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29-602: Beth Medrash Govoha is a successor institution to Yeshivas Etz Chaim , which was located in Slutzk , in what is today Belarus . That institution was led by Rabbi Isser Zalman Meltzer and by Rabbi Aaron Kotler, until it was forcibly closed by the Soviet Revolution of 1917, which banned all forms of Jewish studies. Etz Chaim was reestablished in Kletzk, under then Polish rule by Rabbi Aaron Kotler, where it thrived until World War II and

58-418: A morning session, an afternoon session, and an evening session, in which a total of 10 hours of each day is spent studying. For each session there is a limud (subject) which is a chapter of the mesechta that that group is learning. The morning session is the most important of the sessions and is the subject that students will devote their after-hours time to and are most likely to write papers on; it

87-409: A weekly discourse on the topic that was studied that week. Many of the chaburos require members themselves to prepare and give discourses of their own on a rotating basis. Other responsibilities of the rosh chaburah include submitting the number of seats needed for the members of his chaburah , and to decide the topic of study for the semester. Three zmanim (semesters) exist in

116-556: A year, based on the Hebrew calendar : The three zmanim span two official semesters. The Fall semester runs through the Winter zman. The Spring semester includes the Summer zman and Elul zman. Applications to enroll into the yeshiva are accepted twice a year, before the summer and winter semesters. There are no enrollments for the fall semester. The deadlines vary, and they are generally close to

145-409: Is also the subject of the lectures. All learning is done within a system of chaburos (study groups) in which 15 to 200 scholars are seated together to study the same subject at the same pace with their individual chavrusa (study partner). Every chaburah is headed by a rosh chaburah (head/leader of the study group). The rosh chaburah is typically somebody that is more advanced than

174-515: Is negotiated. The stated policy of the yeshiva is that no eligible student is denied the opportunity to study Torah because of their inability to pay tuition. The accepted student must also complete steps required by the State of New Jersey of all students entering dormitories and post-secondary schools in New Jersey. Additionally, in a signed acceptance agreement, the matriculating student agrees to abide by

203-449: Is to at first attain the skills necessary to properly understand and analyze the Talmud and to be able to do independent research on a scholarly level, and then use these skills to become accomplished Talmudic scholars. Beth Medrash Govoha is a postgraduate institution and the general age of entry for new students is about 22. A high level of analytic skill and comprehension in understanding

232-739: The Slutsk-Kletsk Yeshivah was an Orthodox Jewish yeshiva in Europe, founded in Slutsk , then part of the Russian Empire , and later moved to Kletsk in the Second Polish Republic , in 1897. The yeshiva was founded by the Ridvaz and famously led by Rabbi Isser Zalman Meltzer and Rabbi Aharon Kotler . The yeshiva was founded in 1897 by Rabbi Yaakov Dovid Willovsky, known as the Ridvaz , who

261-613: The Talmud , Rishonim , Shulchan Aruch , Responsa , and Rabbinic literature as texts and sources. Although all students study the Talmud regardless of whether they just joined the yeshiva or have already been studying for well over a decade, when students first arrive they study the mesechta (Talmudic tractate) that the yeshiva has officially selected to study at that time. This mesechta will always be one of eight that deal with areas of civil law. Some students will continue learning these subjects for many years, developing great expertise in these areas, while others will study other areas of

290-684: The Talmud . Some students focus primarily on the practical application of the talmudic laws based on the Halachic conclusions of the Shulchan Aruch . Because of the large number of students in the Yeshiva there are groups studying virtually every subject in the Talmud . Beth Medrash Govoha is unique among Yeshivas in that a student can study any subject in the Talmud or Halachah that he prefers. The daily schedule consists of three sedarim (study sessions) –

319-455: The 1st of Elul for the winter enrollment, and the 1st of Adar for summer enrollment. This is generally a four-part process. Only applicants who have received a " bechina (entrance exam) card" authorizing them to advance will be able to proceed with these steps: Shivti , the yarchei kallah program, is a highly acclaimed weekly Sunday program for laymen. The shivti was created by Rav Yaakov Tescher. After acceptance, tuition

