Midrash Shmuel Yeshiva

Not to be confused with Midrash Shmuel (aggadah).
Midrash Shmuel
Hebrew: מדרש שמואל‎‎
Address
13 Shaarei Chesed St.[1]
Shaarei Chesed
Jerusalem
Israel
Information
Established 1993[1]
Rosh Yeshiva Rabbi Binyomin Moskovits[1][2]
Affiliation Orthodox
Bachurim 200[1]

Midrash Shmuel is a Haredi yeshiva catering to English-speaking students,[1] located in the Shaarei Chesed neighborhood in Jerusalem, Israel. It was founded in 1993 by Rabbi Binyomin Moskovits who functions as its Rosh HaYeshiva (dean), and was named after his mentor, the late Rabbi Shmuel Rozovsky.

Educational goals

The yeshiva is designed for English-speaking post-high-school students from outside Israel.[1][3] All classes are held in English. Midrash Shmuel also has an introductory program called Aliyos Shmuel for college graduates and older students who seek to learn at a beginner's level, and a kollel (post-graduate) program which enrolls approximately 115 married students.[1]

History

Midrash Shmuel is part of the widespread trend since the 1970s of yeshiva Torah study programs in Israel for post-high-school students from the United States and other English-speaking countries. In the 1970s there were only a handful of such programs for overseas students at the Mir, Brisk yeshiva, and Ponovezh yeshiva. Today, there are dozens of such yeshivas.[4]

Educational activities

Midrash Shmuel recruits students from across the globe who have completed yeshiva high-schools and its dean is active in this regard.[5]

Students in the rabbinic ordination program receive semicha directly from the rosh yeshiva Rabbi Moskovits. Students also develop personal relationships with the rosh yeshiva and rabbinic lecturers which continue after graduation, as alumni participate in reunions and yeshiva fund-raising events in communities where they eventually settle.[6]

Curriculum

Rabbi Moskovits' gemara lectures are heavily influenced by Rabbi Shmuel Rozovsky, while his ethical lectures are influenced by Rabbi Yechezkel Levenstein. Rabbi Moskovits emphasizes a strong textual reading of relevant sources. Every student in the yeshiva delivers, at a minimum, two chaburos ("informal lectures") per month.

Guest speakers

The yeshiva also invites noted rabbis from the international English-speaking Torah world to address the yeshiva. In past years, these have included Rabbi Avraham Chaim Feuer, formerly of Kehillas Beis Avrohom in Monsey, New York;[7] Rabbi Harvey Belovski, rabbi at Dunstan Road Synagogue in England,[8] and Rabbi Aharon Kaufman, rosh yeshiva of the Yeshiva Gedolah of Waterbury, Connecticut Rabbi Dovid Orlofsky Neve Yerushalayim].[9]

Summer programs

Midrash Shmuel runs a summer program for high school students from England, Canada, the US and South Africa. The program combines in-depth gemara learning and Halakha, Mussar and hashkafah (Jewish philosophy) shiurim with recreational outings and activities.[10]

College accreditation

College credits are offered through Touro College[11] and Hebrew Theological College.[12]

Women's program

In August 2010, actress and dancer Rachel Factor, whose husband studies at the Midrash Shmuel kollel, opened Midreshes Shmuel, a post-high school women's Torah learning and performing arts program, under the direction of Rabbi Moskovits. However, this branch of the school closed in 2012.[13][14]

Notable alumni

Graduates of Midrash Shmuel have gone on to make their mark on the English-speaking Torah world. They include the well-known Rabbi Natan Slifkin, the "Zoo Rabbi", author of a dozen books on Torah and science.[15] Slifkin's first book,[16] Lying for Truth: Understanding Ya'akov’s Deception of Yitzchak, was initially published by the yeshiva with an approbation by Rabbi Moskovits.[17]

