Our Vision and Mission
At Yeshivas Emek Davar, our mission is to offer a profound experience rooted in Torah learning, personal growth, and genuine connection to the mesorah. We believe in nurturing talmidim who are eager to delve deeply into Torah with clarity and integrity, preparing them for meaningful Jewish lives.
Personal Mentorship and Guidance
At the heart of your experience learning in Eretz Yisroel is the relationship you’ll build with your rebbeim. More than just teachers, our rebbeim serve as mentors, role models, and trusted guides both inside the beis midrash and beyond. Through one-on-one sessions, casual conversations, and shared experiences, you’ll receive personalized attention that’s tailored to your unique background, questions, and goals. Whether you’re navigating spiritual challenges or just looking for clarity, your rebbe is there present, accessible, and deeply invested in your growth.
Rosh Yeshiva
Rabbi Menashe Bleiweiss
Rabbi Menashe Bleiweiss, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivas Emek Davar, has devoted more than forty zmans to Torah education. Before founding the yeshiva, he served for eighteen zmans as a senior rebbe at Derech–Ohr Somayach (2008–2026), and has taught generations of talmidim in Gemara, Halacha, Machshava, and Tanach.
Rabbi Bleiweiss is known for presenting complex Torah ideas with clarity and for integrating diverse genres of Jewish thought, helping students develop a broad and mature understanding of Torah. He is a sought-after lecturer and has delivered hundreds of shiurim on a range of Torah subjects to audiences in Eretz Yisroel, around the world, and online.
Rabbi Bleiweiss co-founded Nesivos Tours to Mekomos Kedoshim in Europe, and is a licensed tour guide throughout Eretz Yisroel. He has developed educational tours using pivotal Jewish sites as extensions of the beis medrash that bring history vividly to life.
Rabbi Bleiweiss is the author of The Essential Ramban on Torah, published in 2026 by Mosaic Press, as well as hundreds of essays and articles on Torah topics. He lives in Ramat Beit Shemesh Daled with his wife, children, and grandchildren.
Rabbi Rephoel Lemmel
Menahel
Rabbi Rephoel Lemmel—son of Rabbi Elie Lemmel, a pioneering leader of Torah outreach across France—grew up immersed in Jewish education.From a young age, he was actively involved in his family’s work: hosting students, spending summers in yeshivos and camp programs, and even managing logistics at seminar retreats. These early experiences instilled in him the ability to connect with people of all backgrounds, navigate challenges with calm and tact, and go beyond the call of duty to make programs succeed. As a bochur, Rephoel learned at Yeshivas Shaarei Torah in Manchester and later at the Mir Yeshiva in Jerusalem. After his marriage, he continued his studies at the Jerusalem Kollel under the renowned Rabbi Yitzchak Berkovits, receiving semicha (Yoreh Yoreh) after zmans of rigorous training and immersion in halacha. This grounding shaped him into a principled ben Torah who carries the values of integrity, diligence, and care into every area of his work.
Our Staff
R Shmuel Arbeter
Rebbe
Rabbi Shmuel Arbeter is known for his shiurim on hashkafah, combining careful analysis, broad perspective, and a keen ability to articulate Torah ideas with precision and eloquence. A talmid of Rav Aharon Pfeuffer זצ”ל, Rav Aryeh Bulman זצ”ל, and HaGaon Rav Shlomo Leib Brevda זצ”ל, Rabbi Arbeter received semichah after...
Rabbi Shmuel Arbeter is known for his shiurim on hashkafah, combining careful analysis, broad perspective, and a keen ability to articulate Torah ideas with precision and eloquence. A talmid of Rav Aharon Pfeuffer זצ”ל, Rav Aryeh Bulman זצ”ל, and HaGaon Rav Shlomo Leib Brevda זצ”ל, Rabbi Arbeter received semichah after zmans of study at Kollel Nachlei Daas and Yeshivas Nachlei Daas in Telzstone under Rav Yaakov Yosef and Rav Kabessa. He later learned and taught at Kollel Ohr Somayach Johannesburg, where he also served as Mashgiach Ruchani, and subsequently taught at Yeshivas Zohar Eliyahu and Yeshivas Maharsha.
