kollel'', even when it is part of a yeshiva. A ''sho'el u'meishiv'' (; ask and he answers; often simply "''meishiv''", or alternately "''nosay v'notayn''") is available to consult to students on difficult points in their day's Talmudic studies. The rabbi responsible for the Talmudic ''shiur'' is known as a ''maggid shiur''. Students are known as ''talmidim'' (sing. ''talmid''). ''Rav muvhak'' is sometimes used in reference to one's primary teacher; correspondingly, ''talmid muvhak'' may refer to a primary, or outstanding, student.


Academic year

In most yeshivot, the year is divided into three periods (terms) called ''zmanim'' (lit. times; sing. ''zman''). ''Elul zman'' starts from the beginning of the Hebrew month of
Elul Elul (Hebrew language, Hebrew: , Hebrew language#Modern Hebrew, Standard , Tiberian vocalization, Tiberian ) is the twelfth month of the civil year and the sixth month of the Jewish religious year, religious year in the Hebrew calendar. It is a m ...
and extends until the end of Yom Kippur. The six-weeks-long semester is the shortest yet most intense session, as it comes before the High Holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Winter ''zman'' starts after
Sukkot Sukkot, also known as the Feast of Tabernacles or Feast of Booths, is a Torah-commanded Jewish holiday celebrated for seven days, beginning on the 15th day of the month of Tishrei. It is one of the Three Pilgrimage Festivals on which Israelite ...
and lasts until about two weeks before Passover, a duration of five months (six in a Jewish calendar, Jewish leap year). Summer ''zman'' starts after Passover and lasts until Rosh Chodesh Av or Tisha B'Av, a duration of about three months.


Chavruta-style learning

Yeshiva students prepare for and review the Shiur (Torah), ''shiur'' (lecture) with their ''chavruta'' during a study session known as a ''seder''. In contrast to conventional classroom learning, in which a teacher lectures to the student, ''chavruta''-style learning requires the student to analyze and explain the material, point out the errors in their partner's reasoning, and question and sharpen each other's ideas, often arriving at entirely new insights of the meaning of the text. A ''chavruta'' is intended to help a student keep their mind focused on the learning, sharpen their reasoning powers, develop their thoughts into words, organize their thoughts into logical arguments, and understand another person's viewpoint. The shiur-based system was Telshe Yeshiva#Rabbi Eliezer Gordon, innovated at the Telshe yeshiva, where there were five levels. Chavruta-style learning tends to be animated, as study partners read the Talmudic text and the commentaries aloud to each other, and then analyze, question, debate, and argue their points of view to arrive at an understanding of the text. In the heat of discussion, they may wave their hands, pound the table, or shout at each other. Depending on the size of the yeshiva, dozens or even hundreds of pairs of ''chavrutas'' can be heard discussing and debating each other's viewpoints. Students need to learn the ability to block out other discussions in order to focus on theirs.