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348-450: The Jewish community there, as he served as community rabbi as well). The yeshiva settled in a communal property, which they soon outgrew. Rabbi Kotler therefore raised funds for the construction of a new building. The cornerstone was laid in 1927, and despite not having enough money to build the entire building, the construction continued and the yeshiva agreed to accumulate a large debt. In 1929,

377-590: The Talmud is required, to the extent that a student is able to study a subject from the starting point all the way to the most complex areas of that subject on his own. The yeshiva does not have a remedial program for weak or unprepared students, and reaching the level required to be a successful student at the yeshiva takes several years of intense, full-time study. As such, in general, only students who have already studied in an undergraduate level yeshiva geared for students aged 18–22, will be accepted. The yeshiva studies are based on classical Torah study traditions using

406-436: The building was completed and a festive chanukas habayis (building dedication) was held. Rabbi Meltzer, who had since moved to Palestine , came back to Europe for the celebration. The festivity was enormous, with participants filling the surrounding streets of the new yeshiva building. Many donated generously and the debt was soon paid up. At the outbreak of World War II, the yeshiva numbered two hundred sixty students. With

435-557: The destruction of much of European Jewry. Rabbi Kotler escaped the Nazis in 1941 and came to the United States where he opened BMG in 1943. BMG's four campuses are located on 35 acres (0.14 km) in Lakewood, with numerous academic facilities, libraries and residence halls. The newest building was completed in the summer of 2015, on the land where Bais Eliyahu (the "trailers") used to be. It

464-445: The first ever day for new students, the atmosphere can seem tumultuous, with much milling about, good spirit and cheer, hence that day has become known as "Tumult day," during which little study takes place and instead much socializing along with the more serious work of choosing both study group and study partner. Rabbi Aharon Kotler served as the academic and spiritual leader of the institution, from 1943 until his passing in 1962. He

493-464: The members of the chaburah and his primary function is to assist the chabura in their studies. Additionally some roshai chaburah assist in pairing the members of their chaburah with an appropriate chavrusah (study partner). Most roshei chaburah will study the material on their own time so that they are proficient and thoroughly knowledgeable on the subject. Some roshai chaburah (plural of rosh hachaburah ) also give

522-501: The mid 1950s until his death in 1998, he is succeeded by Rabbi Matisyohu Salomon and Rabbi Abba Brudny . Other mashgichim in the yeshiva have included Rabbi Yehuda Jacobs , Rabbi Aharon Schustal, Rabbi Eliezer Stefansky, and Rabbi Yaakov Pollack. 40°05′44″N 74°13′19″W  /  40.09562°N 74.22207°W  / 40.09562; -74.22207 Slutsk-Kletsk Yeshiva Mesivta Rabsa Eitz Chaim DiSlutsk ( Hebrew : מתיבתא רבתא עץ חיים דסלאצק ), colloquially known as

551-614: The outbreak of World War II in 1939, Kletsk fell under Soviet rule, and the yeshiva once again faced the threat of an anti-religious communist government. Yet, as they did in Slutsk, the yeshiva remained opened with a complete learning schedule, although many students left for home. However, Rabbi Kotler realized his life was in danger, not solely for running a religious institution, but because of his illegal escape from Russia nineteen years prior, and he therefore escaped to independent Lithuania with plans to only stay there temporarily before escaping

580-416: The region for good. In Vilnius , Rabbi Kotler met Rabbi Chaim Ozer Grodzensky , who said that the entire yeshiva should leave Poland and come to Lithuania. Rabbi Kotler sent his students the message. Two nights later, the yeshiva's one hundred and fifty remaining students escaped to Baranovich . From there they traveled by train to Vilnius, where they were reunited with their rosh yeshiva. They then reopened