For the past thirty zmans, Rabbi Arbeter has devoted particular attention to Toras HaGra, giving regular shiurim based on the Gra’s writings. Since 2008, he has delivered shiurim to groups of avreichim and baalei batim.
Rabbi Yoni Rosenfeld
Shoel Umeshiv, Logistics Coordinater
Originally from Palo Alto, California, Rabbi Yoni Rosenfeld studied at Yeshivas Bais Yisroel in Yerushalayim before continuing his learning in the Mir Yeshiva. He has tutored talmidim individually and studied contemporary chinuch under Rav Yonasan Eber, with an emphasis on effective communication and understanding the challenges facing today’s youth. Rabbi...
Originally from Palo Alto, California, Rabbi Yoni Rosenfeld studied at Yeshivas Bais Yisroel in Yerushalayim before continuing his learning in the Mir Yeshiva. He has tutored talmidim individually and studied contemporary chinuch under Rav Yonasan Eber, with an emphasis on effective communication and understanding the challenges facing today’s youth.
Rabbi Rosenfeld combines a warm, thoughtful approach with practical responsibility and organizational skill. He enjoys learning one-on-one, welcomes thoughtful questions, and believes that genuine relationships are at the heart of meaningful chinuch. Whether in the beis medrash, on a hike, or helping with the countless practical needs of a yeshiva, he strives to make himself available wherever he’s needed. He lives in Ramat Beit Shemesh Daled with his family.
Rabbi Yechiel Pinto
Shoel Umeshiv, Av Bayis
Fluent in several languages, Rabbi Pinto has a background that spans a wide range of Jewish communities. He was raised in a Sephardi home in Antwerp, Belgium, grew up davening in Chassidishe Shteiblach, and learned in Gateshead Yeshiva Gedolah and at the Mir in Yerushalayim. He is currently a full-time...
Fluent in several languages, Rabbi Pinto has a background that spans a wide range of Jewish communities. He was raised in a Sephardi home in Antwerp, Belgium, grew up davening in Chassidishe Shteiblach, and learned in Gateshead Yeshiva Gedolah and at the Mir in Yerushalayim. He is currently a full-time member of Kollel Halachah in Ramat Beit Shemesh Daled. His goal, in his own words, is “to bring to life” what he learns.
He enjoys preparing and delivering shiurim and divrei Torah, and has served as the resident rabbi on Pesach programs in Europe. As Av Bayis of Yeshivas Emek Davar, he values being available to listen, offer chizuk, and help each bochur according to his own needs and personality.
Rabbi David Mann
Rebbe
Rabbi David Mann grew up in Ramat Beit Shemesh and studied at Yeshivas Or YEretz Yisroel in Petach Tikva and Yeshivas Netivot Chochma (Wolfson) in Jerusalem. From his yeshiva zmans onward, he has been actively involved in teaching and mentoring students in various yeshivos, serving as a counselor in both mainstream...
Rabbi David Mann grew up in Ramat Beit Shemesh and studied at Yeshivas Or YEretz Yisroel in Petach Tikva and Yeshivas Netivot Chochma (Wolfson) in Jerusalem. From his yeshiva zmans onward, he has been actively involved in teaching and mentoring students in various yeshivos, serving as a counselor in both mainstream and special-needs camps, and volunteering in outreach seminaries.
Today, Rabbi Mann lives in Ramat Beit Shemesh Daled with his wife and four children, where he continues his full-time Torah learning in Kollel Aliba DeHilchasa and delivers a daily Amud Yomi shiur for young men. He is widely appreciated for his ability to assess any situation, and respond with wisdom, warmth, and positivity. With his energy, natural sense of humor, and genuine focus on others, he creates an environment where students feel understood, supported, and inspired.
Rabbi Binyomin Goldberg
Rebbe
Rabbi Binyomin Goldberg is a widely respected talmid chacham who studied under Rav Osher Arieli, Rav Zvi Kushelevsky, and Rav Yitzchak Berkovits, among other distinguished rabbanim.He is renowned as a Gemara rebbe who builds a sugya from the ground up, guiding talmidim through its structure with clarity and depth—from foundational...