Types

# Yeshiva Ketana (junior yeshiva) or "Talmud Torah" – Many Haredi (non-Hasidic and Hasidic) yeshivot ketanot in Israel, and some (primarily Hasidic) in the Diaspora, do not have a secular course of studies, with all students learning Judaic Torah studies full-time. # Yeshiva High School – also called ''Mesivta'' (Metivta) or ''Mechina'' or ''Yeshiva Ketana'', or in Israel, ''Yeshiva Tichonit'' – combines the intensive Jewish religious education with a secular high school education. The dual curriculum was pioneered by the Manhattan Talmudical Academy of
Yeshiva University Yeshiva University is a Private university, private Modern Orthodox Judaism, Orthodox Jewish university with four campuses in New York City.
(now known as Marsha Stern Talmudical Academy) in 1916; :he: אלמה (ישיבה תיכונית), "Aluma" was established in Jerusalem in 1936, and :he: ישיבת היישוב החדש, "ha-Yishuv" in Tel Aviv in 1937. # Mechina – For Israeli high-school graduates who wish to study for one year before entering the army. In Telshe yeshiva, Telshe yeshivas and in Yeshivas Ner Yisroel, Ner Yisroel of Baltimore, the Mesivtas/Yeshiva ketanas are known as Mechinas. # Beth midrash – For high school graduates, and is attended from one year to many years, dependent on the career plans and affiliation of the student. # Yeshivat
Hesder Hesder ( "arrangement"; also Yeshivat Hesder ) is an Israeli yeshiva program which combines advanced Talmudic studies with military service in the Israel Defense Forces, usually within a Religious Zionist framework. The program allows Orthodox J ...
– Yeshiva that has an arrangement with the Israel Defense Forces by which the students enlist together in the same unit and, as much as is possible serve in the same unit in the army. Over a period of about 5 years there will be a period of service starting in the second year of about 16 months. There are different variations. The rest of the time will be spent in compulsory study in the yeshiva. The
Hesder Hesder ( "arrangement"; also Yeshivat Hesder ) is an Israeli yeshiva program which combines advanced Talmudic studies with military service in the Israel Defense Forces, usually within a Religious Zionist framework. The program allows Orthodox J ...
Yeshiva concept is attributed to Rav Yehuda Amital. The first was Yeshivat Kerem B'Yavneh, established in 1954; the largest is the Hesder Yeshiva of Sderot with over 800 students. # Kollel – Yeshiva for married men. The kollel idea has its intellectual roots in the Torah;
Mishnah The Mishnah or the Mishna (; , from the verb ''šānā'', "to study and review", also "secondary") is the first written collection of the Jewish oral traditions that are known as the Oral Torah. Having been collected in the 3rd century CE, it is ...
tractate Megillah mentions the law that a town can only be called a "city" if it supports ten men (''batlanim'') to make up the required
quorum A quorum is the minimum number of members of a group necessary to constitute the group at a meeting. In a deliberative assembly (a body that uses parliamentary procedure, such as a legislature), a quorum is necessary to conduct the business of ...
for communal learning. It is mostly a modern innovation of 19th-century Europe. A kollel will often be in the same location as the yeshiva. # Baal Teshuva yeshivot catering to the needs of the newly Orthodox Judaism, Orthodox. A post-high school for women is generally called a "seminary", or ''
midrasha A ' (Hebrew: ; : ), typically, is an institute of Torah study for women of post-high-school age, somewhat equivalent to a men's yeshiva; most are located in Israel. The midrasha is also somewhat parallel to a "women's seminary" (Hebrew "semin ...
'' (plural ''midrashot'') in Israel,''Midrashot''
science.co.il
and not a yeshiva. (Although there are exceptions such as Prospect Park Yeshiva.) The
Haredi Haredi Judaism (, ) is a branch of Orthodox Judaism that is characterized by its strict interpretation of religious sources and its accepted (Jewish law) and traditions, in opposition to more accommodating values and practices. Its members are ...
Bais Yaakov Bais Yaakov (, also Beis Yaakov, Beit Yaakov, Beth Jacob or Beys Yankev; ) is a genericized name for full-time Haredi Jewish elementary and secondary schools for girls worldwide. Bais Yaakov, started by Sarah Schenirer in post-World War I K ...
system was started in 1918 under the guidance of Sarah Schenirer. These institutions provide girls with a Torah education, using a curriculum that skews more toward practical ''halakha'' (Jewish law) and the study of Tanakh, rather than
Talmud The Talmud (; ) is the central text of Rabbinic Judaism and the primary source of Jewish religious law (''halakha'') and Jewish theology. Until the advent of Haskalah#Effects, modernity, in nearly all Jewish communities, the Talmud was the cen ...
. The curriculum at Religious Zionist and Modern Orthodox ''midrashot'' includes some study of Talmud: often Mishnah, sometimes ''Gemara''; in further distinction, curricula generally entail ''chavruta''-based study of the texts of Jewish philosophy, and likewise Tanakh is studied with commentaries. See for further discussion.


Languages

Classes in most
Lithuanian Lithuanian may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to Lithuania, a country in the Baltic region in northern Europe ** Lithuanian language ** Lithuanians, a Baltic ethnic group, native to Lithuania and the immediate geographical region ** L ...
and
Hasidic Hasidism () or Hasidic Judaism is a religious movement within Judaism that arose in the 18th century as a spiritual revival movement in contemporary Western Ukraine before spreading rapidly throughout Eastern Europe. Today, most of those aff ...
yeshivot (throughout the world) are taught in Yiddish; Kol Torah, established in 1939 in
Jerusalem Jerusalem is a city in the Southern Levant, on a plateau in the Judaean Mountains between the Mediterranean Sea, Mediterranean and the Dead Sea. It is one of the List of oldest continuously inhabited cities, oldest cities in the world, and ...
and headed by Shlomo Zalman Auerbach for over 40 years, was the first mainstream Haredi yeshiva to teach in Hebrew, as opposed to Yiddish. Sephardi Jews, Sephardi, Modern Orthodox, Zionism, Zionist, and ''baal teshuvah'' yeshivot use Modern Hebrew or the local language. In many American non-Hassidic Yeshivos, the language generally used is English. Students learn with each other in whatever language they are most proficient, with Hasidic students usually learning in Yiddish, Israeli Lithuanian students in Hebrew, and American Lithuanian students in English.


