Rosh yeshiva

Rosh yeshiva, (pl. Heb. Roshei yeshiva; Yeshivish Rosh yeshivas), (Hebrew: ראש ישיבה‎), is the title given to the dean of a Talmudical academy (yeshiva). It is made up of the Hebrew words rosh — meaning head, and yeshiva — a school of religious Jewish education. The rosh yeshiva is required to have a vast and penetrating knowledge of the Talmud and the ability to achieve a level of mastery of his material and an ability to analyse and present new perspectives, called chidushim, (novellae) verbally and often in print.

Role

Yeshivas play a central role in the life of certain communities within Orthodox Judaism, so the position of rosh yeshiva is more than just a dean of a school. A rosh yeshiva is often a pillar of leadership in extended communities. In Hasidic Judaism the role of rosh yeshiva is secondary to the Rebbe, who is head of the Hasidic dynasty that controls it. In many Hassidic sects, the rosh yeshiva of a school will be the son or son-in-law of the Rebbe, the assumed heir of the Rebbe.

History

Yeshivas continue the scholarly traditions of the Biblical Sanhedrin and the Seventy Elders wherein were discussed and elaborated the 613 Mitzvot. This tradition was continued by the sages of the Mishnah and Talmud who often headed academies with hundreds of students. In the Talmudic academies in Babylonia the rosh yeshiva was referred to as the Reish Metivta in Aramaic and had the title of Gaon.

General role

The general role of the rosh yeshiva is to oversee the Talmudic studies and practical matters. The rosh yeshiva may lecture on a daily or weekly basis to the highest shiur (class). He is also the one to decide whether to grant permission for students to undertake classes for rabbinical ordination, known as semicha.

Rosh yeshiva dynasties

Depending on the size of the yeshiva, there may be several rosh yeshivas, sometimes from one extended family. There are familial dynasties of rosh yeshivas, for example the Soloveitchik, the Finkel, the Feinstein, the Kotler, Kook, which head many yeshivas in the United States and Israel.

Famous rosh yeshivas

Prior to The Holocaust, most of the large yeshivos were based in Eastern Europe. Presently the majority of the world's yeshivas and their rosh yeshivas are located in the United States and Israel.

The following is a list of some famous rosh yeshivas:

Rabbi Yosef Adler Rabbi Yehuda Amital Rabbi Chaim Yehuda Leib Auerbach Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Auerbach Rabbi Naftali Zvi Yehuda Berlin Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak Bloch Rabbi Moshe Mordechai Epstein Rabbi Moshe Feinstein Rabbi Eliezer Yehuda Finkel Rabbi Nosson Tzvi Finkel Rabbi Chaim Flom Rabbi Mordechai Gifter Rabbi Refael Reuvain Grozovsky Rabbi Chaim Yaakov Goldvicht Rabbi Eliezer Gordon Rabbi Nachman Shlomo Greenspan Rabbi Shlomo Heiman Rabbi Yitzchok Hutner Rabbi Yisrael Meir Kagan Rabbi Yaakov Kamenetsky Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook Rabbi Zvi Yehuda Kook Rabbi Aharon Kotler Rabbi Shneur Kotler Rabbi Boruch Ber Lebowitz Rabbi Dovid Leibowitz Rabbi Henoch Leibowitz Rabbi Aharon Lichtenstein Rabbi Isser Zalman Meltzer Rabbi Avigdor Nebenzahl Rabbi Avraham Yaakov Pam Rabbi Michael Rosensweig Rabbi Yaakov Yitzchok Ruderman Rabbi Shmuel Rozovsky Rabbi Yisroel Salanter Rabbi Yechezkel Sarna Rabbi Hershel Schachter Rabbi Aaron Schechter Rabbi Gedalia Schorr Rabbi Elazar Shach Rabbi Moshe Shmuel Shapira Rabbi Meir Shapiro Rabbi Naftoli Shapiro Rabbi Shimon Shkop Rabbi Chaim Shmuelevitz Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz Rabbi Naftoli Trop Rabbi Chaim Volozhin Rabbi Elchonon Wasserman Rabbi Yechiel Yaakov Weinberg

Current rosh yeshivas

Main article: List of Rosh Yeshivas

Role of mashgiach ruchani

Main article: Mashgiach ruchani

The personal and ethical development of the students in the yeshiva is usually covered by a different personality, known as the mashgiach or spiritual supervisor. This concept, introduced by the Mussar movement in the 19th century, led to perfection of character as one of the aims of attending a yeshiva. One typical and influential mashgiach was Rabbi Eliyahu Eliezer Dessler.