Yeshivat HaKotel
Yeshivat Hakotel is a modern-Orthodox religious Zionist hesder yeshiva situated in the Old City of Jerusalem. The yeshiva overlooks the Kotel (Western Wall); hence its name. The Yeshiva is famous among tourists and tour guides for its entrance to the prayer plaza at the Kotel on Sabbath. All of the students and teachers assemble in their white Sabbath shirts, and descend the long series of staircases that lead from the Yeshiva to the Kotel singing and dancing, tourists advised by their guide books assemble to watch.
Rabbi Baruch Wieder serves as the Rosh Yeshiva. Rabbi Mordechai Elon used to be the Rosh Yeshiva, until he announced his retirement in December 2007. Rabbi Yeshayahu Hadari, co-founder of Yeshivat Hakotel, has served as Rosh Yeshiva in the interim.
The yeshiva is housed in a building opposite the Temple Mount. The beit medrash (study hall) features an unusual Aron Kodesh, constructed in two halves separated by a window though which the Temple Mount can be seen.
Yeshivat Hakotel has a program for English-speaking students. The head of this program was Rabbi Aharon Bina, son of Rabbi Aryeh Bina (1912-1994), one of Yeshivat Hakotel's founders. In recent years, Rabbi Bina has moved to Yeshivat Netiv Aryeh after Yeshivat Hakotel decided to limit the size of its English-speaking program to 35 students. The current head of the program for overseas students is Rabbi Reuven Taragin.
The Yeshivat is based upon the buildings known as the Batei Mahse (Houses of Shelter) which were massively reconstructed after the liberation of the Old City in 1967. The original Batei Mahse comprised 8 two story buildings which were constructed primarily with funds collected by Rabbi Hayam Zevee Sneersohn, when as emissary from Jerusalem he visited Australia from December 1861 until 1863. Both Australian Jews and prominent non-Jews [1] responded to Sneersohn's appeal. [2]
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