Yeshivat HaKotel

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The Yeshivat Hakotel building, situated above the arches of the Porat Yosef Yeshiva

Yeshivat Hakotel is a modern-Orthodox religious Zionist hesder yeshiva situated in the Old City of Jerusalem. The yeshiva overlooks the Kotel (Western Wall); hence its name. The Yeshiva is famous among tourists and tour guides for its entrance to the prayer plaza at the Kotel on Sabbath. All of the students and teachers assemble in their white Sabbath shirts, and descend the long series of staircases that lead from the Yeshiva to the Kotel singing and dancing; tourists advised by their guide books assemble to watch.

Rabbi Baruch Wieder, the former Rosh Kollel, serves as the Rosh Yeshiva. The previous Rosh Yeshiva was Rabbi Yeshayahu Hadari, also co-founder of the yeshiva.

The yeshiva is housed in a building opposite the Temple Mount. The beit medrash (study hall) features an unusual Aron Kodesh, constructed in two halves separated by a window through which the Temple Mount can be seen.

Yeshivat Hakotel has a program for English-speaking students. The Dean of the program for overseas students is Rabbi Reuven Taragin. Its program is unique in that it offers integration with Israelis, a broad comprehensive curriculum in Gemara, Tanach, Machshava, Halacha, and Mussar, and personal long- term relationships with rebbeim and other staff.

In 2006, Yeshivat Hakotel opened a new program intended for Portuguese and Spanish-speaking students, headed by Brazilian-born Rabbi Daniel Segal. As of 2011, more than 100 students from Latin American countries, like Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Mexico, Panama, Peru and Colombia, and also from Portugal and Spain, have graduated this special program.

The Yeshiva is based upon the buildings known as the Batei Mahse (Houses of Shelter) which were massively reconstructed after the liberation of the Old City in 1967. The original Batei Mahse comprised 8 two-story buildings which were constructed primarily with funds collected by Rabbi Hayam Zevee Sneersohn, when as emissary from Jerusalem he visited Australia from December 1861 until 1863. Both Australian Jews and prominent non-Jews [1] responded to Sneersohn's appeal.[2]

References

  1. ↑ Moses Hess, "Rome and Jerusalem", (New York, 1943) p.175
  2. ↑ Gorr, Shmuel, "Notes on Early Emissaries from the Holy Land to Australia", Australian Jewish Historical Society Journal, Vol VIII, Part 6, 1979, pp. 337–344

External links

Coordinates: 31°46′30.64″N 35°13′57.61″E / 31.7751778°N 35.2326694°E / 31.7751778; 35.2326694

Yeshivot
Midrashot


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