In order to experience a meaningful year at YTS, students need to take advantage of the ENTIRE program, including daily shiurim, shabbatonim, tiyulim, and other exciting activities. The year officially begins on September 2, 2008 and the last day of classes is on June 16, 2009. Students are expected to be part of the academic program the entire year and risk not receiving full academic credit if they leave before the last day of classes.

 

The rebbeim and chavrutot depend on each talmid to create an environment that is Torah focused. Students who are unable to attend any part of the daily shiurim/sdarim need to speak with their rebbeim in advance.  Students who do not come to class and seder jeopardize their growth as a Ben-Torah and risk losing college credits. Unexplained or continuous absences will not be tolerated!

Shabbatot are an integral part of the yeshiva experience. A schedule of all shabbatot can be found with the calendar attached to the handbook. In general, we spend every third Shabbat together either on campus or in a city throughout Israel. Students are expected to attend all “in-shabbatonim” !Students who are unable to attend an in-shabbat must receive special permission from Rav Olshin or Rav Elmaleh.
 

On out Shabbatot all Talmidim must sign the Shabbat attendance sheet by Wednesday morning to allow the kitchen staff to prepare accordingly. 
 

The Yeshiva is open on “out-shabbatonim” and, generally, a rebbi together, with his family and  the Av Bayit and Madrichim, spend Shabbat at the yeshiva so that talmidim can have a meaningful Shabbat experience.    Students may bring up 2 guests on an out-shabbat, provided that their sleeping arrangements in the dormitory have been coordinated with the Av-Bayit. Guests who are not compliant with yeshiva rules will be asked to leave immediately and their host will be accountable for their guests’ disruptive actions. In order to maintain the yeshiva atmosphere and schedule, guests may not sleep over during the week. 

In an effort to provide each student with a broad knowledge of Eretz Yisrael, a central component to the year are trips throughout Israel. Beyond the day trips, there are three major trips scheduled to the Golan, Negev, and Tzfat. All trips are part of the educational curricula and are all mandatory. You must get permission from Rav Olshin or Rav Elmaleh to be excused from any tiyul.

Besides the myriad of tiyulim in Israel the Yeshiva organizes an educational trip to Eastern Europe. The tour allows students to confront the destruction of European Jewry and to connect to and appreciate the life that existed in Europe prior to the Holocaust. All trips, excluding the one to Poland, are included in the tuition.

The daily dress code consists of a collared shirt, slacks, socks and footwear. We expect students to be dressed in a respectful manner, one that represents a sense of kavod hatorah. Students should not wear t-shirts or shorts while they are in the main campus (e.g. Bet-midrash, Classrooms, Dining Room, etc..), but may do so in during tiyulim or in the dormitory. It is customary to wear a white shirt and slacks on Shabbat and students are encouraged to dress in a manner that is kavodik for Shabbat (e.g. suit jackets and ties are certainly acceptable). Students may NOT wear flip flops/shower shoes in the main campus and should remember to bring comfortable sneaker which will become necessary during hiking trips.

 

The dormitory is an extension of the bet midrash, and therefore, students’ behavior in the dormitory should be fitting a ben torah.   All students are expected to maintain a proper decorum in the dormitory and to respect the space and property of their peers. The dormitory is open to students throughout the academic calendar year. Students may remain in the dorms during official vacation days (e.g. Sukkot and Pesach holidays). Students are encouraged to stay in Israel during ben hazmanim and to take part of the educational and recreational programs offered by the yeshiva.
 

The Av Bayit and madrichim live in the dormitory and are available to assist students at all times. Students must sleep in the dorm and need special permission from Rav Olshin or Rav Elmaleh to sleep outside the yeshiva. All students are expected to sleep in the dormitory on Motzei Shabbat, like they would on any day during the week. We recommend not to keep valuables in the dormitory and to keep one’s passports, money, and other important items in the students’ safe located in the office. Students are responsible for their own property and should keep their dorm room locked when they are not in the dorm room.   Although there is a weekly cleaning service in the dorms, students are responsible to keep their rooms neat and clean. Pictures and posters that are inappropriate for a ben torah may not be displayed on the walls of the dormitory. Students may listen to their music through the use of headphones and may not play music loudly. In an effort to maintain a quiet atmosphere in the dorms at night, there is a 12:00am “lights out” policy which will be enforced in the hallways and lounges. Students will be asked to talk in the privacy of their dorm rooms after midnight.
 

Needless to state that drinking, smoking, use of drugs, gambling, and/or any other disruptive behavior are grounds for dismissal. Students who partake in such disruptive behaviors will be asked to leave the yeshiva immediately and it is their responsibility to find appropriate housing and/or transfer to different educational systems. Students who show negligence to the yeshiva, on or off campus, may risk losing their yearly tuition when they are dismissed.

The yeshiva provides computers for students’ use (i.e. uploading pictures, saving shiurim, sharing music, etc…). Students may also access their e-mail accounts as well as pre-approved internet sites.  Students MAY NOT bring personal computers, DVD players, MP3/4 players, PSP systems or any other entertainment device that may have video capability to the yeshiva. Students who bring lap-tops and video capable devices will forfeit their deposit and their machines will be confiscated by the yeshiva. 

 There are coin operated washers and dryers in the dormitory for students use. In addition, there is a weekly laundry service that picks up and drops off laundry as well as dry cleaning items. Students can feel free to access the local Laundromats and dry cleaning establishments in Bayit Vegan in addition to the services provided by the yeshiva.

