About Us

Yeshivat Har Etzion

Yeshivat Har Etzion and its affiliate institutions have revolutionized the international landscape of Jewish education. Merging the best in traditional Jewish learning with a formidable grasp of the modern world, the Yeshiva continues blazing a path of educational innovation and opportunity in the Jewish world, shaping the next generation of Jewish leaders seeking to study Torah at the highest level.

Its Roshei Yeshiva, three distinguished alumni of the Yeshiva, HaRav Yaakov Medan, HaRav Baruch Gigi and HaRav Mosheh Lichtenstein, continue building and ensuring the vision and legacy of the Yeshiva’s founders, HaRav Yehuda Amital zt”l and HaRav Dr. Aharon Lichtenstein zt”l.

Yeshivat Har Etzion includes one of the largest Hesder programs in Israel, combining advanced Talmud studies and military service, as well as the Kollel Gavoah and the Merkin-Rennert Halacha Kollel, preparing students for careers in the rabbinate and education. Through REVAVA – The Riva Koschitzky z”l Torah Enrichment Program students are provided with in-depth study of Tanakh, Halacha and Jewish Philosophy. The Yeshiva’s current .enrollment of over 500 students from all corners of the Diaspora includes 112 students in the Dr. William Major Overseas Program.

Stella K. Abraham Beit Midrash For Women of Yeshivat Har Etzion (Migdal Oz)

The Stella K. Abraham Beit Midrash For Women of Yeshivat Har Etzion (Migdal Oz) under the leadership of Rabbanit Esti Rosenberg, offers young women the opportunity to incorporate intensive Torah learning with national service (Sherut Leumi/IDF) and professional educational training. The Beit Midrash has more than 300 students, with nearly 100 women in their second, third or fourth year of study, and 70 women from all over Israel who come for a day or an evening dedicated for Torah learning in various Halacha, Gemara, and Midrash programs. The Gwendolyn Straus Advanced Talmud Program of Migdal Oz provides in-depth Gemara and Halacha study to a select cadre of women with up to six years of prior Talmud learning. This program develops skills and a learning experience for the graduates who go on to serve in pivotal leadership and education roles in their communities. This year we also have exceptional young women in their high school years who study in a unique weekly program for girls who wish to start their Beit Midrash experience early.

Dr. William Major Overseas Program

The Dr. William Major Overseas Program at Yeshivat Har Etzion has been directed by Eli Weber since 2011. Every year an average of one hundred overseas talmidim come to study at Yeshivat Har Etzion from countries all over the world, including the United States, Canada, England, Switzerland, Holland, Chile, Hong Kong, Austria and more.

The classical intensive Talmud learning at Yeshiva is complemented by classes in Tanach, Jewish Philosophy, Halacha, Mussar, and Chassidut. In addition to engaging in the highest level of Torah study, students meet their Israeli peers, become part of the Alon Shvut community, tour the land extensively, and encounter multiple viewpoints on many spiritual and halachic issues.

The program has graduated thousands of alumni who are immersed in Torah and engaged with the world, and who are the leaders and supporters of Jewish communities worldwide.

Revava: The Riva Koschitzky z"l Torah Enrichment Program

Revava: The Riva Koschitzky z”l Torah Enrichment Program, aims to incorporate non-Gemara study that takes place in the Yeshiva into one over-arching, organized framework that will maximize the value of these studies. The Yeshiva’s core curriculum is made up of traditional Talmud study, complemented by in-depth study of Tanakh, Halakhah and Jewish Philosophy. Yeshivat Har Etzion regards these complementary areas of study as a vital element in Torah education. They are the key to producing the kind of well-rounded, broad-minded Jews the world so desperately needs today – steeped in Torah, conversant in all areas of our tradition, yet able to fully engage with the modern world.

Revava ensures that all Har Etzion students, whether from Israel or abroad, benefit from the fullest possible range of topics and lecturers. Just as important, it serves as a befitting memorial to an inspiring individual whose commitment to broad-minded Torah for the modern world melds naturally with the values to which Har Etzion aspires.

Founding Roshei Yeshiva

Rav Yehuda Amital zt”l

Rav Yehuda Amital was born in 1924 in Transylvania. As a child, he studied in cheder and yeshiva, and received virtually no formal secular education. In 1944, when the Nazis invaded Hungary, Rav Amital was taken to a labor camp, but his entire family – parents, sister and brother – were taken to Auschwitz and murdered. Rav Amital was liberated in October of 1944 and made his way to Israel, where he arrived on Chanukah of that year.

Rav Aharon Lichtenstein, zt"l

Rav Aharon Lichtenstein was born in 1933 in Paris, France. In 1941, several months after the Nazi invasion of France, his family fled to the United States. In his youth, Rav Lichtenstein was recognized as an outstanding student at Yeshivat Rabbi Chaim Berlin, where he studied under Rav Yitzchak Hutner zt”l. He continued his studies at Yeshiva University under Rav Joseph B. Soloveitchik zt”l, who granted him rabbinic ordination. In 1957, Rav Lichtenstein completed a doctorate in English Literature at Harvard University, after which he returned to Yeshiva University to serve as an instructor of Talmud and as rosh kollel at Yeshiva University’s affiliated Yeshivat Rabbeinu Yitzchak Elchanan. In 1960, he married Dr. Tovah Lichtenstein, Rav Soloveitchik’s daughter.