College credit

Some yeshivas permit students to attend college. Often there are arrangements for the student to receive credit towards a college degree for their yeshiva studies.
Yeshiva University Yeshiva University is a Private university, private Modern Orthodox Judaism, Orthodox Jewish university with four campuses in New York City.
in New York provides a year's worth of credit for yeshiva studies. Institutions with similar arrangements in place include Lander College for Men, Yeshivas Ner Yisroel and Hebrew Theological College. #United_States, As above, some American ''yeshivot'' in fact ''award'' the degrees
Bachelor of Talmudic Law The Bachelor of Talmudic Law (BTL), Bachelor of Talmudic Studies (BTS), or First Talmudic Degree (FTD), is a law degree, comprising the study, analysis and application of ancient Talmudical, Biblical, and other historical sources. The laws derived ...
(4 years cumulative study), Master of Rabbinic Studies / Master of Talmudic Law (six years), and (at ''Ner Yisroel'') the Doctorate in Talmudic Law (10 years). These degrees are Higher education accreditation in the United States, nationally accredited by the Association of Advanced Rabbinical and Talmudic Schools, and may then grant access to graduate programs such as law school. Non-Orthodox institutions, typically, require that students earn a master's degree, inherent in the Ordination program. The program is then often Course credit, credit-based, and may require a thesis. For further discussion on the contemporary integration of secular education, see: , and Controversy over secular education in New York Hasidic schools. For historical context see: ; Hildesheimer Rabbinical Seminary; ; ; Vilna Rabbinical School and Teachers' Seminary; ; ; Kelm Talmud Torah; .


Curriculum

Torah study Torah study is the study of the Torah, Hebrew Bible, Talmud, responsa, rabbinic literature, and similar works, all of which are Judaism's Sifrei kodesh, religious texts. According to Rabbinic Judaism, the study is done for the purpose of the ''mi ...
at an Orthodox yeshiva comprises the study of rabbinic literature - essentially along the lines established in the Lithuanian Yeshivas #Lithuanian yeshivas, as above - principally the Talmud, along with the study of ''halacha'' (Jewish law); Musar literature, Musar and
Hasidic philosophy Hasidic philosophy or Hasidism (), alternatively transliterated as Hasidut or Chassidus, consists of the teachings of the Hasidic movement, which are the teachings of the Hasidic ''rebbes'', often in the form of commentary on the Torah (the Five ...
are often studied also. In some institutions, classical
Jewish philosophy Jewish philosophy () includes all philosophy carried out by Jews or in relation to the religion of Judaism. Until the modern ''Haskalah'' (Jewish Enlightenment) and Jewish emancipation, Jewish philosophy was preoccupied with attempts to reconc ...
or Kabbalah are formally studied, or the works of individual thinkers (such as
Abraham Isaac Kook Abraham Isaac HaCohen Kook (; 7 September 1865 – 1 September 1935), known as HaRav Kook, and also known by the Hebrew-language acronym Hara'ayah (), was an Orthodox Judaism, Orthodox rabbi, and the first Ashkenazi Jews, Ashkenazi Chief Rabbina ...
). See also . Rabbi#Non-Orthodox Judaism, Non-Orthodox institutions offer a synthesis of traditional and critical methods, allowing Jewish texts and tradition to encounter social change and modern scholarship. The curriculum is thus also focused on classical Jewish subjects – e.g. Talmud, Tanakh, Midrash, ''halacha'', and Philosophy – but differs from Orthodox yeshivot in that the subject-weights are more even (correspondingly, Talmud and halacha are less emphasized), and the approach entails an Biblical criticism#Twentieth century, openness to modern scholarship; the curriculum also emphasizes "the other functions of a modern rabbi such as preaching, counseling, and pastoral work". As mentioned, often, in these institutions less emphasis is placed on Talmud and Jewish law, "but rather on sociology, cultural studies, and modern Jewish philosophy".Rabbi Steven Blane (N.D.)
"Ordination and Semicha"
jsli.net
Rabbi#Conservative Judaism, Conservative Yeshivot occupy a position midway, in that their training places (significantly) more emphasis on Halakha and Talmud than other non-Orthodox programs. See Conservative halakha. The sections below discuss the Orthodox approach, but may also be seen as overviews of the traditional content.