Rabbi Binyomin Goldberg is a widely respected talmid chacham who studied under Rav Osher Arieli, Rav Zvi Kushelevsky, and Rav Yitzchak Berkovits, among other distinguished rabbanim.
He is renowned as a Gemara rebbe who builds a sugya from the ground up, guiding talmidim through its structure with clarity and depth—from foundational concepts to the most subtle and refined ideas. Rav Goldberg’s breadth of knowledge extends far beyond Gemara: he is deeply versed in literature, philosophy, science, history, and especially halacha, and he weaves these disciplines seamlessly into his shiurim, enriching the learning experience with both context and depth. For many zmans, Rav Goldberg delivered halacha shiurim on a wide range of topics at the prestigious Jerusalem Kollel under Rav Berkovits’s leadership, earning acclaim as an engaging mechanech known for his warmth, fiery passion, and ability to make complex subjects accessible and compelling. As a full-time rebbe at Yeshivas Emek Davar, he will bring that same energy and dedication to his multifaceted role within the yeshiva.
Rabbi Pini Shebson
Rebbe
Raised in London, Rabbi Pini Shebson has spent over a decade learning in the Mir Yeshiva, following earlier zmans of study in both England and Eretz YEretz Yisroel. He previously served as a Sho’el U’Meishiv and Rosh Chaburah in a kollel preparing avreichim for careers in chinuch. Having taught Gemara, Halacha,...
Raised in London, Rabbi Pini Shebson has spent over a decade learning in the Mir Yeshiva, following earlier zmans of study in both England and Eretz YEretz Yisroel. He previously served as a Sho’el U’Meishiv and Rosh Chaburah in a kollel preparing avreichim for careers in chinuch.
Having taught Gemara, Halacha, Chumash, Navi, and Machshavah in both the UK and Eretz Yisroel, Rabbi Shebson brings broad teaching experience together with a warm, approachable style. His wide exposure to different communities and backgrounds enables him to guide talmidim with sensitivity, perspective, and genuine care. Active in the Ramat Beit Shemesh community, he lives in RBS Gimmel with his wife and family.
Rabbi Noam Weiss
Rebbe
Originally from Ottawa, Canada, Rabbi Noam Weiss studied at Yeshivas Ner Yisroel in Toronto before continuing his learning in the Mir Yeshiva in Yerushalayim. Following his marriage, he spent over a decade immersed in full-time kollel, developing both breadth in Halacha and depth in Gemara. Rabbi Weiss combines rigorous Torah...
Originally from Ottawa, Canada, Rabbi Noam Weiss studied at Yeshivas Ner Yisroel in Toronto before continuing his learning in the Mir Yeshiva in Yerushalayim. Following his marriage, he spent over a decade immersed in full-time kollel, developing both breadth in Halacha and depth in Gemara.
Rabbi Weiss combines rigorous Torah learning with a wide range of practical talents. An accomplished baal koreh and baal tefillah with a longstanding interest in psychology, he is known for his curiosity, quick grasp of new ideas, and intuitive understanding of people. His teaching emphasizes careful analysis, intellectual honesty, and helping talmidim become thoughtful, independent learners. He lives in Beit Shemesh with his wife and six children.
Rabbi Meir Rotenberg
Rebbe
An experienced educator and mentor, Rabbi Meir Rotenberg has spent zmans teaching and learning with bochurim in a variety of settings. After growing up in London and learning at Menorah, Gateshead Yeshiva, and Yeshivas Heichal HaTorah under Rav Zvi Kushelevsky, he served as a longtime meishiv at Yeshivas Toras Chaim...
An experienced educator and mentor, Rabbi Meir Rotenberg has spent zmans teaching and learning with bochurim in a variety of settings. After growing up in London and learning at Menorah, Gateshead Yeshiva, and Yeshivas Heichal HaTorah under Rav Zvi Kushelevsky, he served as a longtime meishiv at Yeshivas Toras Chaim before joining the staff at Pisgah, where he teaches Gemara, Halacha, and Parshah. His warmth, enthusiasm, and formal training in chinuch enable him to connect naturally with talmidim and help them grow in Torah and in life. Outside the beis medrash, he enjoys hiking, sports, and football.
