Hesder Yeshiva Association

The Hesder Yeshiva Association (Hebrew: איגוד ישיבות ההסדר) is an Israeli umbrella organization founded in 1975 (Hebrew year 5735) to represent the majority of Hesder yeshivas in negotiations and discussions with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the Ministry of Defense regarding military service and the rights of religious soldiers. It also represents the yeshivas before the public and the media. The association's stated goals include establishing many yeshivas that combine Torah study with meaningful military service, and nurturing Torah scholars who possess fear of Heaven and love of the people and the land. The association was founded by several yeshiva heads together with Yaakov Drori, who served as its first director-general. In 1991 (Hebrew year 5751), the organization received the Israel Prize for its special contribution to society and the state; the prize was accepted on behalf of the association by Rabbi Chaim Yaakov Goldwicht, who founded the first Hesder yeshiva, Yeshivat Kerem B'Yavneh. Since 2013 (Hebrew year 5773), the association has published the journal 'Asif', which collects Torah articles by students and rabbis of Hesder yeshivas, and it also operates the Asif Library containing thousands of articles written in Hesder yeshivas over the years. The association's offices are located on Rabbi Akiva Street in Lod. For about 25 years, Rabbi Avraham Baron served as director-general. After his tenure, the role was split into two positions: chief of staff (ramat) and individual coordinator (rakaz haprat). Eitan Ozri, Moli Yisraelzon, and currently Uri Pinsky have served as chief of staff; Eliezer Deutsch ('Leizu') serves as individual coordinator, handling contact with the army and personal inquiries from students. Rabbi Zeev Krup was one of the organization's heads during its founding years and served as its spokesman between 2013 and 2015. Rabbi David Stav previously served as the organization's spokesman. The chairman of the association's council was Rabbi Chaim Druckman until his death in 2023. Current council members include representatives of yeshiva heads: Rabbis Yehoshua Weitzman, Zvi Kostiner, Shmuel Haber, Shlomo Rosenfeld, David Fendel, Aharon Friedman, Eyal Greiner, Yoel Manowitz, Chaim Wolfson, and Yossi Alfasi. The association's website provides information about Hesder yeshivas and 'Shiluvim' yeshivas, the association's yearbook 'Asif', articles on Hesder Torah, and details about IDF service: draft deferrals, enlistment in the Hesder track, guidelines and procedures, registration for service, tests and screenings, registration for enlistment, unit placement, and more. It also covers educational enterprises and contributions to Israeli society, and Hesder yeshiva graduates on the front lines of Zionist activity. The site lists member yeshivas, which include Yeshivat Kerem B'Yavneh, Yeshivat Har Etzion, Yeshivat Hakotel, Yeshivat Or Etzion, and many others across Israel. In 2021 (Hebrew year 5781), following an attack on Rabbi Eliyahu Mali in Jaffa, the association published a letter to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Benny Gantz, and Public Security Minister Amir Ohana, calling for action to create deterrence in Jaffa and throughout the country. Also in 2021, the organization published a letter to Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, together with the Association of High Yeshivas, against the discontinuation of subsidies for children of kollel students.

The Hesder Yeshiva Association was founded in 1975 (Hebrew year 5735) by several yeshiva heads and by Yaakov Drori, who served as its first director-general. The goal was to establish an organization that would represent all Hesder yeshivas in contacts and discussions regarding military service and the rights of religious soldiers vis-à-vis the IDF and the Ministry of Defense, and to represent the yeshivas before the public and the media. The organization set as its objectives the establishment of many yeshivas combining Torah study with meaningful military service, and the nurturing of Torah scholars devoted to Torah, fear of Heaven, and love of the people and the land. In 1991 (Hebrew year 5751), the organization received the Israel Prize for its special contribution to society and the state. The prize was accepted on behalf of the organization by Rabbi Chaim Yaakov Goldwicht, who founded the first Hesder yeshiva, Yeshivat Kerem B'Yavneh. Since 2013 (Hebrew year 5773), the association has published the journal 'Asif', which collects Torah articles by students and rabbis of Hesder yeshivas. It also operates the Asif Library, containing thousands of articles written in Hesder yeshivas over the years. For about 25 years, Rabbi Avraham Baron served as director-general of the association. After his tenure, the role was split into two: chief of staff (ramat) and individual coordinator (rakaz haprat). Eitan Ozri, Moli Yisraelzon, and currently Uri Pinsky have served as chief of staff. Eliezer Deutsch ('Leizu') serves as individual coordinator, handling contact with the army and personal inquiries from students. Rabbi Zeev Krup was one of the organization's heads during its founding years and served as its spokesman between 2013 and 2015. Rabbi David Stav previously served as the organization's spokesman. The chairman of the association's council was Rabbi Chaim Druckman until his death in 2023. Current council members include representatives of yeshiva heads: Rabbis Yehoshua Weitzman, Zvi Kostiner, Shmuel Haber, Shlomo Rosenfeld, David Fendel, Aharon Friedman, Eyal Greiner, Yoel Manowitz, Chaim Wolfson, and Yossi Alfasi. The association's offices are located on Rabbi Akiva Street in Lod. The association's website provides information about Hesder yeshivas and 'Shiluvim' yeshivas, the association's yearbook 'Asif', articles on Hesder Torah, and details about IDF service: draft deferrals, enlistment in the Hesder track, guidelines and procedures, registration for service, tests and screenings, registration for enlistment, unit placement, and more. It also covers educational enterprises and contributions to Israeli society, and Hesder yeshiva graduates on the front lines of Zionist activity. The site lists member yeshivas, which include Yeshivat Kerem B'Yavneh, Yeshivat Har Etzion, Yeshivat Hakotel, Yeshivat Or Etzion, and many others across Israel. In 2021 (Hebrew year 5781), following an attack on Rabbi Eliyahu Mali in Jaffa, the association published a letter to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Benny Gantz, and Public Security Minister Amir Ohana, calling for action to create deterrence in Jaffa and throughout the country. Also in 2021, the organization published a letter to Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, together with the Association of High Yeshivas, against the discontinuation of subsidies for children of kollel students.

• 2023

  Rabbi Chaim Druckman, chairman of the council, passed away.

• 2021

  Published letters to Prime Minister Netanyahu and others after attack on Rabbi Eliyahu Mali; opposed subsidy cuts with Association of High Yeshivas.

• 2013

  Began publishing the journal 'Asif' and operating the Asif Library.

• 1991

  Received Israel Prize for special contribution to society and the state; accepted by Rabbi Chaim Yaakov Goldwicht.

• 1975

  Association founded by several yeshiva heads and Yaakov Drori, first director-general.

Umbrella organization for Hesder yeshivas, combining Torah study with military service and representing the sector before the IDF, Ministry of Defense, and the public.

• Asif journal

  Annual journal collecting Torah articles by students and rabbis of Hesder yeshivas, published since 2013.

• Asif Library

  Digital library containing thousands of articles written in Hesder yeshivas over the years.

• Representation services

  Representation of Hesder yeshivas before the IDF, Ministry of Defense, public, and media.

1. 1איגוד ישיבות ההסדר - האתר לבני ישיבות ההסדרhesder.org.il
2. 2Hesder Yeshiva Association - Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3איגוד ישיבות ההסדר - Wikipedia (Hebrew)he.wikipedia.org