Yeshiva Har Bracha

 

 

The Yeshiva Hesder Har Bracha was established in the Jewish year 5753 (1992) by Rabbi Eliezer Melamed, the Rabbi of the community, with the goal of developing people imbued with Torah combining ‘derech eretz’, and the ability to influence the Jewish nation in all walks of life. The Yeshiva was founded in the community of Har Bracha, located on the peak of Mount Gerezim in the Samarian mountain range. Over the years, we have been successful in building a beautiful learning hall and dormitories for the students. In the framework of the Yeshiva, the students combine Torah study with army service in a five-year program.

 

The issues in the Talmud are learned from the Rishonim (early Sages) down to their practical, everyday applications. The Tractates learned are the more practical ones. The study emphasizes the deeper understanding of the meaning of the mitzvoth and their faith-oriented sources. This framework of learning provides the students with a wide-ranging knowledge of the fundamentals of the Torah, and grants them the utensils needed to build their lives according to the Torah. It also affords the students an understanding and identification with the mitzvoth they fulfill on a daily basis and a deeper connection to them.

 

 

In their years of learning in the Yeshiva the students cover the fundamentals of faith through intensive study of Tanach, and study of books such as the Kuzari, Messilat Yesharim, the works of Rabbi Tzaddok HaKohen from Lublin, and a deep and wide-ranging study of the teachings of Rabbi Kook. Once a week, a unique class is given in Jewish History/Philosophy which provides the students an opportunity to build their spiritual worlds in a more complete and clear way.

 

 

Our graduates integrate into the world of Torah, education, and national achievement with great success, whether as teachers in Yeshivot, elementary and high schools, or in the building of the Land through fields such as the media and other professions. The Yeshiva Har Bracha has played an integral part in the development of the community, with many of its graduates building their houses there, amongst them rabbi’s, educators, engineers in various fields, and public figures.

 

In the Yeshiva there are a number of courses of advancement corresponding to the talents of the students:

A)    There is a Kollel for Rabbi’s, which is designated for qualified students who wish to continue towards rabbinic confirmation and delve deeper into their Torah studies.

B)     An educational institute in conjunction with the Lifshitz Institute, which grants a Bachelors Degree in education and is designated for students who wish to enter the field of education and teaching.

C)    The ‘Shiluvim’ Program, which grants single and married students who have finished the Hesder army program the opportunity to acquire a Bachelors Degree and profession at the College of Judea and Samaria while continuing their studies in the Yeshiva.

 

 

In the Jewish year of 5764 (1994), parallel to the Yeshiva, the Torah Research Institute was established. Its goals are to publish books dealing with subjects such as fundamental Jewish Law and History, and the re-publishing of the writings of rabbi’s from previous generations.