Other rabbinic alumni include: Rabbi Jonathan Shooter, author of The Haftara Handbook: Lessons from the Prophets for the Contemporary Jew (Devora Publishing, 2010);[18] Rabbi Yonoson Hughes, Rabbi of Richmond Synagogue, London and author of Understanding Reb Chaim: Reb Chaim Soloveitchik zt"l of Brisk (2010);[19] Rabbi Hershel Brand, teacher at Yeshivat Ner Yaakov, Jerusalem, and author of On Eagles Wings: Moshiach, Redemption and the World to Come (Targum Press, 2002);[20] Rabbi Scott Kahn, Rosh Yeshiva, Yeshivat Yesodei HaTorah, Moshav Zanoah, Israel;[21] Rabbi Avrohom Zeidman, Assistant Rabbi of the Seed Programme in Edgware, London;[22] Rabbi Josh Bennett, Rabbinical Coordinator at the London Beth Din;[23] Rabbi Stephen Berger, Director of the NCSY Northwest Region, Vancouver, British Columbia;[24] and Rabbi Yisrael Shaw, Torah educator at Machon Yaakov, Har Nof, and editor-in-chief of the Daf Yomi publications of Kollel Iyun Hadaf.[25]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Midrash Shmuel (& Aliyos Shmuel)". Nefesh B'Nefesh. September 2007. Retrieved 14 November 2010.
  2. ↑ Seidel, Jeff (2005). The Jewish Travelers' Resource Guide. Jewish Student Information Center. ISBN 978-1-58330-749-6. Retrieved 14 November 2010.
  3. ↑ Rocker, Simon (19 August 2010). "The rabbi who had his brit when he was 20". Jewish Chronicle. Retrieved 14 November 2010.
  4. ↑ Rosenblum, Jonathan (31 January 2007). "Turning Down the Noise". Cross Currents. Retrieved 18 November 2010.
  5. ↑ "Midrash Shmuel's Rosh HaYeshiva Visits SA" (PDF). Jewish Report. 27 July 2007. Retrieved 17 November 2010.
  6. ↑ Stone, Yoram (12 November 2003). "HaRav Binyomin Moskovits in London". Dei'ah VeDibur. Retrieved 17 November 2010.
  7. ↑ "HaRav Avraham Chaim Feuer joins Yeshivas Midrash Shmuel for Tisha B'Av". Dei'ah VeDibur. 17 August 2005. Retrieved 18 November 2010.
  8. ↑ "Rabbi Harvey Belovski visits Yeshivas Midrash Shmuel". Dei'ah VeDibur. 21 December 2005. Retrieved 17 November 2010.
  9. ↑ "Waterbury Rosh Yeshiva, Rabbi Aaron Kaufman, in Israel". Yated Neeman. 5 April 2008. Retrieved 18 November 2010.
  10. ↑ Yated Neeman Staff (27 July 2005). "Midrash Shmuel's Summer Program Off to a Great Start". Deiah Ve-Dibur. Retrieved 14 November 2010.
  11. ↑ "Study in Israel". Touro College. 2010. Retrieved 18 November 2010.
  12. ↑ "Israel Experience Program 2009-2010" (PDF). Hebrew Theological College. Retrieved 18 November 2010.
  13. ↑ "Midreshes Shmuel". Rachel-factor.com. Retrieved 14 November 2010.
  14. ↑ Zegerman Schwimmer, Helen (3 March 2010). "Crossing the Narrow Bridge with Rachel Factor". The Jewish Press. Retrieved 14 November 2010.
  15. ↑ "The Zoo Rabbi – Biography". zootorah.com. Retrieved 15 November 2010.
  16. ↑ "About the Author". Yashar Books. Retrieved 17 November 2010.
  17. ↑ Wolowelsky, Joel B. "Kibbud Av and Kibbud Avot: Moral Education and Patriarchal Critiques". lookstein.org. Retrieved 17 November 2010.
  18. ↑ "The Haftara Handbook: Lessons from the Prophets for the Contemporary Jew". Urim Publications. Retrieved 15 November 2010.
  19. ↑ "Understanding Reb Chaim (H) Rabbi Yonoson Hughes". levinejudaica.com. 2008. Retrieved 15 November 2010.
  20. ↑ "Our Staff". Ner Yaakov. Retrieved 15 November 2010.
  21. ↑ "Faculty". Yeshivat Yesodei HaTorah. 2009. Retrieved 15 November 2010.
  22. ↑ "SEED: Meet the Team". seed.uk. Retrieved 15 November 2010.
  23. ↑ "KLBD: Meet the Team". theus.org.uk. Retrieved 28 November 2011.
  24. ↑ "Rabbi Stephen Berger to Lead NCSY Northwest Region, Vancouver". ou.org. 8 September 2006. Retrieved 15 November 2010.
  25. ↑ "Staff". Machon Rabinowitz. 2010. Retrieved 15 November 2010.

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