The Yeshiva centers its daily schedule to focus on the study of Gemara. Much of the day is spent learning BeIyun, while opportunities to learn bekiut and to explore other areas of Torah exist as well.

7:00 - Shacharit

7:45 - Breakfast

8:30 - Shiur/Morning Seder

13:00 - Lunch followed by break

15:00 - Mincha

15:15 - Afternoon Seder

18:00 - Chugim

18:55 - Musar Seder

19:15 - Ma'ariv

19:30 - Dinner

20:15 - Night Seder

The goal of the Yeshiva is to foster within its talmidim a deeper and fuller life of Avodat Hashem. The Yeshiva emphasizes Talmud Torah as a vital and indispensable instrument for a relationship with Hakadosh Baruch Hu. To truly love Torah, a talmid must be equipped with the tools and skills to master its learning so that a talmid may be properly equipped for a lifetime of limud Torah. Without the skills to learn in a profound and personal manner, it is more difficult to cultivate an authentic love for Torah.

While expanding the quantity of Torah knowledge you possess, our aim is to learn how to learn. For example, when you encounter a dispute between rishonim, you will be taught to try to understand not only what each rishon said, but why he said it.

An hour and a half shiur yomi is given during morning seder. You will spend an additional three to four hours a day preparing for this shiur bechavruta while delving through parallel sugyot and the rishonim on the daf. All shiurim are in Hebrew, which sometimes poses an initial problem for talmidim from abroad. The ramim are more than happy to clarify points after shiur and there are many English speakers in the Beit Midrash willing to help.

All students have the opportunity to hear shiur from the Roshei Yeshiva at least once a week during the weekly shiur klali given to the entire Yeshiva. This shiur deals with a major topic in the massekhet being studied. A review shiurim are given in both Hebrew and in English.

Based upon your bechinah, you will be placed in one of our three shiurim specifically designed for overseas students. Each shiur is oriented to the specific needs of the talmidim in that shiur. There are shiurim that develop textual skills and begin to analyze the concepts that stem from the text of the Gemara to shiurim that focus on the rishonim and the sevaras of each rishon. These shiurim offer an environment that fosters your development over the course of the year. Your Rebbi will serve as a primary source of guidance during your stay in Yeshiva.

Shiur placement is also based on the level of your high school shiur and your rebbe's recommendation. When you have become acclimated to the Yeshiva and conversant in Hebrew, the option of transferring to an Israeli shiur is available.

Evening seder begins after ma'ariv or supper (depending on the time of year). This seder is dedicated to studying bekiut. To insure maximum attention and growth for each talmid, evening seder consists of small chaburot of no more than 10 talmidim.

Night seder in the Yeshiva is divided into two parts. There is time allotted for bekiyut and a slot designated for Iyun learning. Each section is guided by one of the many night seder Ramim. During the first part of night seder each talmid may learn with an older chavruta concentrating on different perakim within the massekhet. The overall goal is to finish the entire masekhta. During the second stage of night seder talmidim prepare for additional iyun chaburot. With the help of mekorot and under the direction of your Ram your skills in identifying the main points of a sugya will improve. By mid-year talmidim begin preparing chaburot themselves.

Yeshivat Har Etzion believes that although the study of Gemara must be the central focus of a talmid's learning, other areas of Torah knowledge such as Tanakh, Machshevet Yisrael, and Halakha LeMaaseh are integral to his development as well.

While the Yeshiva encourages in-depth study of all these areas, a particularly strong and unique feature of the Yeshiva is the quality of its Tanakh shiurim. Most of Tanakh shiurim place an emphasis on peshuto shel mikra, identifying the main themes of each Sefer. When Chumash and Navi are studied in this fashion, classical perushim and midrashim are understood in greater depth. These shiurim reveal the Tanakh's moral, religious, and philosophical content, and enable us to look at History from a Torah perspective.

Most talmidim find that these shiurim add new dimensions to their perception of the world of Torah, dimensions of which they were barely aware, prior to their yeshiva experience.

Like all yeshivot, Yeshivat Har Etzion feels that a talmid will become a true Ben Torah only if his growth in learning is matched by growth in midot. In Yeshivat Har Etzion there is a daily mussar seder. The sichot given in the Beit Midrash during the week and on Shabbat emphasize aspects of an individual's Avodat Hashem.

There is a special weekly sicha for overseas students given alternately by the Roshei Yeshiva, Rabeim or one of the Mashgichim. Most talmidim also have a daily seder in a sefer machshava or musar, be it in the writings of Ramchal, Rav Kook, Rav Soloveitchik etc. These sichot and sedarim, as well as the general Yeshiva atmosphere, encourage and challenge talmidim to grow as Ovdei Hashem.

Talmidim are expected to fulfill the obligations related to their learning and davening, as regards both shiurim and sedarim. On a personal level, talmidim are to conduct themselves in accordance with the standards of a Ben Torah. The educational philosophy of Yeshivat Har Etzion is that, insofar as reasonably possible, each bochur should be trusted on his own honor to work to the utmost of his capacity. If a talmid is to remain a dedicated Ben Torah after leaving the Beit Midrash, he must come to Ahavat Torah and Avodat Hashem through self-motivation and personal responsibility.

Whether through a question-and-answer session, a sicha, or a spirited tisch, the Roshei Yeshiva meet with all the bachurim on a regular basis. They are present in the Beit Midrash every day, and should you wish to have a discussion with either Rosh Yeshiva you will always find yourself welcome. Talmidim at the Yeshiva consider it a great privilege to have two gedolim so readily accessible to them.