609-468: The rosh yeshiva; Rabbi Pesach Pruskin ; Rabbi Eliezer Yehuda Finkel ; Rabbi Reuven Katz ; Rabbi Alter HaLevi Shmuelevitz; Rabbi Yosef Konvitz; Rabbi Moshe Yom Tov Wachtfogel; Rabbi Shlomo Yehudah Leib Plutznick; and Rabbi Yitzchak Rubinstein. Over the next five years, the yeshiva grew to become one of the most respected yeshivos in the world. In 1903, with the departure of the Ridvaz from Slutsk, Rabbi Meltzer

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638-410: The rules of the institution. By long-standing institutional tradition, each semester begins with the majority of students exploring the many study groups (called "Chaburos") available in each field of study and choosing the one that they find of greatest interest. They then pair up with a study partner, who will join them in their study group. As the first days back on campus for returning students, and

667-479: The yeshiva fell into dire straits financially. Rabbi Meltzer was forced to avert much of focus from teaching to fundraising, leaving Rabbi Kotler as sole rosh yeshiva. The war itself reached Slutsk with bombs blowing up in the streets, yet the yeshiva continued, with Rabbi Kotler giving hours-long shiurim (classes). With the Russian Revolution in 1917, all religious institutions were banned and Rabbi Meltzer

696-461: The yeshiva in the village of Jonava on the outskirts of Kaunas. In 1940, the Soviets annexed Lithuania, and afraid, the yeshiva divided into three groups (to make it harder to destroy the entire yeshiva). Rabbi Kotler escaped Europe in 1941 and soon settled in the United States where he became the rosh yeshiva of Beth Medrash Govoha . Chavruta Too Many Requests If you report this error to

725-504: Was appointed rabbi of the city as well. In 1914, Rabbi Meltzer's daughter, Chanah Perel, married Aharon Kotler , a student of the Alter of Slabodka . Following the wedding, Rabbi Kotler joined Rabbi Meltzer in Slutsk, where he became rebbi (teacher of Torah ) of the yeshiva's advanced students. He soon became more involved in the yeshiva and community, assisting his father-in-law in every aspect. Later that year, World War I broke out, and

754-568: Was arrested many times, leaving Rabbi Kotler as rosh yeshiva once again. Nevertheless, the yeshiva remained in Slutsk for four more years, under Communist rule. Rabbi Kotler then convinced Rabbi Meltzer that the yeshiva should escape to the Polish city of Kletsk , where religion was legal. In 1921, Rabbi Kotler and 50 students managed to cross over the Russian-Polish border for Kletsk; (Rabbi Meltzer remained in Slutsk, for he felt he couldn't abandon

783-768: Was first used on Rosh Hashanah 5776, seating over one thousand people for the services. The building was sponsored by Ralph Herzka and Meir Levine. The yeshiva is licensed by the New Jersey Commission on Higher Education and accredited by the Association of Advanced Rabbinical and Talmudic Schools . It is authorized to grant bachelor's and master's degrees in Talmudics , as well as two post-master's diplomas in Talmudics. What students seek in Beth Medrash Govoha

812-446: Was succeeded by Rabbi Shneur Kotler , then 44 years old, who died in 1982. Today, Rabbi Malkiel Kotler , Rabbi Shneur's son, and Rabbis Yerucham Olshin , Dovid Schustal , and Yisroel Neuman , serve in that role. Rabbi Aaron Kotler, a grandson of Rabbi Aharon Kotler, was President and CEO of the institution until he retired towards the end of 2021. Rabbi Nosson Meir Wachtfogel served as dean of students ( mashgiach ruchani ) from

841-506: Was the rabbi of Slutsk , in an effort to combat the influence of the maskilim in his town. He asked Rabbi Nosson Tzvi Finkel (the Alter of Slabodka), who was the rosh yeshiva of the Slabodka Yeshiva , to send him students to start off the yeshiva. The Alter immediately selected fourteen of his top students to go to Slutsk. Among the group were Rabbi Isser Zalman Meltzer , who would become

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