Mercaz haRav

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Mercaz haRav or Yeshivat Mercaz haRav (ישיבת מרכז הרב) is a religious Zionist yeshiva situated in Jerusalem. The yeshiva was founded in 1924 by Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook, and is commonly regarded as the flagship of the national-religious movement.

Mercaz haRav has become synonymous with the teachings of "Rav Kook" - as well as with religious nationalism. It has played an important role here: the educational system of the national-religious camp, from elementary schools to girls’ high schools to hesder yeshivot, is staffed by educators who attended the yeshiva or who look to it for spiritual guidance. Although not a Hesder Yeshiva, students generally do a much- shortened stint in the IDF when they are well into their twenties.

Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook's son, Rabbi Zvi Yehuda Kook, took up the position of Rosh Yeshiva after his death. The current Rosh Yeshiva is Rabbi Avraham Shapira. Today, the yeshiva has about 500 students, and there are a further 200 students in the yeshiva's kollel (post-graduate division).