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Torat Yosef - Yeshivat Hamivtar and the Joseph & Gwendolyn Straus Rabbinical Seminary
Dear student, We are delighted that you have chosen to study with us. We hope that you will enjoy the learning, davening, tiyulim and everything else that makes up Yeshiva life. We wish you a long, happy and fulfilling stay here.
If at any time you are worried, concerned or unhappy about anything; whether it is academic, institutional or personal, please do not hesitate to speak to a member of the staff. We will be happy to discuss it with you and provide whatever assistance is possible. Wishing you a happy and successful stay.
When you come to the office you will be asked for a photocopy of your passport for administrative purposes and to complete the various forms to register you in the Yeshiva. You will also be given a key to your room and told which shiur you will be in. If you are a vegetarian, this is the time to say so. Once you have found your room and unpacked, you will be ready to start life in Yeshiva!
Our daily schedule normally follows the following pattern Shacharit 7.00 am
Afternoon classes give a broader knowledge of Chumash, Halachah, Tanach and Jewish philosophy. These classes are also streamed enabling you to study with people on a similar level. There will also be a number of classes in Jewish History and Zionism. In the evenings, we will be initiating a new Bekiut program led by Rabbi Aharon Fraser. There will also be classes on Parshat Hashavuah and on Thursday nights ‘mishmar’ - Mishmar is a great time for the whole yeshivah to get together and tell stories sing songs and niggunim and learn late into the night. Food, snacks and drinks are provided (and of course chulent) and for those who wish to, you can stay up all night learning. We believe that it is important that our students develop a love and knowledge of the land of Israel. Every month, the Yeshiva takes trips to different parts of Gush Etzion, Yerushalayim and the North and South of Israel. As we tour the country with the Bible in our hands, these excursions bring to life our Beit Midrash studies. These also provide excellent opportunities for getting to know your rabbis and classmates in a less formal setting.
Although our library contains most of the books that you will need, there are some that you will require constantly and we suggest that you buy your own copies. Most importantly, you will need a copy of the Gemara that we will be learning. For the first half of the year this will be Masechet Sukkah. Copies of this will be available
Marcus Jastrow Dictionary of the Talmud Frank Practical Talmud Dictionary Mishna Brura Tanach Chumash – Torat Chayim edition Rambam - Mishne Torah
If you need any help choosing which sefarim (books) to buy, do not hesitate to contact your Gemara Rebbe or a more experienced student who will be happy to help you.
Much of your time will be spent studying with a chavruta (study partner) in the Beit Midrash (study hall). To preserve the sanctity of our Beit Midrash, various rules apply there. Although you are welcome to drink as much as you like there, please do not bring in food or eat in the Beit Midrash. Our Beit Midrash is exclusively for Torah learning, so please do not bring in newspapers or secular books. Likewise, it is not appropriate for cell phones to ring there, so please be sure to switch your phone off before entering the Beit Midrash. There may be circumstances in which you need to receive an urgent call, if that is the case, please discuss it with your Rebbe before switching on your phone. In any event, telephone conversations may not take place in the Beit Midrash. If you do make any mess in the Beit Midrash please clear it up.
Members of the yeshiva take turns in serving and clearing away the meals. The Rosh Mitbach (Head of the Kitchen) will advise you of the procedures and when your turn is. If for some reason you are unable to fulfill your duty, please be sure to find a replacement. In the dining room, Milk dishes are blue and milk cutlery (silverware) has holes in it. Meat dishes are white and the cutlery is not perforated. Please do not take any plates or cutlery from the dining room. If you need to take food out for any reason, please speak to the duty Toran (monitor) who will be happy to furnish you with disposable plates and cutlery.
