Yeshiva Etzion - Methodology

Methodology

The explicit aim of Yeshiva Etzion is to answer practical questions from an authentically Jewish perspective. This represents an ancient philosophical approach described in the Talmud as Torah Lema'aseh - practical Torah learning. Of course, all topics of the Torah are equally important, even the ones that do not have any practical use. However, many proponents of Torah Lishmah - Torah for its own sake feel that to mix Torah with anything from the outside world is blasphemy. However, this was not the approach of Maimonides, as is obvious from even a cursory glance at The Guide for the Perplexed. Now, this does not mean that the Torah Lishmah proponents who do not use Maimonides' approach do not conduct their lives according to the Torah. Of course they do, because all Orthodox Jews try to keep the Halakha in every aspect of their lives - both Torah study and business activities and other worldly matters. The mistake, therefore, is as follows: by not believing that other topics of study have any truth in and of themselves they confine the Torah to a very small sphere. Yeshiva Etzion's philosophy, and Maimonides' philosophy (in this regard) is the opposite, that through finding truth in many various fields, one's understanding of God, and therefore one's understanding of God's Torah, is enlightened. So the approach of Yeshiva Etzion is threefold: to study "impractical" aspects of the Torah, to study "practical" aspects of the Torah and to incorporate these in your life, and finally to study the world as per Maimonides and incorporate that knowledge into your understanding of God and God's Torah. As such the subject matter dealt with in the Yeshiva lectures range from "impractical" Jewish law to "practical" Jewish law to important philosophical matters that affect the students of the Yeshiva directly and help the students in their understanding of the Torah. As in all Yeshivot, the strong tradition of Jewish textual scholarship figures prominently in discussions on these topics and it is not uncommon for tens, perhaps hundreds of sources to be consulted over the course of the lectures on the topic—which may sometimes take weeks to bring to full closure. The yeshiva developed a unique method of working with the young me. this method is the famous C.D.B System

The CDB SYSTEM c stands for,

Commitment

In turbulent and uncertain times there is comfort in routine and regularity. Our staff guides the Talmidim to establish stability through the development of commitment. This becomes intrinsic and helps achieve a well rounded Torah oriented Jewish life through learning and actual practice. Commitment comes easier only in a yeshiva that understands the needs of a serious student and his interaction with the academic world.

Dedication

The Talmid learns to integrate the components of his life by prioritizing. The dedication of Rabbanim, Hanhala, and his fellow talmidim are models that propel his own dedication to a new level. He becomes able to rise to the challenges of his life by seeing the other Talmidim successfully managing demanding schedules. Life is informed by a Torah perspective, and dedicating time for Torah in their days becomes an intrinsic priority. Such dedication teaches a sense of responsibility and is also a source of inner strength.

Balance

We teach our young men to create their own ideal balance between the world of Kodesh and Chol by tapping into the inner strength they have developed through commitment and dedication. Our well rounded and diverse curriculum and teaching methods are designed to increase their knowledge base in all aspects of the Torah. We regularly discuss the pressing issues of the day and the Torah perspective on them, which further helps the Talmid achieve a solid balance in the outside world by knowing how to appropriately respond to different interactions and situations that may arise. We aid the Talmidim to be able to navigate the waters outside the Beit Medrash. Guiding the Talmid to understand the meaning behind each action we take as Jews helps him answer both the internal questions and those he may be asked as a representative of the frum world. Working with every Talmid on an individual basis allows us to pinpoint both strengths and weaknesses in each bachur and helps the Rabbanim to identify strategies to assist in achieving inner balance.

The famous line of the yeshiva is "Don’t ask us if the CDB system works, ask our Talmidim."