Talmud study

In a typical Orthodox yeshiva, the main emphasis is on Talmud study, and particularly on its analytic component, ''Gemara'':- an often intensive "dialectic give and take" (Aramaic: ''shakla v'tarya'') where Mishnah#Content and purpose, the cases brought in the underlying ''
Mishnah The Mishnah or the Mishna (; , from the verb ''šānā'', "to study and review", also "secondary") is the first written collection of the Jewish oral traditions that are known as the Oral Torah. Having been collected in the 3rd century CE, it is ...
'' are analyzed, thereby explicating all Harry Austryn Wolfson (1929)
Talmudic Method
/ref> Mishnah#Content and purpose, inherent teachings and insights. For discussion of the nature, structure and characteristics of this activity, see and . Generally, two parallel Talmud streams are covered during a (trimester). The first is , or in-depth study (variants described below), often confined to selected legally focused tractates with an emphasis on analytical skills and close reference to the classical commentators. The second stream, ''beki'ut'' ("expertise"), seeks to build general knowledge of the Talmud. In some Hasidic yeshivas, ("text"), is the term used for , but may also incorporate an element of memorization. In the yeshiva system of Talmudic study, the undergraduate yeshivot focus on the ''Masekhet, mesechtohs'' (tractates) that cover civil jurisprudence and monetary law (''Nezikin'') and those dealing with contract and marital law (''Nashim''); through them, the student can best master the Gemara#Argumentation and debate, proper technique of Talmudic analysis, and in parallel,''Catalog''
Rabbinical College Bobov (Hasidic dynasty), Bobover
the halakhic application of :Talmud concepts and terminology, Talmudic principles. With these mastered, the student goes on to other areas of the Talmud. Tractates Berakhot (tractate), ''Berachot'', Sukkah (Talmud), ''Sukkah'', Pesachim (Talmud), ''Pesachim'' and Shabbat (Talmud), ''Shabbat'' are often included.Programs
Talmudic University of Florida.
Catalog
Central Yeshiva Tomchei Tmimim Lubavitz
See for example under . Sometimes tractates dealing with an upcoming Jewish holidays, religious holiday are studied before and during the holiday (e.g. ''Shabbat'' 21a–23b for Chanukah, Megillah (Talmud), Tractate ''Megilla'' for Purim, etc.). Works initially studied to clarify the Talmudic text are the commentary by Rashi, and Rashi#Commentary on the Talmud 2, the related work ''Tosafot'', a parallel analysis and Tosafot#Character, running critique.Se
''Kuntres Eitz HaChayim'' ch 28
for discussion of the interrelation between Rashi and Tosfot, and between Mishna and Gemara more generally.
The integration of Talmud, Rashi and Tosafot, is considered as foundational – and prerequisite – to further analysisSee for example the guidelines for Talmud study authored by
Sholom Dovber Schneersohn Sholom Dovber Schneersohn () was the fifth rebbe (spiritual leader) of the Chabad-Lubavitch chasidic movement. He is known as "the Rebbe Rashab" (for Reb Sholom Ber). His teachings that encouraged outreach were further developed later. Life ...
in 1897 on the founding of ''Tomchei Tmimim''
''Kuntres Eitz HaChayim'' ch 28
(in fact, this combination is sometimes referred to by its own acronym, ''"gefet"'' גפ״ת – ''Gemara'', ''perush Rashi'', ''Tosafot''). The Super-commentary, super-commentaries by Solomon Luria, "Maharshal", Meir Lublin, "Maharam" and Samuel Edels, "Maharsha" address the three components together: being at a further remove from Gemara#The Sugya, the underlying Talmudic debate, these - with their interplay - constitute a higher-order of analysis. At more advanced levels, additional ''Talmud#Commentaries, mefarshim'' (commentators) are similarly studied:See chapter "Talmudic Exegesis" in: Adin Steinsaltz (2006). ''The Essential Talmud''. Basic Books. other ''rishonim'', from the 11th to 14th centuries, as well as ''acharonim'', from later generations. There are two main schools of ''rishonim'', from France and from Spain, who will hold different interpretations and understandings of the Talmud; the ''acharonim'' collate and clarify these opinions, and constitute, then, a further layer of analysis. Widely referenced here are the Menachem HaMeiri, "Meiri", Nachmanides#Talmudic commentary, "Ramban", Solomon ben Adret, "Rashba", Yom Tov of Seville, "Ritva", Nissim_of_Gerona#Commentary_on_the_Talmud, "Ran" and Yitzchak Meir Alter#Works, "Rim", as well as the parallel ''Shitah Mekubezet'' compilation. At these levels, students link the Talmudic discussion to Halakha#Codes of Jewish law, codified law – particularly ''Mishneh Torah'' (i.e. Maimonides), Arba'ah Turim and Shulchan Aruch – by studying, also, the halakha-focused commentaries of Asher ben Jehiel, Isaac Alfasi and Mordechai ben Hillel, respectively referred to as "Rosh", "Rif", and the "Mordechai". Here, too, any differences give rise to further analysis - especially where these have implications re ''practice'' - and the Houses of Hillel and Shammai, underlying Talmudic opinions, and the other commentaries, are in turn revisited. As the Shiur (Torah)#Class levels, level of the ''shiur'' progresses, so the student must integrate more of these commentaries into their analysis of the ''sugya'' (loosely, Talmudic "unit of analysis"), simultaneously understanding the specific Chidush#Current usage, ''chidush'', i.e. novel contribution, as well as any implication re practical-halakha. This ''iyyun'' will generally take one of the following forms, each the ''"derech ha-limud"'' or "way of learning" of the Yeshiva (see the Hebrew article :He: דרכי לימוד התלמוד, "Approaches to Learning Talmud"): * At the higher levels, in many Lithuanian influenced Yeshivot, the highly analytic "