The Yeshiva views the personal growth of each of its talmidim as one of its defining features. Apart from your Rebbe, there is a Mashgiach who is very involved for the overseas student program. He will get to know you personally, monitor your progress, help arrange chevrutot, and is available for help on any issue, any time. In addition, Madrichim provide an informal source for guidance and advice. Madrichim (generally older students) can share with you their own recent Yeshiva experiences and allow a talmid to form a relationship with someone closer in age, who has already succeeded at Yeshiva.

A special aspect of the Yeshiva is the presence of older students from abroad. There are talmidim who stay for a second or third year, talmidim who return during or after college, and talmidim who study in the kollel for several years. Many alumni also return to learn in the Yeshiva for shorter time periods, whether during Zman Elul, winter break or summer vacation.

Married alumni who return to learn in the kollel often provide a "home away from home" for many of the younger students. This natural and informal form guidance helps every student feel comfortable in what is likely his first experience studying abroad.

The spiritual climax of the week is on Shabbat. The Roshei Yeshiva alternate spending two out of three Shabbatot in the Yeshiva, each one imbuing the Shabbat atmosphere with his own character and personality. Their sichot after Kabbalat Shabbat highlight points of musar in the parsha. On the third Shabbat, the Yeshiva will invite one of its many Ramim for Shabbat giving you the opportunity to hear sichot from a variety of Torah scholars while you are in the Yeshiva. After davening, talmidim are often invited to the homes of rebbeim or kollel couples or local families for a Shabbat meal.

After dinner, you may attend a tisch at the home of a Ram or learn in the Beit Midrash. During the day, the Rosh Yeshiva or one of the Ramim delivers a shiur on a halakhic topic. The culmination of shabbat at the Yeshiva, Seudah Shelishit, features a second sicha on the parsha by the Rosh Yeshiva. Often, the sicha relates a theme in the parsha to contemporary issues. The sicha is followed by singing until long after Shabbat has ended.

What is the relationship between Israelis and overseas students?

Yeshivat Har Etzion's Overseas Program is a fully integrated part of the overall Israeli Program. This means that you will learn in a Beit Midrash where the predominant language is Hebrew, and have Israeli chavrutot. You will live in a dormitory where many of your neighbors’ will be Israelis, and when you reach an appropriate level, will be in a shiur with Israelis. This environment, together with the presence of a large number of students from countries such as the United States, England, Canada, Switzerland, Australia, South Africa, the Former Soviet Union, Holland, and Ethiopia, provides you the opportunity to forge intimate ties with talmidim from diverse backgrounds. The Yeshiva believes that this exposure to Israeli society should play an integral part in your growth as a Ben Torah.

By its nature, a talmid’s stay at the Yeshiva is concentrated and inner-directed. However, it is also a preparation for what lies beyond – a life of service to Klal Yisrael, in either professional or lay capacity. The Yeshiva is committed not only to molding individuals, but to developing communal leadership by stimulating both the ability and desire to serve.

In order to deepen students' kesher to Eretz Yisrael, the Yeshiva schedules numerous tiyulim (including afternoon tiyulim approximately every few weeks) and shabbatonim over the course of the year. You will find the shiurim in Tanakh taking on an added dimension as you walk in the footsteps of the Avot and stand in the battlefield where David slew Goliath. During Bein HaZmanim, there are major tiyulim to the Galil, Golan, and Negev. Other highlights include shabbatonim in the Old City and in Tzefat.

Although your primary goal in Yeshiva is Talmud Torah, the Yeshiva recognizes that other aspects of personal growth should be emphasized and encouraged. With this in mind, the Yeshiva organizes a chessed program. There are a variety of volunteer opportunities so that each talmid can chose a project befitting him. This year talmidim will be working as big brothers. They will also be working with the elderly and olim. Talmidim participate in chesed programs that run shabbatonim throughout the country in children’s homes and in absorption centers helping both recent olim and veteran Israelis.

You can expect to live in a comfortable two or three-person room with a friend of your choice. Usually this is a friend from home, but students may ask to room with Israeli talmidim. The Yeshiva provides three meals a day and is open almost every Shabbat. During Bein HaZmanim periods, the Yeshiva is officially closed. Most students stay with relatives and friends. Arrangements can be made for students who would like places to stay in Israel.

Yeshivat Har Etzion is located in the residential town of Alon Shevut, which is approximately 10 miles south of Jerusalem. Alon Shevut is close to the city of Efrat, which forms the core of the Etzion Bloc (Gush Etzion), a region which boasts a growing Jewish population of 15,000. There is hourly bus service to and from Jerusalem from 6:15 am until 11:30 pm.

The breathtaking scenery of Alon Shevut, combined with the beauty of the Yeshiva campus, create an atmosphere that is uniquely conducive to personal and spiritual growth.

Study in the Beit Midrash is facilitated by a library of 40,000 volumes covering all areas of talmud Torah. For recreation, you will find, within a five minute walk, an array of indoor and outdoor sports facilities, including an indoor swimming pool and weight room. Alon Shevut has a bank, post office, and a grocery store.

If you wish to apply, please contact the Yeshiva office for an application form. You may also download our application form from our website: www.haretzion.org. An interview will be arranged upon receipt of your application. Tuition at Yeshivat Har Etzion is on a par with standard tuition charged at other similar yeshivot. For any additional information please feel free to contact the Yeshiva.

Yeshivat Har Etzion

Alon Shevut

Gush Etzion 90433

Israel

Tel.: 972-2-993-1456

E-mail: office@etzion.org.il

Visit our website: www.haretzion.org