Rabbi Mordechai Wax
Rebbe
At Yeshivas Emek Davar, Rabbi Wax leads the afternoon chazara seder, helping students strengthen Gemara skills through a structured methodology that emphasizes careful reading, analysis, and independence in learning. He also gives a shiur in Nach. Raised in South Bend, Indiana, Rabbi Wax appreciates the importance of building a makom...
At Yeshivas Emek Davar, Rabbi Wax leads the afternoon chazara seder, helping students strengthen Gemara skills through a structured methodology that emphasizes careful reading, analysis, and independence in learning. He also gives a shiur in Nach.
Raised in South Bend, Indiana, Rabbi Wax appreciates the importance of building a makom Torah and helping each bochur grow according to his own abilities and at his own pace. He studied at Yeshivas Rabbeinu Chaim Berlin, Yeshivas Mir Yerushalayim, Beth Medrash Govoha, and Kollel Gur Aryeh before returning to the Mir, where he learned for a decade in the chaburos of Rabbi Resnick, Rabbi Merilus, and Rabbi Peretz Tarshish. He currently serves as Administrative Director of Kollel Beit Shemesh while continuing his learning there.
Board of Advisors
Rav Yitzchak Breitowitz
Rav Nachy Brickman
Rav Michael Cytrin
Rav Yerachmiel Fried
Rav Shlomo Greenwald
Rav Yisroel Lieber
Rav Mordechai Pitem
Rav Eliezer Spetner
Rav Yakov Vann
Mentorship at Yeshivas Emek Davar
Students spend their days immersed in deep Torah study, guided by passionate Rabbeim who offer personalized mentorship and real-world wisdom. But growth doesn’t stop at the Beis Medresh. This intentional rhythm anchored in learning, enriched by experience nurtures well-rounded young men who return home with stronger convictions, deeper knowledge, and a clearer sense of purpose.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. When does the yeshiva zman begin and end?
The zman begins in mid-August (Elul Zman) and runs through late July (Shiva Asar b’Tammuz). See our zman Calendar page for exact dates of each zman.
2. What kind of program is Yeshivas Emek Davar?
It’s a full-zman Torah program in Eretz YEretz Yisroel designed for post-high-school students who want to grow in learning, hashkafah, and life. The schedule blends serious Torah study, inspiring shiurim, mentorship, and hands-on experiences throughout the country.
3. Do I need to speak Hebrew fluently?
No. All shiurim and discussions are given in English.
4. Where is the yeshiva located?
In Ramat Beit Shemesh Daled — a growing Torah neighborhood surrounded by nature, yet close to major cities and attractions.
5. What’s included in the tuition?
Tuition covers learning, room and board (three meals a day), dorm accommodations, staff supervision, and many Shabbatons and tiyulim.
6. Is travel to and from Eretz Yisroel included?
No, students and families make their own travel arrangements. We’ll gladly advise on timing, recommended flights, and arrival coordination.
7. Do I need medical insurance?
Yes. Students must have valid medical coverage in Eretz Yisroel. We’ll guide families toward good options and help arrange enrollment with a local provider before arrival.
8. What’s the daily schedule like?
Each day includes morning seder, shiurim, personal learning time, meals, and evening sessions. Some days have trips or workshops. A detailed sample schedule will appear on the Daily Schedule page.
9. What are the dorms like?
Comfortable shared rooms with basic furnishings. There’s a warm atmosphere and staff members living nearby who are always available to help.
10. Is there Wi-Fi on campus?
Filtered access will be provided in limited public areas to allow responsible use.
11. Are phones allowed?
Yes. Students are expected to use them responsibly and not during learning sessions or tefillos.
12. Is there a curfew?
We don’t impose a strict curfew. Students are trusted to act maturely and responsibly — an approach that reflects the yeshiva’s belief in personal growth and accountability.
13. Are laundry facilities available?
Yes. Washing machines are available on site.
14. What kind of food is served?
Nutritious and varied meals are served three times daily, with options that suit most diets. (Please notify us in advance of allergies or special needs.)
