New Yeshiva Aims to Bridge Torah Study and National Challenges
A new educational institution named "Shalem" was launched this week in Jerusalem, aiming to connect deep Torah study with practical life and the challenges facing Israel. The institution includes a high yeshiva, a Hesder yeshiva, and a pre-military academy. The opening ceremony, held at the yeshiva's hall in the Pisgat Ze'ev neighborhood, was attended by approximately 200 rabbis, public figures, educators, students, and their families.
The yeshiva, named in memory of Daniel Haddad, seeks to establish an educational model that links profound Torah learning with national responsibility, public service, and the realities of life in Israel. Its educational philosophy draws inspiration from Maimonides and the connection between the spiritual and practical realms.
Rabbi Zak, a senior lecturer at the yeshiva, shared the rapid journey of its establishment, starting from a single WhatsApp message less than a year ago. He described overcoming difficulties, including the war, to recruit students and build the campus from scratch. "The yeshiva is not Noah's Ark that isolates itself from the world, but a place that trains a person to meet reality, contend with it, and illuminate it with the light of Torah," he stated.
Rabbi Eli Kaplan, a key founder, emphasized the necessity of linking deep Torah study with public and national responsibility. The Haddad family also spoke, honoring Daniel Haddad's memory and the values the new institution aims to perpetuate.
Rabbi Dr. Yochai Makabili, the yeshiva's head and a former tech professional, presented the educational vision. He recounted a conversation with students that highlighted a disconnect between Torah study and everyday life, stating, "When learning becomes an end in itself and stops influencing life, an educational fracture occurs." He aims to mend this by fostering scholars who understand Torah as a guide for all of reality, not confined to a sterile bubble.
The event concluded with a panel discussion on "Torah and the Vision of the State," exploring the role of Torah in shaping modern Israeli life and its connection to public issues in law, society, economy, and governance.
