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. 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, and its Director is Rabbi Uri Pilichowski. 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.

Notable alumni

• Menachem Froman z"l, founding member of Gush Emunim and former chief rabbi of Tekoa

External links

• Official site
• Yeshivat HaKotel Brasil - site of the Portuguese language program.