Yeshivat HaKotel

The Yeshivat Hakotel building, situated above the arches of the Porat Yosef Yeshiva

Yeshivat HaKotel (Hebrew: ישיבת הכותל‎, lit. 'Yeshiva of the Western Wall'‎) is a religious Zionist Hesder yeshiva situated in the Old City of Jerusalem. The yeshiva overlooks the Kotel (Western Wall), hence its name. Most of the students are in the Israeli Hesder program which combines at least fifteen months of army service with several years of Yeshiva study.

Yeshivat HaKotel is famous among tourists and tour guides for its entrance to the prayer plaza at the Kotel on Sabbath. On Sabbaths during the year, students and teachers assemble in Sabbath garb and descend the long series of staircases that lead from the Yeshiva to the Kotel, singing and dancing; tourists often assemble to watch.

Rabbi Baruch Wieder, the former Rosh Kollel, serves as the Rosh Yeshiva. The previous Rosh Yeshiva was Rabbi Yeshayahu Hadari, who was also a co-founder of the yeshiva.

The yeshiva is housed in a building opposite the Temple Mount. The beit medrash (study hall) features an unusual Aron Kodesh, constructed in two halves separated by a window through which the Temple Mount can be seen. The yeshiva was originally located at the Batei Mahse (Houses of Shelter) which were massively reconstructed after the liberation of the Old City in 1967.

Yeshivat HaKotel has a program for English-speaking students. The Dean of the program for overseas students is Rabbi Reuven Taragin. The program offers integration with Israelis, a broad comprehensive curriculum in Talmud, Tanakh, Machshava, Halacha, and Mussar, and personal long-term relationships with Rabbis and other staff.

In 2006, Yeshivat HaKotel opened a new program intended for Portuguese and Spanish-speaking students, headed by Brazilian-born Rabbi Daniel Segal. As of 2011, more than 100 students from Latin American countries, like Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Mexico, Panama, Peru and Colombia, and also from Portugal and Spain, have graduated this special program.

History

The Yeshiva was founded shortly after the Six Day War in 1967 in the old city of Jerusalem by a group of people led by Harav Aryeh Bina and Harav Yeshayahu Hadari who served as the first Rosh Yeshiva for over thirty years. At first, the Yeshiva was centered in an abandoned Jordanian school near the connection of the Southern and Western Walls. Later, in the early 1980's the Yeshiva moved to it's permanent location where it is currently stationed. During the first digging and foundation laying of this new building in the late 1960's led by architect Eliezer Frankel, an important archaeological site was discovered now known as the Herodian Quarter. This significantly delayed the building's construction for the archaeological excavations to be completed leading to the building not being dedicated until the middle of the 1980's. This new Hakotel building spans a land area of 3125 meters making it the largest building in the Jewish Quarter. Its height of 32 meters above the plaza of the Western Wall in addition to the large Israeli flag waving on top of the roof make it the highest point in the Old City. The dormitories are designed to house 350 students with an additional 14 apartments for families and guests. The recently renovated Beit Midrash can fit almost 500 students at any given time.

Notable alumni

Roshei Yeshiva

Rav Yeshayahu Hadari 1967 - 1998

Rav Chaim Katz 1998 - 2002

Rav Mordechai Elon 2002 - 2006

Rav Yeshayahu Hadari 2006-2008

Rav Baruch Wieder 2008- present

References

    External links


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