Midrash Shmuel Yeshiva

Not to be confused with Midrash Shmuel (aggadah).

Midrash Shmuel is a Haredi (ultra-orthodox Jewish) yeshiva catering to English-speaking students,^[1] located in the Sha'arei Hesed neighborhood in West Jerusalem. It was founded in 1993 by Rabbi Binyomin Moskovits (who functions as its Rosh HaYeshiva, or dean), and was named after his mentor, Rabbi Shmuel Rozovsky.

Midrash Shmuel Hebrew: מדרש שמואל
Address
13 Sha'arei Hesed St.^[1] Sha'arei Hesed West Jerusalem Israel
Coordinates	31°46′39″N 35°12′47″E / 31.7775°N 35.2130°E / 31.7775; 35.2130
Information
Established	1993^[1]
Rosh Yeshiva	Rabbi Binyomin Moskovits^[1]^[2]
Affiliation	Orthodox Judaism
Bachurim	120^[1]
Website	http://www.midrashshmuel.org

Educational goals

The yeshiva is designed for English-speaking post-high-school students from both inside and outside Israel.^[1][3] 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 150 married students.^[1] All classes are held in English. The Yeshiva places immense importance on Torah study with special emphasis on Talmud study in depth. As opposed to more moderate interpretations, the Yeshiva views Talmud study not as a means to an end but an end in it of itself.

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 America 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]

Rabbi Moskovits opened Midrash Shmuel in the early 1990s at the urging of his students and with the heartfelt encouragement of Torah giants of the generation, Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Auerbach and Rabbi Elazar Menachem Mann Shach, among others.^[5]

Educational activities

Midrash Shmuel recruits students from America, United Kingdom, Germany, Russia, Mexico, South Africa, and France who have completed yeshiva highschools and its dean is active in this regard.^[6]

Students in the rabbinic ordination program receive semikhah directly from the rosh yeshiva Rabbi Moskovits. Students 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 settle.^[7]

Curriculum

Rabbi Moskovits' gemara lectures are heavily influenced by Rabbi Shmuel Rozovsky, while his ethical lectures are influenced by Rabbi Yechezkel Levenstein. 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;^[8] Rabbi Harvey Belovski, rabbi at Dunstan Road Synagogue in England,^[9] and Rabbi Aharon Kaufman, rosh yeshiva of the Yeshiva Gedolah of Waterbury, Connecticut Rabbi Dovid Orlofsky Neve Yerushalayim.^[10]

Summer programs

Midrash Shmuel runs summer programs for high school students from England, Canada, the United States, and South Africa. The programs combine in-depth gemara learning and halakha, mussar, and hashkafah (Jewish philosophy) shiurim with recreational outings and activities.^[11]

College accreditation

College credits are offered through Touro College^[12] and Hebrew Theological College.^[13]

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 Moskovits. However, this branch of the school closed in 2012.^[14][15]

Notable alumni

• Rabbi Natan Slifkin

References

1. . Nefesh B'Nefesh. September 2007. Archived from the original on 18 July 2011. 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". The Jewish Chronicle. Retrieved 14 November 2010.
4. Rosenblum, Jonathan (31 January 2007). "Turning Down the Noise". Cross Currents. Retrieved 18 November 2010.
5. . Archived from the original on 23 March 2017. Retrieved 7 February 2017.
6. (PDF). Jewish Report. 27 July 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 October 2011. Retrieved 17 November 2010.
7. Stone, Yoram (12 November 2003). "HaRav Binyomin Moskovits in London". Dei'ah VeDibur. Retrieved 17 November 2010.
8. "HaRav Avraham Chaim Feuer joins Yeshivas Midrash Shmuel for Tisha B'Av". Dei'ah VeDibur. 17 August 2005. Retrieved 18 November 2010.
9. "Rabbi Harvey Belovski visits Yeshivas Midrash Shmuel". Dei'ah VeDibur. 21 December 2005. Retrieved 17 November 2010.
10. "Waterbury Rosh Yeshiva, Rabbi Aaron Kaufman, in Israel". Yated Neeman. 5 April 2008. Retrieved 18 November 2010.
11. Yated Neeman Staff (27 July 2005). "Midrash Shmuel's Summer Program Off to a Great Start". Deiah Ve-Dibur. Retrieved 14 November 2010.
12. . Touro College. 2010. Archived from the original on 4 December 2010. Retrieved 18 November 2010.
13. (PDF). Hebrew Theological College. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 July 2011. Retrieved 18 November 2010.
14. . Rachel-factor.com. Archived from the original on 15 July 2011. Retrieved 14 November 2010.
15. Zegerman Schwimmer, Helen (3 March 2010). "Crossing the Narrow Bridge with Rachel Factor". The Jewish Press. Retrieved 14 November 2010.^{[permanent dead link]}

External links

• Home page
• Chanukah lighting Medrash Shmuel (video)
• Purim party in yeshiva Midrash Shmuel part 3 (video)