Yeshivah
YESHIVAH. In contemporary usage, the Hebrew term yeshivah refers to an academy for the advanced study of Jewish religious texts, primarily the Talmud. Since the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE, the yeshivah has been one of the most important institutions of Jewish communal life. Although many yeshivah students go on to become rabbis and although the texts taught in yeshivot are among those a rabbi is expected to master, it should be emphasized that a yeshivah, an all-male institution, is not a rabbinical seminary. Its function is not to train professional religious leaders but rather to provide a framework for study. In the Jewish religious tradition, study of the Torah is seen as a central and meritorious religious act in and of itself, regardless of its relevance to the student's career plans. While yeshivot have been a common feature of Jewish communities, they have not been equally prevalent in every location and time. In various communities and at various times, aspiring scholars would study individually under the guidance of more advanced scholars and rabbis without taking part in a formal educational framework. The batei midrash, or communal study halls, that were common in many communities facilitated this practice.
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