New extended service Hesder yeshiva established in Kiryat Ono

The hesder yeshiva program was established for national religious men wishing to combine yeshiva study army service.

By JEREMY SHARON
Rabbi Eliezer Shenvald, the dean of Meir Harel yeshivas (photo credit: Meir Harel Yeshivot)
Rabbi Eliezer Shenvald, the dean of Meir Harel yeshivas
(photo credit: Meir Harel Yeshivot)
Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon authorized last week the establishment of a new hesder yeshiva in Kiryat Ono, part of a growing network in which the traditional five-year course is turned into a six-year track instead.
The hesder yeshiva program was established for national-religious men who wanted to combine yeshiva study with army service. In the traditional hesder track, the conscripts serve 16 months in the IDF and study for three-and-a-half years in yeshiva.
The new yeshiva in Kiryat Ono will operate according to what is known as the “sheshsder” track, in which students commit to two years in the IDF and almost four in yeshiva.
A similar yeshiva was also opened in Ofakim three months ago, and the first to offer “shesh-sder” was established nine years ago in Modi’in.
Together, the three institutions are known as the Meir Harel network.
The IDF is also establishing a paramedics course in partnership with Magen David Adom for students at the three yeshivot. There are currently a lack of trained combat paramedics in the army, and students who complete the course will serve in this capacity during their military service.
Rabbi Eliezer Shenvald, dean of the Meir Harel yeshiva network and a colonel in the IDF Reserves, praised Ya’alon for his decision, saying it was an expression of faith in the network which he said was a quality foundation for longerterm courses for hesder yeshiva students.
Shenvald, who established the “shesh-sder” course, said he was not opposed to the traditional hesder course but that there was demand within the national-religious community for IDF tracks of greater duration.