Brisker method The Brisker method, or Brisker ''derech'', is a reductionistic approach to Talmud study innovated by Rabbi Chaim Soloveitchik of Brisk (Brest, Belarus), as opposed to the traditional approach which was rather holistic. It has since become popula ...
" is employed, #Lithuanian yeshivas, as mentioned. The method - often referred to simply as ''lomdus'' - seeks to identify the principles underlying each commentator's approach, abstracting beyond the context of the specific ''sugya'', Talmud#Brisker method, by placing each within a categorical structure (the best known of Brisker_method#Examples, these "binaries" being ''cheftza / gavra'', "object" / "person"). * Elsewhere, and generally, the approach is more traditional: Students work through each ''sugya'' in light of the various rishonim, Chaim Rabinowitz#Telshe, successively specifying and understanding - and if possible, Gemara#Legal, reconciling - differences (legal and conceptual) between these, Shimon_Shkop#Telz_and_Grodno, such that "every particular contributes to the clarification of the others."''Kuntres Eitz HaChayim'' ch 29
/ref> Through this, the study Brisker method#Controversy, builds and deepens the concepts and principles arising from the tractate. Throughout, an important simultaneous requirement is that the peshat, "simple interpretation" of the underlying ''sugyas'' Yeshiva Ohel Torah-Baranovich#Style of learning, must maintain. * Many Yeshivot proceed ''aliba dehilchasa''See the Hebrew article :he: אסוקי שמעתתא אליבא דהלכתא for detail and discussion. (אליבא דהלכתא, Seph. pronunciation, ''dehilchata''; lit. "according to the Law"), where the learning focuses more on the Halachik-rules that develop from the ''sugya'', delineating how the opinions of the rishonim and acharonim relate to practice. There are two sub-approaches: The first, often Talmud#Sephardic approaches, the approach taken at Sephardic Yeshivot, analyzes the ''sugya'' as the Oral Torah#The Gemara, source of the ''halacha'', understanding how it inheres in each ''rishon'', and is undertaken even for topics with limited application (prototypical are ''ir nidachat'' and ''ben sorer umoreh''). The second, often applied when the ''sugya'' is studied by ''semikha'' students - see below - focuses on the implication re practical-halacha, the "''nafka mina''", of each commentary, somewhat limiting consequent theoretical and abstract discussion. * Some Yeshivot – such as Yeshivat Birkat Moshe, Birkat Moshe – particularly emphasize the Rambam, analyzing the ''sugya'' Mishneh Torah#Study, in light of the ''Mishneh Torah'' and List of commentaries on Mishneh Torah, its numerous commentaries. (''Brisker'' yeshivot invariably reference Rambam also: the ''Mishneh Torah'' covers all of halacha, and thus provides a consistent reference for the treatment of other ''rishonim''; see ''Chiddushei Rabbeinu Chaim''.) The ''Rosh Yeshiva'' gives the most senior ''shiur''. It is here that the student consolidates the yeshiva's approach to ''iyyun'', i.e. its ''derech ha-limud''; see . At many yeshivot, students are thus expected to learn in this ''shiur'' for at least two years before proceeding to ''Kollel'' or ''semikha'' study (and with the ''Rosh Yeshiva's'' sanction). The ''Rosh Yeshiva'' also delivers the weekly ''shiur klali'' ("comprehensive lecture"), which sums up the week's learning, and revisits a selected topic or concept in further detail; this is attended by all levels, and will often have its own ''marei mekomot''. Typically, boys begin their study of Talmud in late elementary school, initially studying
Mishnah The Mishnah or the Mishna (; , from the verb ''šānā'', "to study and review", also "secondary") is the first written collection of the Jewish oral traditions that are known as the Oral Torah. Having been collected in the 3rd century CE, it is ...
, the component of Talmud where, as outlined above, the Mishnah#Content and purpose, underlying "cases" are presented. (At this stage, they have completed their survey of ''Chumash (Judaism), Chumash'', with these cases expanding on the mitzvah, legal precepts there; see #Torah_and_Bible_study, below.) In early middle school, ''gemara'', the analytic component, is introduced; by High school in the United States, high school some are able to work with ''Tosafot''. Some systems more closely follow ''Pirkei Avot'
ch 5:21
as a guideline; where Mishna-study begins at age 10, and ''Gemara'' at 15. See Zilberman Method for further discussion.


