About

Yeshivat Siach Yitzchak was founded in Elul 5756 (1996) by Rabbi Shimon Gershon Rosenberg (known as Rav Shagar) z”l and Rabbi Yair Dreifuss, who continues to serve as its head to this day. In Sivan 5759 (1999), the yeshiva relocated from Jerusalem to Givat HaDagan in Efrat. The yeshiva operates from a temporary campus in Givat HaDagan, where both the learning takes place and the single students live alongside families of the yeshiva’s married students and alumni.

In 5778 (2018), the yeshiva moved from its temporary location at the top of the hill to its future permanent site on the southern slopes of Givat HaDagan. Since then, the yeshiva has been undergoing significant development—both externally and internally.

In 5764 (2004), the yeshiva changed its name to Yeshivat Siach Yitzchak in honor of Rabbi Dr. Yitzchak Breuer z”l, one of the prominent rabbis in Germany and Israel about a century ago.

The yeshiva is led by Rabbis Yair Dreifuss, Noam Samet, and Uri Lifshitz. Other faculty members include Rabbis Eitan Avramovitz, Elchanan Nir, Bania Yanai, and Avishai Schreiber. Regular lecturers also include Dr. Zohar Maor and Dr. Avishar Har-Shefi.

Yeshivat Siach Yitzchak is a hesder yeshiva, allowing students to choose among various military service tracks. Many students continue their studies at the yeshiva after completing the hesder program, with married students joining the kollel. The yeshiva offers advanced Torah study tracks for post-hesder students, including the Halacha Kollel led by Rabbi Uri Lifshitz and the “B’Torato Yehegeh” program for intensive advanced Torah study. This program emphasizes in-depth Talmud study, Jewish thought, mysticism, and philosophy.

The yeshiva also publishes the online journal Tzirufim Hadashim (New Combinations), edited by Dr. Eitan Avramovitz. This journal articulates a new religious language that combines deep roots in traditional sources with a critical, relevant perspective on modern life and thought.

Yeshivat Siach Yitzchak aims to deepen the religious discourse by addressing the challenges and opportunities of redefining the role of the contemporary “ben Torah” (Torah scholar). Amid the rapid changes in the cultural and spiritual landscapes of the Jewish people and humanity at large, the yeshiva seeks to refresh the religious language, enabling the growth of Torah scholars who are deeply rooted in the traditional world of the Beit Midrash yet engaged with Israeli and global culture.

The yeshiva’s Beit Midrash fosters a new, mature discourse characterized by a sincere and open spiritual language, striving for divine connection and service through joy, expanded consciousness, and heartfelt engagement. Students are invited to a profound and creative partnership, involving intellectual and spiritual effort undertaken freely and autonomously. The yeshiva aspires to equip its students with professional and skilled study tools, fostering a conscious and liberated encounter with Torah that continues to guide them throughout their lives.

The yeshiva also strives to establish a community dedicated to divine service, sharing in prayer and advancing through mutual support in intensive and profound spiritual work.

• Talmud Study: The yeshiva’s Talmud study seeks to uncover the foundational layers of each topic and connect them to the learner. It incorporates diverse tools, blending classical scholarship with research and literary methods. The learning is enriched with introductory and methodological lectures, aimed at equipping students with the tools for independent and creative study.

• Halacha Study (Liba DeHilchata Program): Halacha study in the yeshiva focuses on deriving knowledge from the broad and profound world of Jewish law while remaining attuned to contemporary cultural and spiritual currents. Halacha study is supplemented by enrichment classes and training in related fields of knowledge.

• Philosophy and Jewish Thought: The yeshiva systematically explores philosophy, Chassidut, and Jewish mysticism, striving to create a vibrant and relevant theological language. Additionally, the Beit Midrash opens a window to contemporary thought, engaging with foundational questions from the world of Jewish philosophy. This program aims to impart structured knowledge and learning tools while nurturing the heart and broadening awareness for personal growth. Workshops and tools from various sources complement this effort.

• Enrichment Units: The Beit Midrash offers opportunities for engagement with fields of knowledge that intersect with the spiritual realm. These include series of lectures by guest experts, leading to discussions on the relationship between these disciplines, Torah, and life in the Beit Midrash