Yeshivat Hadar 2009

YEAR-ROUND AND SUMMER PROGRAMS             

 

Mission Statement

Yeshivat Hadar is animated by two central goals:

• To foster a community of students who engage in intensive Torah study, prayer and action.
• To offer a passionate vision of traditional Jewish life as a spiritual path.

Unique Year-Round and Summer Experience

Yeshivat Hadar offers fellows a full-time, intensive program in the heart of Manhattan's Upper West Side. The 8-week or year-round experience combines traditional text study, egalitarian prayer and social action with a special focus on personal religious growth. The Yeshiva creates a community of learning which includes seminars, havruta (paired learning), and individualized projects. Students will complete the program equipped with greater textual competence and broader knowledge of the Jewish tradition as a whole.

Study

We will explore an array of classical and modern texts, ranging from Tanakh and Talmud to modern theology and teshuvot (halakhic responsa). We will make use of both traditional and modern academic methods as we translate our learning into contemporary religious meaning and obligation. Students will make significant gains in practical text skills as well as overall understanding of the meaning(s) of the texts. Click here for a sample list of courses.

Social Action

One day a week, students will participate in social justice work, demonstrating the yeshiva's commitment to applying the Torah of the Beit Midrash to a broader context. This work will explore the balance between service and advocacy, and students will participate in the process of identifying the specific project. Click here to download more information.

Prayer

Throughout the program, we will not only engage together in study and action, but also in communal prayer. Tefilot will be egalitarian and employ the traditional liturgy. Students will have the opportunity to develop practical prayer skills, as well as explore the opportunities and struggles related to a prayerful life.

Commitment

• The 8-week Beit Midrash will run Sundays through Fridays, June 14-August 8. The length of the day will vary. Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdaysand Fridays will begin at 7:30am and conclude at 9:00pm (12:30pm on Fridays, leaving time for Shabbat preparations).  Wednesdays run from 8:15am until 4:45pm. Sundays will vary, sometimes featuring an all-day project and sometimes a commitment of a few hours in the middle of the day or in the evening.  Click here for a tentative schedule.
• The year-round Beit Midrash will run Mondays through Fridays, from Fall 2009-Spring 2010. The length of the day will vary. Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays will begin at 7:30am and conclude at 8:00pm (12:30pm on Fridays, leaving time for Shabbat preparations). Wednesdays will run from 8:15am until 4:45pm.
  
• Through full participation in all the Yeshiva's programs, students commit to create a communal experience anchored in Torah and mitzvot. We will engage in consistent learning, davening and acts of gemilut hasadim. We will immerse ourselves in the discourse of halakhah, as well as a process of spiritual development, as we concretize our commitment to translating our studies into action.
• Students will commit to bringing lessons from their summer or year-round experience to their hometown community. This will depend on the particular student and the community s/he returns to, but could involve teaching, organizing a learning program, deepening the community's connection to social action or leading prayer services. During the program, students will work with faculty to articulate and develop this goal.

Shabbatot

Yeshivat Hadar will sponsor 2-3 Shabbatonim during the summer, including Shabbatonim for the entire yeshiva on the first and last Shabbatot of the summer, and multiple Shabbatonim throughout the year-round program. Other Shabbatot are free, and students can take advantage of Kehilat Hadar's summer services (www.kehilathadar.org), occasional optional programming at the Yeshiva, or any of the rich array of Shabbat communities in Manhattan.

Student Qualifications

Yeshivat Hadar is designed for people who are willing to participate fully in the intensive schedule and who are at a particular point in life where an 8-week or year-round experience will affect their approach to Jewish life and community beyond the summer. The summer program is primarily geared towards applicants ages 21 to 30 who will have completed at least three years of an undergraduate degree by summer 2009. However, we will consider all appropriate applications on a case by case basis.

Stipend

In recognition of the intense time and energy commitment required by the fellowship, Yeshivat Hadar is pleased to offer a generous stipend, intended to cover the cost of tuition, rent, food, books and incidentals. The full stipend is contingent on completing the full-time program.

Housing and Food

Students are expected to find housing for the duration of the program and provide their own food (only occasional meals are provided through the program). The Yeshiva is located on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, home to many kosher restaurants and grocery stores. Yeshivat Hadar will supply fellows with a list of housing resources.

Student Level

Certain classes will be divided into 3 or 4 levels, and a wide range of students are appropriate for the program.  Students must minimally have basic facility with reading vocalized passages from the Tanakh and the Mishnah.  The Yeshiva will also include students with extensive background in Jewish learning, including those who have spent time learning in a yeshiva environment in the past, whether in Israel or elsewhere.

Application Process

Participation in the program is a selective process, and prospective fellows must complete a full application, and provide a reference, by February 1, 2009. The second stage of the application process will include an interview by phone or in person. Fellows will be notified in early March. Please notify us at info@mechonhadar.org in advance of the deadline if you intend to submit an application.

Questions

We are happy to answer any questions. Please email us at info@mechonhadar.org. To ask alumni about the program, email yhfellows@mechonhadar.org.