Or Etzion
Updated: 11/15/2005
Tochnit Tzion at Yeshivat Or Etzion
is designed for motivated high school graduates
with a love for Torah, Eretz Yisrael, Am Israel,
and the ideals of Bnei Akiva.
• As a comprehensive college level program for men, Yeshivat Or Etzion provides intensive student-centered Torah learning in an Israeli setting, along with opportunities to truly experience Israel - the Land and the People.
• Bnei Akiva realizes the vital need for young leadership capable of providing guidance to the next generation. With its experienced educational and rabbinic staff, “Tochnit Tzion at Or Etzion” is dedicated to preparing you to be an effective and competent future Jewish leader!
Yeshivat Or Etzion
Yeshivat Or Etzion is a Hesder Yeshiva located in Merkaz Shapira, close to Ashkelon and Rechovot, and only 45 minutesfrom Jerusalem. For over 40 years, Or Etzion’s graduates have continued their higher education and earned university degrees, rabbinic ordination, and post-graduate diplomas. As educators, professionals and businessmen, Or Etzion’s alumni have contributed meaningfully to the greater Israeli society and have been recognized as both leaders of the Religious-Zionist community and forerunners in many areas of Israeli development.
Rosh HaYeshiva
Or Etzion’s esteemed Rosh Yeshiva is HaRav Chaim Druckman, an authentic role model tohis students through his personal synthesis of Torah scholarship with national service. RabbiDruckman’s impressive vitae includes manyyears as a Knesset member, service in the IDF,leadership of Bnei Akiva youth movement, andChairmanship of Mercaz Yeshivot Bnei Akivathroughout Israel. In every capacity, Rabbi Druckman enthusiastically conveys the harmonious message of Am Yisrael, Eretz Yisrael, and Torat Yisrael according to the philosophy of HaRav Kook.
Ram & Rosh Tochnit
Bnei Akiva is excited to announce that Rabbi Yitzchak Twersky, Rabbi, Scholar, Educator, Author, Chairman of the Tanach Department at The Frisch High School and founder of the Beit Midrash Program at Camp Moshava-Indian Orchard, will be joining our staff for the upcoming year as Ram and Rosh Tochnit. Rabbi Twersky, a long time friend and supporter of Bnei Akiva will be making aliya this summer to join our staff. He is a talented and respected Rabbi and educator who will help the North American students acclimate in Israel and help to “Make Your Year in Israel -A Year in Israel”.
Torah Learning
• The primary goal of ”Tochnit Tzion at Or Etzion” is to encourage students to acquire a strong foundation of Torah knowledge and increase their love for Jewish learning and religious observance. “Leaders who love Torah will impress this love on others!”
• The program will introduce a rich and distinctive Yeshiva program, combining Shiurim and Chavruta-style learning with individual guidance by caring and personable Ramim.
• We also realize that youth have many questions for which they seek true and meaningful answers. Our program will offer its students built-in opportunities to gain a broad knowledge-base and to mature intellectually, emotionally, spiritually and religiously.
• Two English speaking Rabanim will be assigned specificaly to this program, together, our dedicated faculty will be available to field questions and enter into informal discussions with our students. “personal attention and guided spiritual growth are the hallmark ofour program.”
Goals and Objectives
The aim of The program and its unique combination of classic yeshiva curriculum and spiritual preparation for adult life is:
1To imbue each student with a profound appreciation of Talmud, Tanach, and Halacha and their classical commentaries.
2To afford each student an authentic experience of studying Torat Eretz Yisrael through one to one Chavruta learning with Israeli Hesder students.
3To prepare students to become independently skilled in the texts being studied.
4To facilitate each student’s fluency in spoken Hebrew language and personal identification with the historical heritage of Am Yisrael.
5To help each student develop a strong character, preparing him for a meaningful Jewish advocacy role on the university campus or in his community.
6To instill within each student the passion and provide him with the tools to assume a life-long, proactive leadership role on behalf of Klal Yisrael.
