Midrash Shmuel Yeshiva

Midrash Shmuel is a Haredi yeshiva catering to English-speaking students,[1] located in the Sha'arei Hesed 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.

Not to be confused with Midrash Shmuel (aggadah).

Midrash Shmuel
Hebrew: מדרש שמואל‎
Address
13 Sha'arei Hesed St.[1]

Sha'arei Hesed

Jerusalem

Israel
Information
Established1993[1]
Rosh YeshivaRabbi Binyomin Moskovits[1][2]
AffiliationOrthodox
Bachurim120[1]
Websitehttp://www.midrashshmuel.org

Educational goals

The yeshiva is designed for English-speaking post-high-school students from 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 90 married students.[1] All classes are held in English.

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]

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 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

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. The Yeshiva places a strong focus on student surveillance and there are over 20 surveillance cameras placed throughout the study hall and student dormitories.

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

Notable graduates of Midrash Shmuel include:

  • Rabbi Josh Bennett, Rabbinical Coordinator at the London Beth Din[16]
  • Rabbi Stephen Berger, Director of the NCSY Northwest Region, Vancouver, British Columbia[17]
  • 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)[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 Scott Kahn, Rosh Yeshiva, Yeshivat Yesodei HaTorah, Moshav Zanoah, Israel[20]
  • Rabbi Natan Slifkin, the "Zoo Rabbi", author of one dozen books on Torah and science.[21] Slifkin's first book,[22] Lying for Truth: Understanding Ya'akov's Deception of Yitzchak, was initially published by the yeshiva with an approbation by Rabbi Moskovits.[23]
  • Rabbi Yisrael Shaw, Torah educator at Machon Yaakov, Har Nof, and editor-in-chief of the Daf Yomi publications of Kollel Iyun Hadaf[24]
  • Rabbi Jonathan Shooter, author of The Haftara Handbook: Lessons from the Prophets for the Contemporary Jew (Devora Publishing, 2010);[25]
  • Rabbi Avrohom Zeidman, assistant rabbi of the Seed Programme in Edgware, London[26]
  • Rabbi Daniel Salter, Rebbi at Menorah Boys High School in Edmonton, Canada [27]
  • Reb Dave Siderson, Talmid of the Rosh Yeshiva and of fellow alum of Rabbi Daniel Salter.

[28]

  • Mordechai Zuroff, esteemed leader of young jewish communities in both Detroit and Cincinnati. In his time in Yeshiva, many have said that it was the influence of Reb Dave Siderson ("the Man, the Myth, the Legned") who inspired him to greatness in his Yiddishe endeavours.
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References
  1. "Midrash Shmuel (& Aliyos Shmuel)". 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". Jewish Chronicle. Retrieved 14 November 2010.
  4. Rosenblum, Jonathan (31 January 2007). "Turning Down the Noise". Cross Currents. Retrieved 18 November 2010.
  5. http://aliyosshmuel.com/show.asp?PID=4
  6. "Midrash Shmuel's Rosh HaYeshiva Visits SA" (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. "Study in Israel". Touro College. 2010. Archived from the original on 4 December 2010. Retrieved 18 November 2010.
  13. "Israel Experience Program 2009–2010" (PDF). Hebrew Theological College. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 July 2011. Retrieved 18 November 2010.
  14. "Midreshes Shmuel". 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.
  16. "KLBD: Meet the Team". theus.org.uk. Archived from the original on 31 March 2012. Retrieved 28 November 2011.
  17. "Rabbi Stephen Berger to Lead NCSY Northwest Region, Vancouver". ou.org. 8 September 2006. Retrieved 15 November 2010.
  18. "Our Staff". Ner Yaakov. Archived from the original on 23 October 2010. Retrieved 15 November 2010.
  19. "Understanding Reb Chaim (H) Rabbi Yonoson Hughes". levinejudaica.com. 2008. Retrieved 15 November 2010.
  20. "Faculty". Yeshivat Yesodei HaTorah. 2009. Retrieved 15 November 2010.
  21. "The Zoo Rabbi – Biography". zootorah.com. Archived from the original on 18 July 2011. Retrieved 15 November 2010.
  22. "About the Author". Yashar Books. Retrieved 17 November 2010.
  23. Wolowelsky, Joel B. "Kibbud Av and Kibbud Avot: Moral Education and Patriarchal Critiques". lookstein.org. Retrieved 17 November 2010.
  24. "Staff". Machon Rabinowitz. 2010. Retrieved 15 November 2010.
  25. "The Haftara Handbook: Lessons from the Prophets for the Contemporary Jew". Urim Publications. Archived from the original on 28 July 2011. Retrieved 15 November 2010.
  26. "SEED: Meet the Team". seed.uk. Archived from the original on 2 October 2008. Retrieved 15 November 2010.
  27. menorahacademy.org
  28. https://www.instagram.com/dz.sider/

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