The Talmudical Yeshiva of Philadelphia ( he, פילאדעלפיע ישיבה) is a

Haredi Haredi Judaism ( he, ', ; also spelled ''Charedi'' in English; plural ''Haredim'' or ''Charedim'') consists of groups within Orthodox Judaism that are characterized by their strict adherence to ''halakha'' (Jewish law) and traditions, in oppos ...

Litvish ''Misnagdim'' (, "Opponents"; Sephardi pronunciation: ''Mitnagdim''; singular ''misnaged''/''mitnaged'') was a religious movement among the Jews of Eastern Europe which resisted the rise of Hasidism in the 18th and 19th centuries. The ''Misna ...

yeshiva A yeshiva (; he, ישיבה, , sitting; pl. , or ) is a traditional Jewish educational institution focused on the study of Rabbinic literature, primarily the Talmud and halacha (Jewish law), while Torah and Jewish philosophy are s ...

in the Overbrook neighborhood of

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sixth-largest city in the U.S., the second-largest city in both the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City. Sinc ...

. Its heads of school are Rabbi Shmuel Kamenetsky, Rabbi Shimon Yehudah Svei and Rabbi Sholom Kaminetsky.

History

The yeshiva was founded in 1953 at the behest of Rabbi

Aaron Kotler Aharon Kotler (1892–1962) was an Orthodox Jewish rabbi and a prominent leader of Orthodox Judaism in Lithuania and the United States; the latter being where he founded Beth Medrash Govoha in Lakewood Township, New Jersey. Early life Kotler ...

, the Rosh Yeshiva of

Beth Medrash Govoha Beth Medrash Govoha ( he, בית מדרש גבוה, Sephardi pronunciation: ''Beth Midrash Gavoha''. lit: "High House of Learning"; also known as Lakewood Yeshiva or BMG) is a Haredi Judaism, Haredi Jewish Misnagdim, Lithuanian ''yeshiva'' in Lake ...

Lakewood, New Jersey Lakewood Township is the most populous township in Ocean County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. A rapidly growing community as of the 2020 U.S. census, the township had a total population of 135,158 representing an increase of 41,415 (+45.5% ...

. Rabbis Shmuel Kamenetzky and

Dov Schwartzman Dov Schwartzman (1921 – 7 November 2011), also called Berel Schwartzman, was a Russian-born American Haredi Jewish rabbi, educator, Talmudic scholar, and ''rosh yeshiva'' (dean) of Bais Hatalmud, which he founded in the Sanhedria Murheve ...

first headed the yeshiva. The yeshiva's first location was at Thirteenth and Berks Streets in the Strawberry Mansion neighborhood of Philadelphia. The yeshiva purchased a building at 6040 Drexel Road in Overbrook in August 1955 and expanded its dormitories, eating facilities, classrooms, and library. In 1955, Rabbi Schwartzman left the yeshiva and was replaced by Rabbi

Elya Svei Elya Svei (March 19, 1924 (''Taanis Esther 5684'') – March 26, 2009 (''Rosh Chodesh Nisan 5769'')) was a Soviet Union, Russian-born American Haredi Judaism, Haredi Jewish rabbi and ''rosh yeshiva'' (dean) of the Talmudical Yeshiva of Philadelp ...

. From 1965 until 1985, Rabbi

Yisrael Mendel Kaplan Israel or Yisrael Mendel Kaplan (April 14, 1913 – April 4, 1985), known as "Reb Mendel" was an American Orthodox Jewish rabbi and author. He was best known as a teacher in the Hebrew Theological College of Chicago and the Talmudical Yeshiva o ...

was one of the yeshiva's senior lecturers.

School structure

The yeshiva had 210 students in 1987 of which 110 were in grades 9 through 12. The yeshiva currently consists of a high school of about 100 students in four grade levels and a

beit midrash A ''beth midrash'' ( he, בית מדרש, or ''beis medrash'', ''beit midrash'', pl. ''batei midrash'' "House of Learning") is a hall dedicated for Torah study, often translated as a "study hall." It is distinct from a synagogue (''beth kness ...

for the continuing education of college-aged students. Both the high school and

curriculums are weighted heavily towards

Talmud The Talmud (; he, , Talmūḏ) is the central text of Rabbinic Judaism and the primary source of Jewish religious law (''halakha'') and Jewish theology. Until the advent of modernity, in nearly all Jewish communities, the Talmud was the cente ...

ic studies, although the high school provides its graduates with a fully accredited secular education. Most of the student body hails from outside the state, mainly from the

New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...

area, and virtually all students live in the dormitory near the main buildings. The yeshiva provides its students with a strong background in Talmudic and Rabbinical studies. Many of its graduates choose to continue to other yeshivas and higher places of Jewish learning. Historically, a minority of students continue their studies in undergraduate and graduate schools across the United States. Rav Avrohom Golombeck served as the institution's mashgiach until his passing in July 2008. Rav Yisroel Dick succeeded him in the position in March 2010.

References

External links

* {{authority control Haredi Judaism in the United States Haredi yeshivas Lithuanian-American culture in Pennsylvania Lithuanian-Jewish culture in the United States Orthodox yeshivas in the United States Universities and colleges in Philadelphia Educational institutions established in 1953 1953 establishments in Pennsylvania Overbrook, Philadelphia Jews and Judaism in Philadelphia