Current Leadership

Rav Yaakov Medan

Rav Yaakov Medan studied at the Netiv Meir High School in Jerusalem and in 1968, joined the first class at Yeshivat Har Etzion. He served in the IDF in the Airborne Nachal Infantry unit, and afterwards, returned to the yeshiva as a ram. He earned his semikha from Yeshivat Har Etzion, a Bachelor’s of Education from Michlala in Jerusalem, and a Master’s degree in Bible from Touro College. His Master’s thesis was a comparative study of the positions of Soren Kierkegaard and the chachamim on Akeidat Yitzchak. Rav Medan teaches Tanach at Yeshivat Har Etzion and at numerous yeshivot hesder and colleges throughout the country, and is considered one of the outstanding educators of Tanach today.

In 2000, Rav Medan served as a board member of the Ne’eman Committee, and thus began his involvement, together with Prof. Ruth Gavison, in composing a renewed pact for relations between religious and secular Israelis, for which he was awarded the Avichai Prize.

Currently, Rav Medan serves as a ram for fourth-year students at Yeshivat Har Etzion, and teaches Tanach and Jewish Thought at the Yeshiva and Herzog College. In January 2006, Rav Medan was inaugurated, together with Rav Baruch Gigi, as Rosh Yeshivat Har Etzion, alongside the founding roshei yeshiva, and was joined in 2008 by Harav Mosheh Lichtenstein. Rav Medan lives in Alon Shevut. He is married to Ruti and the father of 7 children and many grandchildren.

Rav Baruch Gigi

Rav Baruch Gigi emigrated to Israel from Morocco at the age of 11. As a boy he studied at the Yeshiva in Haifa, and entered Yeshivat Har Etzion in 1974. Rav Gigi received his semicha from the Chief Rabbinate of Israel, and his Bachelor’s of Education from Herzog College. Rav Gigi began his career as a ram and rosh kollel at Yeshivat Maalot, and became a ram at Yeshivat Har Etzion in 1988. In January 2006, Rav Gigi was inaugurated, together with Rav Medan, as Rosh Yeshivat Har Etzion, alongside the founding roshei yeshiva, and was joined in 2008 by Rav Mosheh Lichtenstein. In addition to serving as a ram and instructor of halacha at the Yeshiva, Rav Gigi also serves as the rav of the Sephardic synagogue in Alon Shevut, and teaches at the Stella K. Abraham Beit Midrash for Women in Migdal Oz and Ohr Torah Stone’s Michlelet Beruriah. Rav Gigi lives in Alon Shevut and is married to Edna and the father of 7 children and many grandchildren.

Rav Mosheh Lichtenstein

Rav Mosheh Lichtenstein studied at the Netiv Meir High School in Jerusalem. Following high school, he spent a year in New York studying with his grandfather, Rav Soloveitchik zt”l. From 1979-1985, Rav Mosheh was a hesder student at Yeshivat Har Etzion, serving in the Armored Corps. Afterwards, he received semicha from the Chief Rabbinate of Israel and a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature from Hebrew University. Rav Mosheh became a ram at Yeshivat Har Etzion in 1992. He also taught at Ohr Torah Stone’s Michlelet Bruriah from 1992-1997, and, over two sabbatical years in 1997-1998, served as rosh kollel of the Torat Mitzion Kollel in Cleveland, Ohio. Rav Mosheh currently serves as shiur heh ram, is responsible for the Yeshiva’s Kollel Gavoha, and teaches at the Stella K. Abraham Beit Midrash for Women in Migdal Oz. Rav Mosheh is the author of two books: Moses: Envoy of God, Envoy of His People, and Netivei Nevua – An Analysis of the Haftarot. Rav Mosheh was inaugurated as Rosh Yeshivat Har Etzion in Tishrei of 2008, alongside his father Rav Aharon Lichtenstein, Rav Yaakov Medan and Rav Baruch Gigi. He is married to Dr. Michal Lichtenstein and has three daughters and several grandchildren.

Rabbanit Esti Rosenberg

Rabbanit Esti Rosenberg made aliyah with her parents, HaRav Aharon Lichtenstein, zt”l and Dr. Tovah Lichtenstein in 1971. After graduating high school, she studied Tanach in the Israeli program in Michlalah and then went on to graduate from Hebrew University with a B.A. in Hebrew Literature. Rabbanit Esti founded the Stella K. Abraham Beit Midrash for Women of Yeshivat Har Etzion at Migdal Oz in 1997 and has served as its Rosh Beit Midrash since its establishment. Prior to Migdal Oz, Rabbanit Esti served as the Rosh Beit Midrash of the Midreshet Lindenbaum Israeli Program. Rabbanit Esti and her husband Herzl live in Alon Shvut and have seven children.

Board Members

Officers
Hillel Silvera
President

Harriet Seif
Vice-President

Howard Balter
Chairman of the Board

Daniel Saks
Vice-Chairman

Justin Goldberg
Treasurer

Yehuda Halpert
Corporate Secretary

- Board of Directors
- Ben Adler
- Lior Arussy
- Julia Baruch
- Etan Bendheim
- Dorothy Berman
- Eliott Berman
- Andrew Borodach
- Gavri Butler
- Arye Colton
- Devora Dawidowicz
- Ezra Dyckman

Sam Englander
Morton Fridman
Shai Gerson
Jerry Gontownik
Rabbi Seth Grauer
Rabbi Nathaniel
Helfgot
Barbara Hochman
Avi Katz
Michael D. Katz
Lawrence Kobrin
Diane Kolatch

David J. Landes z”l
Matt Landes
Leon Moed
Samuel Moed
Terry Novetsky
Donny Rosenberg
A. George Saks z”l
Tobias B. Schapiro
David Schreiber
Herbert Smilowitz z”l
Eli Weber
Howard Weiser

Staff

All Staff

Yoel Weiss

Executive Vice President

Shirley Schuster

Executive Director

Debby Posner-Graneviz

Director of Alumni Relations

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