Jewish law

Generally, a period is devoted to the study of practical ''halakha'' ("''Halakha LeMaaseh''"), emphasizing application as opposed to derivation. The text most commonly studied in Ashkenazi yeshivot is the ''Mishnah Berurah'', a commentary on the ''Shulchan Aruch'' originally published between 1884 and 1907. In Sephardic yeshivot, the ''Shulchan Aruch'' itself is more commonly studied, along with the Beit Yosef (book), ''Bet Yosef'' commentary; the ''Yalkut Yosef'' and Yaakov Chaim Sofer#Works, ''Kaf Hachaim'' are also often studied (similar to ''Mishnah Berurah'') while Yosef Hayyim#Works, ''Ben Ish Hai'' is a standard reference. In
Chabad Chabad, also known as Lubavitch, Habad and Chabad-Lubavitch (; ; ), is a dynasty in Hasidic Judaism. Belonging to the Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) branch of Orthodox Judaism, it is one of the world's best-known Hasidic movements, as well as one of ...
yeshivot, emphasis is placed upon study of ''Shulchan Aruch HaRav''. Beginning students are encouraged to also work through the Kitzur Shulchan Aruch (book), ''Kitzur Shulchan Aruch'', so as to survey all areas of applicable ''halacha'' and to consolidate their prior, high school, knowledge; this is also often the practice outside of Chabad. More advanced students, additionally and similarly, review the ''Mishneh Torah'' through Daily Rambam Study, its daily study cycle (this is often outside of any ''seder''), here including ''halachot'' relating to, for example, the Temple. Students in ''
Semikha ''Semikhah'' () is the traditional term for rabbiinic ordination in Judaism. The original ''semikhah'' was the formal "transmission of authority" from Moses through the generations. This form of ''semikhah'' ceased between 360 and 425 CE. Si ...
'' (Rabbinic ordination) List of rabbinical schools#Orthodox, programs, and often those in
kollel A kollel (also kolel) (, , , , a "gathering" or "collection" f scholars is an institute for full-time, advanced Torah study, study of the Talmud and rabbinic literature. Like a yeshiva, a kollel features Shiur (Torah), shiurim (lectures) and ...
, devote the largest portion of their schedule to ''halakha''. The focus is on in-depth, source-based study of those areas where (community) Rabbis will typically be asked ''"shaylas"'', i.e. halachic questions: the testing''CATALOG''
Rabbinical College of America
''Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary - Semikhah Requirements''
/ref> invariably covers Kashrut (referred to as ''"Issur v'Heter"''), usually
Shabbat Shabbat (, , or ; , , ) or the Sabbath (), also called Shabbos (, ) by Ashkenazi Hebrew, Ashkenazim, is Judaism's day of rest on the seventh day of the seven-day week, week—i.e., Friday prayer, Friday–Saturday. On this day, religious Jews ...
, often Niddah, sometimes Bereavement in Judaism, Avelut (mourning) and/or Jewish wedding, marriage. This study, typically of two to four year's duration, encompasses a detailed analysis of the ''halakha'' in the ''Arba'ah Turim'' and ''Bet Yosef'', through its final presentation in the ''Shulchan Aruch'', with Shulchan Aruch#Major commentaries, its major commentaries (especially Shabbatai HaKohen#The "Shakh", "''Shakh''" and David HaLevi Segal#Works, "''Taz''"), complemented by a survey of key History of responsa in Judaism, ''She'elot u-Teshuvot'' (responsa), recent and historical. The analysis, in turn, is built on a detailed knowledge of all relevant Talmudic ''sugyas'', which are studied accordingly within the schedule, emphasizing the legal commentaries mentioned. Students in an Orthodox Semikha program will thus have a thorough Hattarat hora'ah
''Jewish Encyclopedia''
background in Talmud, typically ''Semicha Standards''
Rabbinical Council of America Executive Committee, 2015.
having spent at least four preceding years in Yeshiva; Kollel students likewise. (See .) During the morning ''seder'', Semikha students continue their Talmud studies, learning the same ''masechet'' as the rest of the Yeshiva, often independently, but in many yeshivot, participating in the ''Rosh Yeshiva's'' ''shiur''. (Rabbis, then, Semikhah#Concept, will have been direct "students of the ''Rosh Yeshiva''" for their final four, or more, years of study.)