 

In an effort to provide a healthy recreational outlet, the yeshiva has a modest sports facilities room in the dormitory. Students are not permitted to take any equipment into their own rooms and should be overall cognizant of the cleaningness of the room. Needless to state, students should treat all yeshiva property with respect and keep the equipment in the sports room in-tact and clean.  

 

 Visitations

Parents are encouraged to visit the yeshiva, sit in on shiurim, and/or speak with the hanhala/rebbeim regarding their son’s growth during their visit to Israel.   Visitations from relatives and friends are also welcome when they are not disruptive to the student’s academic program. Students may spend 1 full day and an additional 2 evenings during the week with their parents (i.e. students are not excused to do this with other relatives or family friends). Students may not leave the yeshiva for an extended period of time with parents while they are in Yeshiva. Parents are encouraged to spend week-long vacations with their sons either before or after their year of study so that the continuity of their son’s learning will not be disrupted.
 

It has become a common expectation among yeshiva students that when parents come to visit they invite a large group of students out for a meal in a restaurant. We discourage this practice as it is a financial burden to visiting families as well as disruptive to the yeshiva schedule and overall atmosphere. If these outings are absolutely necessary, they may take place when classes are not in session (e.g. Motzei Shabbat, Fridays, or after 10pm in the evening). Under no circumstance should students miss seder, shiur, and/or chaburot to attend these gatherings.
 

As stated earlier, students are expected to be part of YTS the entire year and ARE NOT permitted to travel abroad with the exception of the Pesach Ben Hazmanim break. Students who have a simcha for an immediate family relative (e.g. bar/bat mitzvah or wedding of a sibling) may travel abroad for 7 days. All trips abroad must be pre-approved by Rav Olshin or Rav Elmaleh. 
 

The security and safety of every student is the highest priority for YTS. It is therefore recommended that parents speak to their son about safety issues (e.g. mode of transportation in Israel) before they arrive to the yeshiva. YTS is part of a security network that receives safety alerts from the national security agency as well as the local police department in Jerusalem. We follow each precaution and protocol as stated by these agencies as well as our own security personnel on campus. In addition, the campus is under surveillance 24 hours a day and there is a guard that is posted by the entrance of the Yeshiva. Students are expected to use their YTS identification cards when they enter the building and comply with all security guidelines.
 

There are times during the year that the yeshiva receives high warning alerts from the police. As a protocol, the yeshiva is on lock down and all students are expected to be in or come back to the campus. When a student receives a warning alert on their phones, they are responsible to call in their “security” contact and return to the yeshiva immediately. All students must use a Talk’n’Save phone so that they can be part of our security texting service and receive either security alerts or announcements on a regular basis from the yeshiva. Although the yeshiva will e-mail updates to parents during high alerts, students are encouraged to call their parents during a lockdown and communicate their well-being.
 

Every student is obligated to have medical insurance in Israel. Students will not be permitted on campus without insurance. We strongly encourage that students purchase HAREL VIP Health policy provided by Egert and Cohen Insurance as we have a good working relationship with them over the years. Students are advised to seek the guidance of the madrichim or the av bayit when they are ill, so that they can make the necessary arrangements for medical care. As a general policy, students who are in bed for more than 2 days will be encouraged to see a doctor. It is the student’s responsibility to inform the av bayit when they are sick. While there are EMT’s on campus, the yeshiva will always err on the side of caution and will call Magen David Adom during medical emergencies. It is the responsibility of the parents to inform the yeshiva of any medical ailment that their son may have so that the yeshiva can prepare for their safety and wellbeing through the year-long program.   

 

Yeshivat Torat Shraga

POBox 16284

Bayit Vegan, Jerusalem

91162, Israel

 

Yeshivat Torat Shraga

40 Duvdevani Street

Bayit Vegan

Jerusalem, 91162

 

Main Office telephone #: 02-642-9907

Main Office Fax #; 02-642-9903

Main Office E-mail Address: Office@ToratShraga.com

Web-site: WWW.ToratShraga.com

 

Rabbi Avishai David, Rosh Hayeshiva

e-mail: rabbidavid@barak-online.net   & Tel: 02-642-9907

 

Rabbi Michael Olshin, Menahel

e-mail: yts613@netvision.net.il & Tel: 052-613-6735

 

Rabbi Gil Elmaleh, Dean of Students

E-mail: Eitlilmod@gmail.com & Tel: 052-618-6666

1)     Tuition for the 2008-2009 academic year is set at $21,000 (this includes a $4000 non-refundable registration fee).

2)     New students that join the yeshiva after it officially begins in Elul are required to pay $2100 a month, from the month they entered until the remaining of the school year.

3) The academic year is divided into 3 semesters as follows:

a.      ellul, tishrei, cheshvon - 1/3 of tuition

b.      Kislev, Tevet, Shvat - 1/3 of tuition

c.      Adar, Nissan, and Iyar - 1/3 of tuition.

Students who leave the yeshiva before the official end of the year are responsible to pay for the entire semester of their study.

4)     Students who cancel their registration less than two weeks prior to the official starting date of the yeshiva are obligated to pay for half a semester. Students who cancel their registration 2 weeks (or more) to the official starting date of the yeshiva are obligated to pay the non-refundable registration fee.

5)     The Yeshiva will not return monies to students who are asked to leave the yeshiva due to punitive reasons.

6)     The Yeshiva reserves the right to make changes to this policy as directed by the administration.