by Hillel Fendel
Yeshivat Bet El
It was late autumn of 1977 (5738) when a group of pioneer students from Yeshiva Merkaz HaRav in Jerusalem made its way to the mountains of Binyamin. Their goals were: to establish a new Jewish presence, to build a Yeshiva, and to make the desolate area bloom. Led by HaRav Zalman Baruch Melamed and Reb Yaakov Katz (Ketzaleh), the group had the blessing and encouragement of Rav Tzvi Yehuda HaCohen Kook, of holy blessed memory.
It was here in these mountains that our Patriarch Yaakov lay down to sleep and dreamt of "a ladder rooted in the ground, with his top ascending heavenward" (B'reshit 28,12) – and he named the place Bet El. Today, many centuries later, Yaakov's children are returning to the same location and are fulfilling the dream. Today's full-grown town of Bet El began with a small group of young families living in the nearby army base, and boasts well over 1,200 families and many schools and other educational institutions, including a post-high school Yeshiva Gvohah with 300 students (100 of whom are married).
Yeshivat Bet El educates its students by the light of the teachings and philosophy of HaRav Avraham Yitzchak HaCohen Kook and his son HaRav Tzvi Yehuda. A strong emphasis is placed on the eternal values of the Nation of Israel, the Torah of Israel, and the Land of Israel as one united entity. These ideals are manifest in the Yeshiva's high level of learning of Talmud and related texts, Jewish Law, and the precepts of faith. Similarly, the educational content expresses our deep and unshaken identification with the process of the Nation of Israel's return to its Land and its Torah.
The Yeshiva has set as its central goal to produce top-level scholars, in the unique atmosphere of the Torah of the Land of Israel.
At the helm of the Yeshiva has stood, ever since its inception nearly 45 years ago, Rabbi Zalman Baruch Melamed, shlita. By his side is an experienced and dedicated staff of ramim (Torah teachers), including Rabbinical Court judges and town rabbis, who provide the students with spiritual accompaniment and close personal contact.
The wide range of students come from all over Israel, from yeshiva high schools and yeshivot k'tanot of all types, who create together a warm and happy family atmosphere. Even after the students complete their studies and move on, they still see the Yeshiva as their source and wellspring for the next stages of their spiritual advancement.
The educational approach of Yeshivat Bet El highlights the banners so important to us: our holy Torah, the nation of Israel, and the land of Israel. We toil for these values with the understanding that they are organs on which our soul is dependent. They do not come at the expense of one another, but rather supplement each other.
The path of the Yeshiva is marked by faith in G-d, trust in His providence, and the certainty of our path towards Redemption. From this emerges the truth of our Sages' teachings regarding the importance of a "good eye," ayin tovah – a positive view of the entire nation of Israel and of G-d's deeds, together with joyful and vigorous proactive deeds to encourage the Redemption along in a positive and forward-looking manner.
Yeshivat Bet El has many offshoots whose goals are similarly the augmentation of Torah and Redemption. Located in Bet El and throughout the country, they are run by graduates of the yeshiva, and include: the pre-military preparatory yeshiva academy for post-high school students, Yeshivat Bnei Tzvi High School, Ulpanat Ra'yah High School for Girls, and Torah core groups in different cities. The yeshiva also runs the Yeshiva.org website, the largest Torah site in the world, as well as an "Ask the Rabbi" forum on the internet and Whatsapp.
A Message from the Rosh Yeshiva Rav Zalman Baruch Melamed
Bet El was originally known as Luz, the Torah tells us, and the Midrash adds that "whoever entered the town would shower mitzvot and good deeds like a luz." Our yeshiva serves as a magnet for a wide range of students from around the country, all coming to learn Torah on the highest level and inspired by HaRav Avraham Yitzchak Kook and Rav Tzvi Yehuda, both zt"l. They form a close-knit and high-quality group of serious, highly motivated students, who toil in Torah with great diligence and dedication. As the Sages derive from the verse, "One who dies in a tent" – the Torah lasts only through those who are willing to die for its study.
From the mountains of Bet El, the House of God, home to dynamic Torah life, love of the nation and the Land – our blessings are extended to all of Israel!
Tracks of Study in Yeshivat Bet El
• Shiur Aleph – Freshman Year
In order to enable a personal connection between the teaching staff and the students, the first-year students are divided into two classes. Each student takes part in a daily chavruta (study arrangement with a partner) with a student 2-4 years older, as well as another chavruta in studies of emuna (faith and Jewish philosophy) with a student from the 4th year and upwards. Every eight first-year students also have a married student who learns regularly with them.
All this is so that students can get to know the world of the Yeshiva, as well as the Torah world in general, and to help them actualize and enhance their talents most effectively.
The study framework includes many and varied types of study, including Talmud in depth and in breadth (b'iyun and bekiut), Jewish Law, study necessary for Rabbinical Court judges, Jewish philosophy, emuna, and Tanakh (Pentateuch, Prophets, and Writings).
• Talmud
The Talmud track includes in-depth study (b'iyun) on the highest level, with the guidance of the ramim¸distinguished Torah scholars all. A comprehensive bekiut program exists covering all the tractates generally learned in yeshivot, plus a special bekiut program that includes study of Rishonim.
• Faith and Jewish Philosophy
This six-year study program covers all the fundamental works, both of the Rishonim and the Acharonim. The program is built such that some of the works are studied individually and others are taught in a class format.
• Jewish Law and Rabbinate Court Kollelim
In the framework of the Kollel for Halakhah, dozens of our students each year take the Chief Rabbinate tests, enabling those who pass to become town or city Rabbis. Those who wish to study to become Rabbinical Court judges can join the Dayanut Kollel, one of the highest-quality Kollelim in Israel. Another option for older students is the Teaching Institute.
• The Shiluvim Program for an Academic Degree
As part of our educational vision, we see great value in combining "holy" with "secular." This is the basis for the Shiluvim program, which enables the participants to build for themselves their own program that combines yeshiva and academic studies. The program includes singular lessons in a number of tracks, and entitles its students to a special scholarship.
Supplementary Information
** Bet El is the largest Jewish community in the Binyamin region, and is located 20 minutes north of Jerusalem.
** Yeshivat Bet El has published many Torah works by the Rosh Yeshiva Rav Melamed and others. It also publishes a weekly religious-Zionist newspaper, and runs the Arutz-7 internet radio station and website, in Hebrew, English and Russian.
** The students of Yeshivat Bet El are encouraged to serve in the IDF in combat positions or other frameworks.