Ethics, mysticism and philosophy

Haredi ''Yeshivot'' (with the exception of Brisker yeshivot) typically devote a ''seder'' to musar literature, ''mussar'' (ethics and character development). The preeminent text studied is the ''Mesillat Yesharim'' ("Path of the Just") of Moshe Chaim Luzzatto. Rabbinic literature#Musar literature, Other works of mussar literature studied include: *''Orchot Tzaddikim'' ("Paths of the Righteous"); its authorship and time of writing is uncertain, but as it quotes Maimonides, it was written some time after his works were disseminated. *''Chovot ha-Levavot'' ("Duties of the Hearts") by Bahya ibn Paquda. *''Ma'alot ha-Middot'' ("Benefit [of good character] traits") by Jehiel ben Jekuthiel Anav, Jehiel Anav *''Mishnat R' Aharon'', Mussar Lectures on many topics by Aharon Kotler. *''Eliyahu Eliezer Dessler#Michtav me-Eliyahu, Mikhtav me-Eliyahu'', the works of Eliyahu Eliezer Dessler. *''Tomer Devorah'' by Moses Cordovero. *Chaim Leib Shmuelevitz#Publications, ''Sichos Mussar'' by Chaim Leib Shmuelevitz. *''Pele Yoetz'' by Eliezer Papo. * ''Kav ha-Yashar'' by Tzvi Hirsch Kaidanover. As above, these sessions focus the student on self-understanding and introspection, internalizing the spiritual aims of Judaism, and developing the character-traits, or ''middos'', appropriately. Topics in Jewish ethics#Areas of applied Jewish ethics, applied Jewish ethics, such as lashon hara, the "laws of speech", are often studied separately. Hasidic yeshivot study the mystical, spiritual Rabbinic literature#Hasidic thought, works of Hasidic philosophy (''Chassidus''). These draw on the earlier esoteric theology of ''
Kabbalah Kabbalah or Qabalah ( ; , ; ) is an esoteric method, discipline and school of thought in Jewish mysticism. It forms the foundation of Mysticism, mystical religious interpretations within Judaism. A traditional Kabbalist is called a Mekubbal ...
'', but articulates it in terms of inner psychological awareness and personal analogies. This study thus makes Jewish mysticism accessible and tangible, so that it inspires emotional ''dveikus'' (cleaving to God) and embeds a deep Hashkafa#Principles, spiritual element in daily Jewish life; it thereby serves a similar purpose to ''mussar'', but through different means and with different contributions to intellectual and emotional life. Chabad yeshivot, for example, study the Tanya (Judaism), ''Tanya'', the ''Likutei Torah'', and the voluminous :Chabad-Lubavitch texts, works of the Chabad-Lubavitch#Leadership, ''Rebbes'' of Chabad for an hour and a half each morning, before prayers, and an hour and a half in the evening. #Sephardi yeshivas, As mentioned, Sephardi ''yeshivot'' often incorporate study of selected Kabbalistic texts into their curriculum – Primary texts of Kabbalah, standard texts, as well as works by Yosef Hayyim, Yehuda Fatiyah and Yaakov Chaim Sofer. Kabbalistic sources are brought in ''halachik'' works such as ''Kaf Hachaim'' and ''Ben Ish Hai'' – and are then studied indirectly also; see . In Hesder,
Religious Zionist Religious Zionism () is a religious denomination that views Zionism as a fundamental component of Orthodox Judaism. Its adherents are also referred to as ''Dati Leumi'' (), and in Israel, they are most commonly known by the plural form of the fi ...
and Modern Orthodox Judaism, Modern Orthodox yeshivot, ''Machshavah'' (
Jewish philosophy Jewish philosophy () includes all philosophy carried out by Jews or in relation to the religion of Judaism. Until the modern ''Haskalah'' (Jewish Enlightenment) and Jewish emancipation, Jewish philosophy was preoccupied with attempts to reconc ...
generalized / applied as "Jewish thought"; also ''Hashkafa'', "worldview") is taught formally, with ''shiurim'' systematically covering the Jewish principles of faith, classic topics, as well as Hashkafa#Specific topics, contemporary issues, in light of the Rabbinic literature#Jewish philosophy, leading works here, with the treatment mirroring Talmud-study as above. (Indeed, the ''maggid shiur'' may refer to the topic in question as "our sugya".) These works — ''Kuzari, The Guide for the Perplexed, Moreh Nevukhim, Sefer ha-Ikkarim, Emunoth ve-Deoth, Emunot ve-Deot, Derech Hashem, Chaim of Volozhin#Works, Nefesh Ha-Chaim, Kad ha-Kemach'' and others — in turn draw on Aggadah#In the Talmud and Midrash, ''Talmudic-Aggadah'' / ''Midrash'', and on ''Tanach'' (see below). Hesder yeshivot additionally devote specific time to the writings of
Abraham Isaac Kook Abraham Isaac HaCohen Kook (; 7 September 1865 – 1 September 1935), known as HaRav Kook, and also known by the Hebrew-language acronym Hara'ayah (), was an Orthodox Judaism, Orthodox rabbi, and the first Ashkenazi Jews, Ashkenazi Chief Rabbina ...
, "Rav Kook", who articulated a unique personal blend of mysticism, creative exegesis and philosophy (as well as to ''Torat Eretz Yisrael'' generally). The Modern Orthodox Judaism, Modern Orthodox, similarly, study the works of Joseph B. Soloveitchik, "Rav Soloveitchik". Hasidic philosophy and Mussar are also often taught; and ''Judah Loew ben Bezalel#Thought, Maharal'' may have a dedicated ''shiur''. Machshava is also a focus-area of many ''Midrashot''. Some Haredi and Hasidic yeshivas also include formal study of ''Hashkafa'', especially at ''ba'al teshuva'' focused institutions; many ''Semikha'' programs likewise, particularly those with an outreach, or ''kiruv'', component. Regardless, students here typically study the major works independent of a ''shiur''.


