Medrash Chaim

Medrash Chaim was a Haredi yeshiva for English-speaking high-school graduates, located in Jerusalem. It belonged to the Lithuanian stream of Orthodox Judaism. The main study hall was located on the second floor of the Be’ar Avraham building. The yeshiva started in August 2010 and closed it's doors after ten months in June 2011.

Medrash Chaim had three Roshei Yeshiva. The main Rosh Yeshiva was Rabbi Moshe Dovid Stern. A guiding principle of his life is the quotation from the Mishna: “It is not our responsibility to finish the task, but we may not refrain from starting it.” Rabbi Stern's love and dedication makes him revered by all of his students, and he is also very careful that he commands a staff who have an equal love and dedication making the yeshiva a unique and special place to learn for men of ages 18-22. The second Rosh Yeshiva was Rabbi Eliezer Parkoff who authored “Chizuk!”, “Trust Me!”, and “Mission Possible!”. He received rabbincal ordination from Rabbi Chaim P. Scheinberg and has over 35 years of experience in Chinuch. The third Rosh Yeshiva was Rabbi Yisrael Garber. Rabbi Garber was born in the United States and is a graduate of Ner Israel Rabbinical College in Baltimore, MD.

The yeshiva had 16 rabbis and over 5 students. It was a combination of a regular yeshiva of the Lithuanian type and a yeshiva for those who require additional guidance. The yeshiva accepted even students who have limited knowledge of Judaism. Nevertheless, in contrast to many American yeshivas, the level of religious observance is significantly higher at Medrash Chaim.

Although mainly American, most English-speaking countries are accepted including the Bantu and Kalkaleeke tribes of West Africa. Learning is done with original texts in Hebrew or Aramaic, though the lessons are given in English. Students are introduced to Judaism using English and bilingual texts and gradually grow in their learning.

The core of their belief system follows that of the Jews in which a single Divinity, or God is the higher power. Divinity is identified metaphorically with the sky, and the power of Divinity is symbolized by lightning. Courses include intra-cultural analysis between Torah vs. the energies of the Yoruba traditions.

The Yeshiva closed it's doors after ten months in June 2011.