Yeshivat Hekhal Eliyahu

Yeshivat Hekhal Eliyahu (also known as Yeshivat Hechal Eliyahou) is a Hesder yeshiva located in the Israeli settlement of Kokhav Ya'akov, near Jerusalem. It was originally founded in 1927 in Montreux, Switzerland, under the name "Etz Chaim" by Rabbi Yerachmiel Eliyahu Botschko, a graduate of the Novardok yeshiva, at the instruction of his teacher Rabbi Avraham Yaffe'hen. The yeshiva operated in Switzerland for nearly six decades, including through World War II, when it served as a refuge for hundreds of refugees and was the only yeshiva that remained active in that period. In 1970 it became a high school yeshiva, attracting mainly young people from France. In 1985, under the leadership of Rabbi Moshe Botschko, the son of the founder, the yeshiva moved to Jerusalem and became a Hesder yeshiva, combining advanced Torah study with military service. In 1995 it moved to its permanent home in Kokhav Ya'akov. The yeshiva is headed by Rabbi Yechezkel Botschko, with Rabbi Shaul David Botschko serving as president. Its educational approach emphasizes integrating Torah with daily life, building faith and character, grounding Halacha in practice, sharing the burden with the public, and spreading Torah among the people of Israel. The yeshiva offers several study tracks: the standard Hesder program (five years, including one year and four months in the IDF), the "Hesder Shiluvim" program (four years, including two years in the IDF), a "Year of Pure Torah" for overseas students in partnership with the Jewish Agency's Masa program, and a "Vacation of Pure Torah" for overseas youth during bein hazmanim. There is also a teaching kollel headed by Rabbi Shmuel Shimon. The yeshiva has around 200 students and avrechim. It has published a Torah journal called "Kol MeHeichal." Its faculty has included notable rabbis such as Rabbi Avraham Abba Weingort, Rabbi Reuven Feirman, Rabbi Asher Chaim, Rabbi Eliyahu Sharvit, Rabbi Yaakov Malul, Rabbi Daniel Shaharbani, Rabbi David Yosef, Rabbi Chagai Harel, Rabbi Yair Bidani, Rabbi Shmuel Shimon, Rabbi Zakai Mizrachi, and Rabbi Moshe Duchnov. Prominent alumni and teachers from its Swiss period include Professor Gabriel Izbicki, Rabbi Yissachar Meir, Rabbi Shaul Weingort, Rabbi Aharon Yehuda Leib Shteinman, Rabbi Shlomo Wolbe, Rabbi Moshe Soloveitchik, Rabbi Yitzchak Sheiner, Dr. Michael Vigoda, Rabbi Aviezer Wolfson, Professor Jean-Yves Sichel, Aharon Daum, Andre Neher, Raphael Patai, Rabbi Max Warschawski, Michel Warschawski, and Dr. Binyamin Gross. The yeshiva's website offers a wide range of Torah lessons, including on the weekly parsha, kashrut, and the High Holidays, delivered by its rabbis. It maintains a Facebook presence with updates from the yeshiva.

Yeshivat Hekhal Eliyahu was founded in 1927 in Montreux, Switzerland, under the name "Etz Chaim" by Rabbi Yerachmiel Eliyahu Botschko, a graduate of the Novardok yeshiva, at the instruction of his teacher Rabbi Avraham Yaffe'hen, then head of the Novardok yeshiva. During World War II, the yeshiva provided refuge for hundreds of refugees and was the only yeshiva that remained active in that period. From the mid-1950s, it was headed by Rabbi Moshe Botschko, son of the founder. In 1967, upon the liberation of Jerusalem, Rabbi Botschko decided to mark Jerusalem Day at the yeshiva, which led to his excommunication by European rabbis (due to his Zionism) and the departure of students with a Haredi outlook. In 1970, the yeshiva became a high school yeshiva, attracting mainly young people from France. In 1985, Rabbi Moshe Botschko moved the yeshiva to Jerusalem and turned it into a Hesder yeshiva. In 1995, the yeshiva moved to its permanent home in Kokhav Ya'akov. After the death of Rabbi Moshe Botschko in 2010, his son Rabbi Shaul David Botschko was appointed head of the yeshiva. In 2022, Rabbi Shaul David retired from the headship and his son, Rabbi Yechezkel Botschko, was appointed to serve as head of the yeshiva, while Rabbi Shaul David was appointed president of the yeshiva. In 2010, approximately 200 students and avrechim studied at the yeshiva. In the past, the yeshiva published a Torah journal called "Kol MeHeichal."

• 2022

  Rabbi Shaul David Botschko retires from headship; his son Rabbi Yechezkel Botschko is appointed head, while Rabbi Shaul David becomes president.

• 2010

  Rabbi Moshe Botschko passes away; his son Rabbi Shaul David Botschko is appointed head of the yeshiva.

• 1995

  Yeshiva moves to its permanent home in Kokhav Ya'akov.

• 1985

  Rabbi Moshe Botschko moves the yeshiva to Jerusalem and turns it into a Hesder yeshiva.

• 1970

  Yeshiva becomes a high school yeshiva, attracting mainly young people from France.

• 1967

  Rabbi Botschko marks Jerusalem Day at the yeshiva, leading to his excommunication by European rabbis and departure of Haredi students.

• 1950

  Rabbi Moshe Botschko, son of the founder, begins heading the yeshiva.

• 1927

  Yeshiva founded in Montreux, Switzerland, as "Etz Chaim" by Rabbi Yerachmiel Eliyahu Botschko.

A Hesder yeshiva combining advanced Torah study with military service, emphasizing the integration of Torah and daily life, character development, and spreading Torah among the people of Israel.

• Hesder program

  A five-year program, including one year and four months in the IDF.

• Hesder Shiluvim program

  A four-year program, including two years in the IDF.

• Year of Pure Torah

  A year of yeshiva study for overseas students, in partnership with the Jewish Agency within the Masa program.

• Vacation of Pure Torah

  A program for overseas youth during bein hazmanim, including many activities in addition to study.

• Teaching kollel

  A kollel for teaching, headed by Rabbi Shmuel Shimon.

• Kol MeHeichal

  A Torah journal published by the yeshiva in the past.

1. 1ישיבת היכל אליהו כוכב יעקבyhe-ky.com
2. 2על הישיבה | ישיבת היכל אליהו כוכב יעקבyhe-ky.com
3. 3Yeshivat Hekhal Eliyahuwikidata.org
4. 4ישיבת היכל אליהוhe.wikipedia.org