Let's Learn

Bircas HaTorah is located in the historic Jewish Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem. The majority of the Yeshiva’s students have professional or academic backgrounds, and they are predominantly from the United States, South Africa, England, Australia and Canada.

The Yeshiva offers full-time learning programs on the beginning, intermediate and advanced levels, as well as intensive short-term learning programs for visitors from abroad. Our goal for a long-term student is to place him solidly on the path to becoming a Talmid Chacham. Our goal for a student is to hone his skills in the time that he is here, and, more importantly, to inspire him and give him a clear picture of what he must do to advance himself when he returns home.

Bircas HaTorah is dedicated to helping Jews achieve the rich Torah experience that is the essence of Jewish life. This is achieved through joyous and deep learning, fervent prayer, character development, and a steadfast commitment to G-d, the Torah and the Jewish People. Students train in a powerful program of personal development, which fosters outstanding character traits, fear of sin, and love of G-d.

The atmosphere of Bircas HaTorah is one of hard work, warmth and mutual support. The Yeshiva seeks to foster emotional, spiritual, social, and intellectual maturity in its student body.

The Yeshiva presents a highly-developed, lucid, and coherent methodology of Gemorra logic that brings precision and depth to the student's learning, while, at the same time, revealing the amazing sweetness of Torah.

The shiurim of Rabbi Shimon Green and his outstanding staff are designed to de-mystify the study of Talmud through the utilization of clear and precise learning methods that can be put into practice and verified by any diligent student.

In classic Gemorra tradition, they interweave the twin disciplines of shmas'sa and agad'dta into an organic whole. The yeshiva's aim is to inspire their students to emulate the balanced, all around qualities and fear of Heaven, as exemplified by Chazal.

Students wishing to join this intensive program are considered for admission. Candidates must be sincerely interested in working with others, and, as a minimum, be able to read, if not understand, Hebrew. The Yeshiva offers students housing in its new residence just a few minutes walk from the Yeshiva. When a student comes with his family, we can work on finding appropriate nearby housing. Meal plans are also available.

Gershon Burd: "The Bircas HaTorah community revolves around the Yeshiva, and the Yeshiva around the community. Students are encouraged to develop relationships with the Rabbis, who in turn mentor them both in learning and personal issues. Bircas events such as siyyums, kiddushes, vorts, and holiday celebrations also pull everyone together, reinforcing the community's bond through kedushah and Torah. In my experience this is completely unique to the yeshiva world and what sets Bircas HaTorah apart."

Inside the Yeshiva, Bircas HaTorah provides a unique, powerful experience to its students. Gemorra learning at Bircas HaTorah starts by using scientific methodology based on the Ramchal's sefer Derech Tvunos, adapted by the Rosh Yeshiva for our day and age. Mastering this methodology allows a student to analyze every line of every Gemorra (really this can be applied to any jewish text, secular text, and even everyday conversations), break down each line's assertions into its premises, and understand the actual intention of the line. This process sounds deceptively simple, but forces surprising results as the learner comes to appreciate the unfathomable depths of Torah. By the time a proficient Bircas HaTorah learner examines the commentaries on a Gemorra he's studying, he will often find that his analysis has produced the questions great scholars throughout the ages are answering. The exquisite pleasure of this intimate relationship with Torah cannot be overstated.

If this sounds great to you, please contact learn@bircas.org or +972-54-81-66-007.