About Yeshivat Shaar Hashamayim
How It All Began
To veteran residents of Yershalayim, there is no need to explain what Yeshivat Shaar Hashamayim is. Famed for producing some of the greatest mekubalim today, Yeshivat Shaar Hashamayim was established over 114 years ago in what was then a revolutionary vision.
For generations, Kabbalah was studied privately, even secretly, transmitted from teacher to student and only to those deemed especially deserving and capable of handling its lofty secrets. But then two of the greatest luminaries of the Jewish world created a groundbreaking change. The Baal Shem Tov in Europe and the Or Hachayim in Morocco both worked to spread and disseminate the secrets of the Torah to the greater public. With time, the fire spread and Kabbalistic terms became the language of talmidei chachamim the world over. Still, the study of nistar (“Kabbalah”) was studied privately and quietly. A yeshivah devoted to its studies was unheard of.
Until the dream.
The Dream
On the very same night, at the same time, two great tzaddikim had an incredibly realistic dream. Rav Chaim Yehuda Leib Auerbach (father of the famed Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach) and Rav Shimon Lieder both had the same vision. They saw Rabi Shimon bar Yochai and the Arizal appear before them, commanding them that the time has come to spread Kabbalah further.
This, they said, was to be done by establishing a great yeshivah which will provide shiurim based on Kabbalah, which will consequently help us reach the end of the exile. They then specified a certain time and place where each will meet the other so that together they can work on creating that yeshivah. Sure enough, when Rav Auerbach and Rav Lieder arrived at the specified spot, they discovered each other. The two joined together in establishing the beautiful yeshivah now known as Yeshivat Shaar Hashamayim.
Meaningful Endorsements
From the start, Yeshivat Shaar Hashamayim enjoyed endorsements by the Jewish world’s greatest leaders. Rav Yitzchak Elchonon Spector, Rav Chaim Halevi Soloveichick, as well as many other gedolim from all communities expressed their enthusiastic support for the initiative and wrote warm letters emphasizing that this was indeed the right time to establish a yeshivah for the study of Kabbalah, and reflecting that it will be another step in bringing the Mashiach closer.
Today, Yeshivat Shaar Hashamayim is the main hub of Torah-true Kabbalah study. Students flock from all over the world to hear shiurim by the yeshivah’s rabbanim, known throughout the world as some of the greatest mekubalim and disseminators of this field of Torah. A large percentage of the maggidei shiurim in the similar yeshivos that have sprung up all over the world since then are graduates of Yeshivat Shaar Hashamayim who continue to spread its vision.
In Action
From the start, Yeshivat Shaar Hashamayim enjoyed endorsements by the Jewish world’s greatest leaders. Rav Yitzchak Elchonon Spector, Rav Chaim Halevi Soloveichick, as well as many other gedolim from all communities expressed their enthusiastic support for the initiative and wrote warm letters emphasizing that this was indeed the right time to establish a yeshivah for the study of Kabbalah, and reflecting that it will be another step in bringing the Mashiach closer.
Upon entering the yeshivah, one would be astounded at the sight of utter purity before him. The talmidei chachamim poring over their books with an almost ethereal glow on their faces have largely set aside all material pursuits and are devoting their lives to one goal: study of the Torah, and in particular, study of Kabbalah. As they delve deeper and deeper into its incredible secrets, they have learned to fuse the various methods. From the Arizal to Rav Moshe Cordovero, the Gra and his disciples, the Leshem and the Rashash… all the methods are studied with passion and devotion.
At midnight, a tefillas chatzos is said, followed by study of standard texts as well as Zohar until sunrise. As soon as time allows, Shacharis is said with the special kavanos known to these talmidei chachamim. Minchah, too, is said at the yeshivah by a select group of mekubalim who wear tefillin following the Shimusha Rabba‘s standards and who know to implement lofty kavanos based on the siddur of the Rashash.
All day long, various tikkunei nefesh and Kabbalistic rites are performed, with all their appropriate kavanos. A central one is the long pidyon nefesh written by the Rashash, done in a quorum of ten men and using 160 coins, after which food for two meals is provided by the person for whom the pidyon was performed. Other services performed on a regular basis at the yeshivah include hataras kelalos (invalidating curses), special whispers against ayin hara, hatavas chalom (“bettering” a bad dream), tikkun almanah (a special tikkun said for a widow who is about to remarry), and more. All are performed with the different tzeirufim – Kabbalistic permutations based on the tenets of this field of Torah.
The yeshivah is constantly receiving an outpouring of requests by people in need of a physical or spiritual yeshuah, as well as others who are returning to share their miraculous outcomes. Noted rabbanim and gedolim send people who turn to them to the yeshivah to perform a pidyon nefesh, emphasizing particularly Yeshivat Shaar Hashamayim.
Our Part
The yeshivah boasts some of the finest talmidei chachamim in toras hanistar, who throw themselves into their studies with breathtaking dedication. The yeshivah’s management, on its part, shoulders the responsibility of providing for their families so that they can continue to learn. Thus, any person who supports the yeshivah and its Torah stuty is in essence performing a twofold act of charity and doubling his zechus: he is promoting intense Torah study, and he is supporting poor talmidei chachamim. The members, in return, invest tremendous efforts and kavanos into praying on behalf of those who support them and enable them to learn, opening the doors for tremendous success, nachas, health and happiness.
Upon entering the yeshivah, one would be astounded at the sight of utter purity before him. The talmidei chachamim poring over their books with an almost ethereal glow on their faces have largely set aside all material pursuits and are devoting their lives to one goal: study of the Torah, and in particular, study of Kabbalah. As they delve deeper and deeper into its incredible secrets, they have learned to fuse the various methods. From the Arizal to Rav Moshe Cordovero, the Gra and his disciples, the Leshem and the Rashash… all the methods are studied with passion and devotion.
At midnight, a tefillas chatzos is said, followed by study of standard texts as well as Zohar until sunrise. As soon as time allows, Shacharis is said with the special kavanos known to these talmidei chachamim. Minchah, too, is said at the yeshivah by a select group of mekubalim who wear tefillin following the Shimusha Rabba‘s standards and who know to implement lofty kavanos based on the siddur of the Rashash.
All day long, various tikkunei nefesh and Kabbalistic rites are performed, with all their appropriate kavanos. A central one is the long pidyon nefesh written by the Rashash, done in a quorum of ten men and using 160 coins, after which food for two meals is provided by the person for whom the pidyon was performed. Other services performed on a regular basis at the yeshivah include hataras kelalos (invalidating curses), special whispers against ayin hara, hatavas chalom (“bettering” a bad dream), tikkun almanah (a special tikkun said for a widow who is about to remarry), and more. All are performed with the different tzeirufim – Kabbalistic permutations based on the tenets of this field of Torah.
The yeshivah is constantly receiving an outpouring of requests by people in need of a physical or spiritual yeshuah, as well as others who are returning to share their miraculous outcomes. Noted rabbanim and gedolim send people who turn to them to the yeshivah to perform a pidyon nefesh, emphasizing particularly Yeshivat Shaar Hashamayim.