Shabbat and Yom Tov are essential parts of your Yeshiva experience. They are times when you can enjoy the unique nature of Yeshiva davening the warm atmosphere at mealtimes and informal opportunities for learning and talking with Rabbeim. We therefore ask you to make every effort to check the list of “in-Shabbatot” and ensure that you do not make plans for those weekends. We are very happy to welcome your guests to the Yeshiva, but there are a limited number of places, so please be sure to sign in any guests with the Madrich by Tuesday. Naturally, we expect all guests to join in the Shabbat life of the Yeshiva. On “out-Shabbatot”, you are free to make your own arrangements to stay with friends and family living in Israel. If you do not have any family in Israel, do not worry. Speak to the Madrich who will be happy to match you up with a family in Efrat. When visiting a family, it is usual to buy a small gift (such as chocolates, wine or flowers) and to come armed with a short Dvar Torah. Rabbis who teach in the Yeshiva and Kollel families are usually happy to host students from the Yeshiva, so if you would like to spend a Shabbat with your Rebbe, feel free to ask if they have space available. Try to ask families by Wednesday night. Thursday is usually the day when Shabbat preparations begin and food is bought.
City Life – CLICK HERE for the complete “Guide to Efrat” The Medical Center of Efrat is located in the commercial center near the Yeshiva. All of the doctors speak English and will be happy to give you any assistance necessary. When visiting the doctor, please remember to take your medical insurance papers along with you. All students must have health insurance. If you are not insured, you can buy inexpensive insurance through the Yeshiva office. The cost is about $1 (USA) per day. The number of the medical center is 02 993 9020 The commercial center of Efrat is a ten-minute walk from our campus; it includes a pharmacy, supermarket, drycleaners, stationery shop, bookstore, pizzeria and many other shops and food outlets. There is also a small Branch of the Ministry for the Interior (Misrad HaPnim) and the Social Services (Bituach Leumi) The supermarket and most shops are open all day long. The Post Office closes at 11.30 am on Friday mornings. Sports facilities - Efrat’s tennis courts are open to the public and floodlit on most evenings, Students usually use the adjoining field for playing baseball or American football. Students also use the basketball court in Migdal Oz. Anyone interested in joining an American football league for Friday morning games should speak to Marvin Goodman owner of Pizzeria Efrat. Joggers are advised only to jog within in Efrat and Migdal Oz. The Yeshiva does not yet have its own cricket team.
The postal address of the yeshiva is Torat Yosef - Yeshivat Hamivtar A telephone booth is located just outside the Beit Midrash. The number is 02 993 4500 Email: Email Accounts are supplied by the yeshiva free of charge. If you would like to set up an account, please speak to Chana Stein, the yeshiva’s secretary. Please do not eat or drink near any of the computer terminals. Buses: The 167 bus comes to Efrat and travels all around it. The 165 and 166 buses stop at the entrance to Efrat. Some 161 and 164 buses also come into Efrat. Please check the schedule for details. An online schedule can be found at www.egged.co.il The bus leaves from the Tachana Merkazit (central bus station), continues to a bus station near Canyon Malcha (The Malcha Shopping mall) and then go through Gilo to Efrat.
Laundry: Coin operated washing machines (6 NIS) and dryers (6 NIS) are available on campus, you can buy detergent and softener in Efrat. There is also a dry cleaners in the center of Efrat.
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The way to optimize your time in Yeshiva is to throw
yourself wholeheartedly into everything that goes on here. This booklet will
help you to navigate your way around the Yeshiva. So please be sure to read
it carefully and to take note of the program, so that you do not miss out on
anything.
Welcome to the office! Here you will meet our Yeshiva
administrator Rabbi Adam Perlman and Ms. Chana Stein who are in charge of
the day to day running of the Yeshiva and in particular the financial side
of things. You will also meet Rabbi Gideon Sylvester who is the new
Executive Director of the Yeshiva. Feel free to come and have a chat with
him about anything that may be bothering you.
Mornings are devoted to the study of Talmud. When you
arrive in the Yeshiva, you will be assigned to your Talmud shiur and this
will be the focus of your studies. Normally, you will spend much of the
morning in the Beit Midrash with your chavruta (study partner). During the
course of the morning, you will have a shiur with your Gemara Rebbe, the
shiur will clarify points that you may not have understood as well as
offering new ideas on the sugya that you are studying.
The Yeshiva serves three meals a day. These are served in
the dining room. Please be sure to inform the office if you are a vegetarian
or have any other special dietary needs.