USCJ Consevative Yeshiva to Offer Pre-College Year of Study in Israel

The United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism (USCJ) has announced a new program for high school graduates. Beginning in September 2002, the Conservative Yeshiva of the United Synagogue in Jerusalem will open its Pre-CollegeYeshiva Year.

According to Rabbi Joel Roth, Rosh Yeshiva, "This program will offer North American high school graduates the opportunity to study Rabbinic texts in an open-minded, egalitarian atmosphere, while retaining the intensity associated with traditional Yeshiva learning."

Stephen S. Wolnek, USCJ International President, notes that "increasingly, North American students are choosing to take a ‘gap year’ to do something exciting and different between high school and college. Common in Europe and England, this idea is becoming more popular, especially in the Jewish community. Many Jewish high school graduates now spend the year after high school studying in Israel. This is a wonderful way for high school graduates to increase their Jewish literacy and fortify their religious identities before going off to college."

The Pre-College students will be integrated into the Yeshiva’s regular classes but will also have classes specifically tailored to them. Rabbi Daniel Goldfarb, Director of the Conservative Yeshiva, states that "students now have more choices of programs they can attend. The Pre-College Yeshiva Year will supplement the existing Pre-College programs currently offered by the United Synagogue: the USY NATIV Program and the USY NATIV/Yeshiva track."

The USCJ Conservative Yeshiva will provide a communal learning and living experience for high school graduates from all Jewish backgrounds. Students will immerse themselves in study of classical Jewish subjects -- Bible, Mishnah, Talmud, Halakhah, Philosophy, Hasidut and Prayer. The method of study will be the traditional hevruta/shiur style. In addition, there will be a Hebrew ulpan and special learning sessions with the roshei yeshiva and visiting lecturers to address topics of particular interest to the group. The program will include Shabbatonim during the year and travel around Israel.

USCJ Executive Vice-President Rabbi Jerome Epstein points out that "the Pre-College Year will be one of tremendous intellectual, personal and religious growth for participants. Students will be exposed to an exciting new group, the richness of Israel and a stimulating learning experience very different from high school. Students will go on to college able to serve as knowledgeable Jewish leaders on campus and in the Jewish community."

During the year in Jerusalem, students will be housed in the new campus of the USCJ Shirley & Jacob Fuchsberg Center for Conservative Judaism, next doorto the Yeshiva. The cost of the year is $14,000 and includes tuition, extra-curricular activities, room and board, supervision, medical insurance, and round-trip travel from New York. Financial aid is available based on need.

Since 1972, the United Synagogue has maintained its Israel headquarters at the Fuchsberg Center in Jerusalem. The Center is headquarters for USY |Israel Pilgrimage, USY High, and NATIV, which bring over 800 young people |to Israel each year. In addition, the Center offers classes and resources to hundreds |of Conservative Jewish visitors of all ages and from all nations throughout the year.

The Yeshiva is under the academic auspices of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America. College credit is available from List College of JTS for many of the courses offered at the Yeshiva. The Yeshiva will be glad to workwith students to obtain credit at other colleges and universities.

For further information, contact Jeni Friedman, North American Director of Admissions for the Pre-College program, at jefriedman@jtsa.edu. Information is also available on the Yeshiva website, or e-mail yeshiva@uscj.org.