Yeshiva Students Begin Extended Winter Term Amidst Unique Challenges

Thousands of students in Israeli yeshivas returned to their studies on Monday to begin an unusually long winter term, which will last a full six months due to the current Hebrew calendar year being a leap year. This extended period is expected to involve deep engagement with complex Talmudic topics and spiritual growth.

The transition to winter time, which occurs on the night of October 24-25, 2026, presents an initial challenge for the first two weeks of the term. While not a major disruption, as evening prayers and meals are already scheduled around the early sunset, the time change itself is a difficulty. Some yeshivas have already switched to winter time to mitigate this, but most will adjust at the official time. A notable exception is the practice in some Lithuanian yeshivas, like Ohr Yisrael and Chadash, to adopt winter time earlier in the Elul term to allow for the recitation of Selichot prayers at a more reasonable hour.

A popular trend in yeshivas is the "Chalavi" (dairy) study session held on long winter Friday nights. After evening prayers and dinner conclude around 6:30-7:00 PM, students engage in extended study until late into the night. This session is often accompanied by dairy refreshments, and sometimes by special classes or study groups led by rabbis.

Saturday evenings are also utilized for summarizing the week's studies, often with additional classes and study groups. Yeshivas strive to create an uplifting atmosphere to prevent students from leaving the premises for activities like watching soccer. Some institutions offer financial incentives for participation or hold exams on the material, with rewards for good grades, to encourage students to remain focused on their studies.