Beth Medrash Govoha
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| Beth Medrash Govoha | |
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| Established: | 1943 |
| Type: | Yeshiva (Orthodox) |
| Location: | Lakewood Township, NJ, USA |
| Campus: | Urban |
Beth Medrash Govoha (Hebrew: בית מדרש גבוה) is the largest Talmudical Academy in the United States and according to the New York Times one of the largest in the world. A Haredi institution, it was founded in 1943 by Rabbi Aharon Kotler in Lakewood Township, New Jersey where it remains. It is commonly known as Bais Medrash Govoha, BMG, or Lakewood Yeshiva. Its prestige has drawn tens of thousands of Orthodox Jews to Lakewood in the last two decades.
The yeshiva is licensed by the New Jersey Commission on Higher Education and accredited by the Association of Advanced Rabbinical and Talmudic Schools.[1] It is authorized to grant bachelor's degrees and master's degrees in Talmudics to those students who apply and qualify for the degrees, as well as a post-master's certificate in Talmudic studies.
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[edit] Curriculum
The yeshiva studies are based on classical Torah study traditions using the Talmud, Shulchan Aruch, responsa and rabbinic literature as texts and sources.
The daily schedule consists of three sedorim, or study sessions, devoted to study, plus daily prayers and meals. In each session there is usually a main limud' (field/focus of study) based on the Talmud. However there also exists a system of chaburahs (group study) where 10-70 scholars form a chaburah (group) to study specific sub-texts within the Talmud and/or Shulchan Aruch. All of these take place in one of the over eight study halls available throughout the four study buildings of Beth Medrash Govoha.
The main limud is usually a part of Talmud and is not a part of Shulchan Aruch. However the way the Talmud is studied might include the relevant portion of the Shulchan Aruch as an adjunct and complementary study. Each "chaburah" may differ in the amount of time spent studying the Shulchan Aruch.
[edit] Chaburah system
Every chaburah has a Rosh Chaburah (head/leader of the study group). It is the Rosh Chaburah's responsibility to arrange enough seats for the members of his chaburah and to decide the limud (subject of study) that will take place for the rest of the semester, as well as make sure that there is a lecture given on the subject studied at least once a week. Many "chaburos" also require members to prepare and give lectures on a rotating basis. This is always in addition to the Rosh Chaburah's weekly lecture.
[edit] Acceptance and registration
[edit] Application
Applications to enroll into the yeshiva are accepted twice a year, in the summer for the winter semester, and in the winter for the summer semester. There are no enrollments for the fall semester. The deadlines vary, and they are generally close to the 1st of Elul for enrollment in the winter, and the 1st of Adar for enrollment in the summer. The cost of the application is $125.00.
[edit] Testing and acceptance
This is generally a four part process. Only applicants who have received a "bechina (entrance exam) card" authorizing them to advance will be able to proceed with these steps:
- The applicant completes a secondary registration application which asks for more detailed additional information that was not required on the original application.
- The admissions officer holds a general interview with the applicant. With him are usually one or two other members of the faculty. The meeting will usually be short, allowing the admissions department an opportunity to evaluate the candidate's general potential for success in the institute.
- A faculty member tests the candidate in general Talmudic knowledge. A grade is issued, on a scale of one to five, reflecting the applicant's possession of the requisite knowledge.
- One of the four roshei yeshiva (deans) listens to a Pilpul, or talmudic discourse, from the applicant. This part of the exam is to test the applicant's ability to engage in specialized Talmudic reasoning called Lomdus. Here too, a grade is issued on a scale of one to five.
- After completing the two exams. The acceptance will depend on a combination of all the factors in the admissions process. Usually applicants are notified during Chol HaMoed about the decision. If the applicant is accepted, he and his parents are then required to set up a meeting with the tuition department to discuss tuition arrangements.
[edit] Registration
After acceptance, tuition is negotiated, and the accepted student must complete steps required by the State of New Jersey of all students entering dormitories and post-secondary schools in New Jersey. These steps include obtaining health insurance (either through their parents or through the Yeshiva's student insurance plan), and obtaining required vaccinations for measles, mumps, and rubella; a second measles shot; and the meningococcal vaccine. In the signed acceptance agreement, the matriculating student is required to agree to abide by the rules of the institution.
[edit] Semesters/Zmanim
Three zmanim (semesters) exist in a year, based on the Hebrew calendar:
- Winter zman, which is from Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan through the seventh of Nisan.
- Summer zman from Rosh Chodesh Iyar through the tenth of Av.
- Elul zman from Rosh Chodesh Elul through the eleventh of Tishrei.
The three zmanim span two official semesters. The Fall semester runs through the Winter zman. The Spring semester includes the Summer zman and Elul zman.
[edit] Tumult day
Tumult day is a distinct feature of Beth Medrash Gevoha. It is at this time that chavrusos (study partners) must be arranged. Among other things, students discuss with potential study partners what limud they would like to study, and also make sure that the study partnership has the potential to succeed, both on a personal level and on an intellectual level. Additionally, it is at this time that students are required to arrange entry into a particular "chaburah", or study group. This intense and highly competitive method is unique to Beth Medrash Gevoha.