7To view the beauty of Israel from an Israeli vantage point.
A Typical Daily Schedule
7:15 Tefillat Shacharit
8:00-8:30 Seder Halacha
8:30-9:00 Breakfast
9:00-12:00 Gemara B’Iyun - Chavruta learning
12:00-13:00 Gemara Shiur
13:00-13:30 Machshevet Yisrael - Chavruta learning in classic Jewish philosophy
13:30-15:30 Lunch and free time
15:30 Tefillat Mincha
Zman Elul - Ulpan Ivrit
15:45-17:00 Chugim in Tanach and Machshava(option to continue GemaraB’Iyun)
17:00-18:00 Inyanei D’Yoma -A weekly series on contemporary Jewish issues
(Yom Iyun style extended over a week)
18:00-19:00 Topics in Eretz Yisrael and Am Yisrael
19:00-19:30 Optional Daf yomi shiur or Chavruta in classic Mussar texts
19:30-20:15 Supper and free time
20:15 Tefillat Ma’ariv
20:30-22:30Seder B’Ki’ut with an older/Israeli Chavruta
22:30Twice a week-Shiur with Rav Druckman, otherwise optional Self Study
Program Outline
In addition to the classic study of Gemara and its commentaries, each afternoon will be devoted to shaping the student’s identity as a Ben - Torah through:
• Daily courses and Chavruta-study in Tanach, Jewish philosophy, Halacha, Mussar, and Religious- Zionist thought.
• Discussions of topics which affect young adults (Emunah, Tefilla, relationships)
• Weekly sessions on important issues facing contemporary Jewry (medicine and halacha, democracy and Halacha, morality, science and Torah, and the importance of Medinat Yisrael to contemporary Jewish life.)
Integration with Israeli Program
Another distinguishing feature of the program is the complete integration of its students into the Israeli program at Yeshivat OrEtzion. Dormitory rooming will be with Israeli peers, compatible Chavrutot will be paired with Israelis, and “adopted” Israeli families will offer home hospitality on free Shabbatot. This integration will be individualized and gradual, in order to ease the students’ transition into the yeshiva. In recognition of the diversified backgrounds of our American students, we may offer a separate programmatic component with specifically tailored Shiurim and activities. Hebrew Language tutorials will be offered to students needing extra help with their Hebrew language skills.
The Campus
Yeshivat Or Etzion has a modern and fully airconditioned Beit Midrash and library, a full-facility dormitory and newly expanded dining room which serves three nutritious meals a day. Indoor and outdoor basketball courts and a weight room are available to the students, as well as an outdoor pool in the neighboring Kibbutz Ein Tzurim.
Experiencing Eretz Yisrael
Our love for the Land of Israel will be strengthened not only through intensive studies in the Beit Midrash, but also by experiencing the Land, in many ways. For instance:
• Biweekly, half-day “Tiyul with a Tanach”, visiting historic Biblical sites.
• Trips to army bases to visit and give Chizuk to Hesder soldiers from our yeshiva presently on military duty.
• Weekly volunteer service in Kiryat Malachi, a nearby development town populated with Ethiopian and Russian Olim.
• During the yeshiva’s Sukkot and Pesach recess our students will join Bnei Akiva’s general “TochnitTzion”, and participate in their exciting Tiyulim and volunteer work.
• Monthly Shabbat visits in various communities throughout Israel.
• Visits and audiences with leading Rabbis, dignitaries and scholars in Israel today.
Special Informal Programs
As part of our leadership objective, we host frequent guest speakers who enable our students to learn different perspectives from within the Torah community. Similarly, students are encouraged to prepare independent presentations on approved topics of interest and to share them with their peers. “Tochnit Tzion at Yeshivat Or Etzion” also sponsors Chagigot with the participation of both students and Ramim. Utilizing hands-on ways of transmitting Torah ideas, students learn Mitzvot Hatluyot Ba’aretz, i.e. laws of Terumot and Ma’asrot, and put this newfound knowledge into practice with fruit picked from nearby fields.
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