The Or Etzion Yeshiva College, founded by the esteemed elder of Religious Zionist rab-bis and Israel Prize laureate, our revered teacher, Rabbi Chaim Druckman zt"l, is one of the flagship institutions of Religious Zionism and serves as a beacon of Torah educa-tion with Zionist values.
For over 45 years, the yeshiva has been training generations of Torah scholars who in-tegrate Torah study with active engagement in Israeli society, viewing the State of Isra-el as the beginning of the redemption, and participating in all aspects of national life with a deep connection to Am Yisrael.
"I study Torah to fulfill my national duty, and I enlist in the army to fulfill my reli-gious duty."
Yeshiva students enroll in a six-year program that combines intensive Beit Midrash studies with meaningful military service, whether as combat soldiers or in other sig-nificant roles.
The Beit Midrash operates around the clock, and students and avrechim (married scholars) can be found learning even in the late hours of the night.
"One’s entire life must be dedicated to a mission. In everything a person does, he must feel he is an emissary—an emissary of the Torah of Israel, the People of Israel, and the Land of Israel."
Beyond its yeshiva studies, the institution runs two unique projects stemming from Rabbi Druckman’s vision of commitment to Am Yisrael. The first is the Or Me’Ofir pro-gram, which integrates Torah studies with practical education for Ethiopian Jewish youth. The second is the Or Etzion Research Institute for Torah Manuscripts, named after Yitzhak and Chana Strolovitz, which researches and publishes rare manuscripts of Rishonim and Acharonim, such as Ohr Zarua, Sfat Emet, and Pri Tzadik, as well as the teachings of Rabbi Druckman zt"l.
"It is not easy to hold the sword in one hand and the book in the other—to be in-volved in material development on one hand, while deeply immersed in Torah on the other. But this is the true and proper path. This is the demand of Hashem from Israel."
The yeshiva boasts over 1,600 alumni who have integrated into every facet of Israeli society—rabbis, public figures, educators, pioneers, professionals in technology, and more.