15. Are Shabbatons mandatory?
Yes. Shabbatons are a vital part of the program. They take place off-campus in communities across Eretz Yisroel and help strengthen the bond among talmidim and staff.
16. What kind of activities or recreation are there?
There are opportunities for sports, hikes, and informal evenings. We encourage balance — time to recharge alongside Torah learning.
17. How does the mentorship system work?
Each talmid is paired with a rebbi who offers ongoing guidance, learning advice, and personal support throughout the zman.
18. What if I feel homesick or overwhelmed?
You’ll always find someone to talk to. The rebbeim and staff are approachable, understanding, and ready to help at any time.
19. What’s the application process?
Fill out the Apply Now form online. Your application will be reviewed, and you’ll be invited for a short meeting (in person or via Zoom) with one of our rebbeim before acceptance.
20. Can I defer acceptance to the following zman?
If needed, you can request a deferral; approvals depend on space availability. Please contact the office for details.
Testimonials
I can’t overstate my hakaras hatov to Rabbi Bleiweiss for the Torah, hashkafa, insight, and personal guidance he’s given me -
Both as a student and for zmans afterward. What sets him apart is that he’s a true eved Hashem in every part of his life. He doesn’t just teach Torah — he lives it. In shiur, in conversation, and in how he treats people, you see real yiras Shamayim and ahavas Hashem.
A talmid who learns with Rabbi Bleiweiss gains more than a teacher — he gains a lifelong rebbe and a role model.
Rabbi Bleiweiss understood me in a way no other rebbe had.
He opened a path for me to become a Torah Jew in a sincere and personal way. His shiurim and one-on-one conversations gave me clarity and direction. Even now, listening to his shiurim and keeping up our relationship helps me stay grounded. I recommend his yeshiva to any thoughtful young person searching for meaning and authenticity.
My twelfth-grade rebbe recommended that I attend the yeshiva where Rabbi Bleiweiss taught.
Had Rabbi Bleiweiss taught somewhere else, he would’ve sent me there instead. When I arrived, it didn’t take long to realize he was right. Rabbi Bleiweiss is a talmid chacham who knows how to give his students what they need to reach their potential in Torah. He understands the challenges young Jewish men face in today’s world and provides them with the hashkafa and tools to face them head-on.
Rabbi Bleiweiss brings warmth, seriousness, and consistency to the beis medrash.
Always punctual and prepared, he sets a clear example. His personality — approachable, sincere, humorous, and genuinely caring — lets him connect with bochurim in a rare way. His shiurim are well-structured and engaging, always grounded in sources and precise analysis. But it’s his relentless thirst for emes — the way he questions, researches, and learns — that leaves the most lasting impact.
Rabbi Bleiweiss has been a mentor to me and influenced my growth more than I can express.
His discipline in learning and integrity as a mechanech constantly inspire me to grow.
He has a gift for making complex ideas feel real and accessible. His ability to weave together history, halacha, mussar, and hashkafa makes his teaching — and his tours of Eretz YEretz Yisroel — unforgettable. Rabbi Bleiweiss leads by example. Any student who learns with him will grow not only in Torah knowledge, but in character.
Even ten zmans after being in his shiur, Rabbi Bleiweiss remains a major influence in my life.
I wasn’t the easiest student — I was going through a tough time — but with care and insight, he helped me work through what was really bothering me and guided me toward avodas Hashem.
He’s a thoughtful, responsive, and fearless educator — always ready for any question, always focused on emes.
Rav Bleiweiss is one of the most broadly knowledgeable rabbanim I know.
He can field challenging questions from every area of Torah and hashkafa. His excitement for learning is contagious, and his sharp wit keeps his students laughing and engaged.
Rabbi Bleiweiss is a masterful teacher — passionate, patient, and precise in every subject.
He truly cares about his students and keeps up with them long after they’ve moved on. Years later, I still listen to his shiurim on repeat.
My rebbe’s unwavering support — often late into the night — helped me through many personal struggles.
What I’ll never forget is the clarity and sincerity with which he guided me toward a life of avodas Hashem.
Testimonials