YESHIVAT KIRYAT SHMONAH

yeshiva בס"ד Amongst My People Nestling up against the rocks of the Mountains of Naftali on Israel's northern border lies Yeshivat Hesder Kiryat Shemona, the center of Tora study for all the settelments zof the Upper Galilee. The yeshiva students combine their holy studies with army service in combat units of the IDF. The Yeshiva was founded in 1978 in Kiryat Shemona with the explicit aim of strengthening the town. Against the sounds of exploding Katyusha rockets was heard the voice of the Tora study of the yeshiva students and in addition students enlisted to the army to protect Israels' borders from the Hizballah terrorists. Faith and Security From all over Israel, young men come to learn Tora and fit in with the local population. Many of the students of the students have made their home in Kiryat Shemona at the end of their studies. The Yeshiva with its 150 students, soldiers and rabbanim quickly became the spiritual and social center for the Upper Galil. At the forefront of the Tora and spiritual activities stands the Rabbi of Kiryat Shemona, Rav Tzefania Drori , who made his residence in Kiryat Shemona in 1968. Since then he has been hard at work in this special part of the country, strengthening the Jewish values. Harav Drori is considerd one of the outstanding pupils of Harav Tzvi Yehuda Hakohen Kook of blessed memory. He started to establish the yeshiva in 1977. Harav Shachor of blessed memory joined him as Rosh Yeshiva. Following the death of Harav Shachor in 1980 Harav Yisrael Kirschstein has served together with Harav Drori as Rosh Yeshiva. The yeshivas' administrator is Chaim Bomach. To Learn, To Teach, To Keep. Yeshiva students study Torah day and night thoroughly and intensely under the guidance of both younger and older Rabbanim. Kiryat Shmona has raised a generation of scholars, teachers and rabbis, loved by all around. In the course of their studies, the yeshiva students combine their holy study with army service in the combat units of the IDF. They serve as soldiers and commanders in the Golani Brigade, Tanks, Paratroopers, Givati and other units thus sanctifying the name of heaven during their army service and contributing to Israels' protection as best, till martyrdom. In the Peace for Galilee campaign, six of our students were killed in the tough battles in Lebanon and the story of their bravery and conduct in war was commended by all. Their commander received a special award for bravery as a result of the way in which he led his forces during the battle in which our soldiers were killed. At the end of the year following their death, our study hall was built with a Torah library in their memory. In these days of polarisation within our society, the yeshiva is doing much to bridge social gaps and draw people together, religious and secular Jews, the diffrent ethnic groups, kibbutzim and development town dwellers. The yeshiva also plays its part in absorbing new immigrants, several activities introducing Judaism take place in the yeshiva Some of our students are involved in Shlichut, teaching missions in the Confederation of Independent (ex Soviet) States and they bring the voice of Eretz Yisrael to our brethren there. "To Do" - Breaking Down Barriers The students who come to our yeshiva are graduates of Yeshiva High Schools who wish to be in a Torah environment and still serve together with all their companions in the army in protecting the country. Over the first five years of their yeshiva period, they spend about two years in active service in the army in combat regiments. After they finish their training as soldiers they go to Lebanon to protect the northern border or anywere in Judea and Sameria and all the way to the Gaza strip. Two years ago one of our students, Meir Shenvald of blessed memory, in the Givati brigade while protecting the settlers in Gaza strip was killed in a terrorist bombing of a bus filled with soldiers. Our students return to the yeshiva with the