For Students

Rest assured, you’ll have enough time and freedom at Eretz to meet up with your friends at other programs. 

Meanwhile, your fellow students at Eretz will be a very diverse bunch. Past Eretz alumni hail from Australia, South Africa, Switzerland, the Netherlands, the UK, and all across the U.S. Not only that, but we welcome students with all different backgrounds in terms of learning and life experience. Our students tend to be a tight group and frequently organize their own fun on campus, including sports and other group recreational activities.

Now that you’ve graduated high school, the expectations and atmosphere that accompany your studies will be different in a few key ways: 

1. 1. No distractions: Your only real obligation is to focus on yourself and your learning. It’s more intense, but also more relaxed.
   2. A new dynamic with your rabbanim: Your teachers in high school were authority figures. Your teachers in yeshiva are role models. They are experienced Torah Jews helping you navigate the transition to the adult world. It’s a more accessible dynamic and can take some getting used to.
   3. It’s all on you: There are no As, Bs, and Fs to mark your progress. With guidance from the staff, you’ll develop a definition of success that’s meaningful to you.

There are significant differences between yeshivot that could have a huge impact on your year.

1. 1. Size: Do you prefer the big names and features of a bigger program or the closer relationships of a smaller one?
   2. Faculty: Who are they and what are their interactions with the students like?
   3. Education: Do they focus only on gemara? Are college credits available?
   4. Israeli or Anglo: Are you looking for a cross-cultural experience or a supportive environment for international students?
   5. The amenities: What kind of food, sports facilities, and other resources are available?
   6. Hashkafa: What are their attitudes towards secular colleges, dating, politics, racism, sexual preference, the military, and sherut leumi?
   7. Rules: How strict is the yeshiva?

At Eretz, we pride ourselves on enabling students to ask any question. Our faculty have extensive knowledge and ready talk at any time. Our rabbis have thought deeply about most religious and secular issues and are there for you.

Eretz HaTzvi offers an incredibly diverse Torah curriculum. In addition, as a modern Orthodox yeshiva, we engage in the world. Our faculty also enjoy reading and thinking broadly about the world. While we offer courses in Social Justice, Medical and business ethics, and philosophy, we realize that outside the beit midrash students will be interested in other things.

That’s a pretty common concern, and definitely a big part of the adjustment. Just remember: Every year, each new crop of students comes in with the same worry, and every year, our students excel. We have a good understanding of the kind of time and support you need to adjust successfully, and we’re here for you every step of the way. Our students also find it helpful that we offer such a variety of classes, which breaks the day up and keeps energy and interest high. 

Aside from the chance to capitalize on the learning and resources at your fingertips when you’re in yeshiva — a once in a lifetime opportunity in itself — there are so many wonderful experiences that are available to you when you’re spending the year in Israel. There’s tons to explore just within the borders of Jerusalem: historical sites, museums, all kinds of new foods that you can try.

You can also make an effort to see the land, traveling all over the country (there are lots of programs for students) and getting to know all the different subcultures. Try doing some shopping in Mea Shearim, visiting a Charedi beit midrash to try out another style of learning, attending a Chassidic tisch, or spending Shabbat with all kinds of families.

Some general tips:

1. Don’t be scared to invite yourself places. The answer might not always be yes, but it’s totally culturally acceptable to ask.
2. Keep an open mind and be flexible as you interact with all kinds of people and encounter new ways of thinking and doing things that are different from what you’re used to.
3. Don’t forget that you’re going to be here for the winter, not just a summer vacation. Jerusalem gets pretty cold — you’re going to need a coat.