Torah and Bible study

Intensive study of ''Chumash (Judaism), Chumash'' (Torah) with the commentary of Rashi is stressed and taught in all elementary grades. In Haredi and Hasidic yeshivas, this is often done with Yiddish translations. The rest of the ''Tanach'' (Hebrew Bible; acronym: ''Torah'' and ''Nach (Bible acronym), Nach'' = ''"Torah, Hebrew Bible#Nevi'im, Nevi'im u'Hebrew Bible#Ketuvim, Ketuvim"''; "Torah, Prophets and Writings") is usually taught through high school, although less intensively. In Yeshivot, thereafter, ''Chumash'', and especially ''Nach'', are studied less directly. Yeshiva students typically follow the practice of ''Shnayim mikra ve-echad targum'', independently reviewing the upcoming ''parashah'' (weekly Torah portion) twice in the original Hebrew and once in Targum Onkelos (an
Aramaic Aramaic (; ) is a Northwest Semitic language that originated in the ancient region of Syria and quickly spread to Mesopotamia, the southern Levant, Sinai, southeastern Anatolia, and Eastern Arabia, where it has been continually written a ...
translation), together with Rashi's commentary. Students often also study Nachmanides#Commentary on the Torah, Ramban's commentary, functioning in relation to Rashi here, somewhat as Tosafot above; less frequently, other commentaries from the ''Mikraot Gedolot'' edition are reviewed. Students may similarly study ''Nach'' independently (often using the David Altschuler#Works, ''Metzudos'' commentary); usually, ''Tanach'' is not taught ''per se'', with exceptions being the five Megilloth and Psalms, Tehillim. The ''Rosh Yeshiva'' delivers a weekly ''shiur'' on the ''parashah'', exploring a particular question or theme, with a related ethical or ''hashkafic'' teaching; this is often Shiur (Torah)#Public study sessions, open to the public. At
Hesder Hesder ( "arrangement"; also Yeshivat Hesder ) is an Israeli yeshiva program which combines advanced Talmudic studies with military service in the Israel Defense Forces, usually within a Religious Zionist framework. The program allows Orthodox J ...
, Religious Zionism, Religious Zionist and Modern Orthodox Judaism, Modern Orthodox yeshivot, the study of ''Chumash'' and ''Nach'' continues in parallel with Talmud study. These institutions offer formal ''shiurim'' in many, if not all, of the books of ''Nevi'im'' and ''Ketuvim''. These are often structured Shiur (Torah)#Class levels, by level, similar to Talmud study, where the text, and its overall structure, is then analyzed in light of the Jewish commentaries on the Bible, various commentaries and Midrash#Classical compilations, ''Midrashim'',Example ''marei mekomot'' - Tanach
/ref> typically complementing the ''Machshavah'' ''shiurim''. (See further re this approach under .) Oral Torah#In rabbinic literature and commentary, More recent commentaries especially studied are ''Naftali Zvi Yehuda Berlin#Bibliography, "Netziv"'' and ''Malbim#Methodology and style, "Malbim"''; as well as reference works such as ''Da'at Miqra'' by Mordechai Breuer and others. The commentaries by Ramban, Isaac Abarbanel#Exegesis, Abarbanel, Bahya ben Asher#Torah commentary, "Rabbeinu Behaye", and Samson Raphael Hirsch#Commentary on the Torah, "Rav Hirsch" provide much philosophical content. The ''Sefer ha-Chinuch'', although not a commentary ''per se'', offers a systematic Sefer ha-Chinuch#Content, legal and philosophic discussion of 613 commandments, the commandments, and is similarly studied. (The related ''Minchat Chinuch'' is often referenced in legal-focused Talmud ''shiurim''.) Intensive study of Tanach, as for Machshava, is likewise a feature of many ''Midrashot''.


See also

*
Bais Yaakov Bais Yaakov (, also Beis Yaakov, Beit Yaakov, Beth Jacob or Beys Yankev; ) is a genericized name for full-time Haredi Jewish elementary and secondary schools for girls worldwide. Bais Yaakov, started by Sarah Schenirer in post-World War I K ...
* Jewish day school * List of yeshivas * List of rabbinical schools * Mesivta * Religious school * Yeshivish


References

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