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Aish HaTorah – Aish Gesher
Aish HaTorah · Old City, Jerusalem
Aish HaTorah – Aish Gesher is a yeshiva in Old City, Jerusalem, for gap-year students, men only.
A year-long post-high-school program in Jerusalem's Old City for young men graduating from public high schools who want a traditional yeshiva experience, studying Jewish texts at a serious level alongside leadership development, located in Aish's Old City campus with classrooms, a dining hall and gym.
Poll results
Best for someone who wants an English-friendly landing · no prior learning background needed · to be treated like an adult
Rate this program
9 people have rated this program.
Would you recommend it to a friend?
1 Definitely not · 5 Definitely
Asked "Would you recommend it to a friend?", alumni of Aish HaTorah – Aish Gesher averaged 4.7 out of 5 (1 = Definitely not, 5 = Definitely), based on 9 responses.
n=9How much did your connection to israel grow
1 It didn't · 5 Profoundly
Asked "How much did your connection to israel grow", alumni of Aish HaTorah – Aish Gesher averaged 3.9 out of 5 (1 = It didn't, 5 = Profoundly), based on 9 responses.
n=9How much did your Hebrew actually improve, honestly, by the end?
1 No improvement · 5 Completely Transformed
Asked "How much did your Hebrew actually improve, honestly, by the end?", alumni of Aish HaTorah – Aish Gesher averaged 2.4 out of 5 (1 = No improvement, 5 = Completely Transformed), based on 9 responses.
n=9How did you typically spend your free evenings during the program?
1 Almost always stayed in5 Almost always went out
Closest to: Roughly even mix
Asked "How did you typically spend your free evenings during the program?", alumni of Aish HaTorah – Aish Gesher answered closest to "Roughly even mix", based on 9 responses.
n=9How much did your experience depend on which specific staff/rabbis/madrichim you got?
1 Same for everyone5 Depended completely
Closest to: Depended somewhat
Asked "How much did your experience depend on which specific staff/rabbis/madrichim you got?", alumni of Aish HaTorah – Aish Gesher answered closest to "Depended somewhat", based on 9 responses.
n=9How niche are the people that go to this program?
Not enough responses yet.
How much were you treated as an adult vs. managed like a student?
1 Completely like a student 5 Completely like an adult
Closest to: Mostly like an adult
Asked "How much were you treated as an adult vs. managed like a student?", alumni of Aish HaTorah – Aish Gesher answered closest to "Mostly like an adult", based on 9 responses.
n=9How much freedom did you have over your own time and choices?
1 None5 I was free to do whatever I wanted
Closest to: A lot
Asked "How much freedom did you have over your own time and choices?", alumni of Aish HaTorah – Aish Gesher answered closest to "A lot", based on 9 responses.
n=9How much prior Torah learning background did you need to keep up?
1 No background necessary5 In depth Gemara with proficient Aramaic
Closest to: 2
n=9How much did the program contribute to your desire to learn?
Not enough responses yet.
How much are you still learning now, after the program?
Not enough responses yet.
How much free time do you have outside of a learning schedule?
1 I had no free time outside of a learning schedule5 I had all the free time in the world
Closest to: I had a lot of free time
Asked "How much free time do you have outside of a learning schedule?", alumni of Aish HaTorah – Aish Gesher answered closest to "I had a lot of free time", based on 9 responses.
n=9How was the food, realistically, day to day?
1 Not good at all · 5 5 Star Hotel
Asked "How was the food, realistically, day to day?", alumni of Aish HaTorah – Aish Gesher averaged 3.7 out of 5 (1 = Not good at all, 5 = 5 Star Hotel), based on 9 responses.
n=9How would you rate the living conditions?
1 Not good at all · 5 5 Star Hotel
Asked "How would you rate the living conditions?", alumni of Aish HaTorah – Aish Gesher averaged 3.8 out of 5 (1 = Not good at all, 5 = 5 Star Hotel), based on 9 responses.
n=9How much privacy/personal space did you have?
1 None/ Felt cramped · 5 All the space in the world
Asked "How much privacy/personal space did you have?", alumni of Aish HaTorah – Aish Gesher averaged 3.1 out of 5 (1 = None/ Felt cramped, 5 = All the space in the world), based on 9 responses.
n=9How responsive was staff when something practical broke or went wrong?
1 Ignored it · 5 Fixed things immediately
Asked "How responsive was staff when something practical broke or went wrong?", alumni of Aish HaTorah – Aish Gesher averaged 4.1 out of 5 (1 = Ignored it, 5 = Fixed things immediately), based on 9 responses.
n=9How much did the hebrew that you learned in the program stick or fade?
1 Faded Completely · 5 All the Hebrew I learned stayed with me
Asked "How much did the hebrew that you learned in the program stick or fade?", alumni of Aish HaTorah – Aish Gesher averaged 3.1 out of 5 (1 = Faded Completely, 5 = All the Hebrew I learned stayed with me), based on 7 responses.
n=7How available are resources for learning hebrew, (ie ulpan)?
1 No resources available you are on your own · 5 All the resources available Ulpan everyday
Asked "How available are resources for learning hebrew, (ie ulpan)?", alumni of Aish HaTorah – Aish Gesher averaged 2.9 out of 5 (1 = No resources available you are on your own, 5 = All the resources available Ulpan everyday), based on 9 responses.
n=9How much of the day did you need to use Hebrew vs. able to fall back on English?
1 Always able to speak English5 Always need to speak Hebrew
Closest to: Always able to speak English
Asked "How much of the day did you need to use Hebrew vs. able to fall back on English?", alumni of Aish HaTorah – Aish Gesher answered closest to "Always able to speak English", based on 9 responses.
n=9How much prior Hebrew did you need to not feel lost?
1 No Hebrew5 Completely Fluent
Closest to: No Hebrew
Asked "How much prior Hebrew did you need to not feel lost?", alumni of Aish HaTorah – Aish Gesher answered closest to "No Hebrew", based on 8 responses.
n=8How much did the program strengthen your intention to build a life in Israel?
1 No Effect · 5 Changed my direction
Asked "How much did the program strengthen your intention to build a life in Israel?", alumni of Aish HaTorah – Aish Gesher averaged 3.4 out of 5 (1 = No Effect, 5 = Changed my direction), based on 8 responses.
n=8Did the program give you a real social circle of Israelis to lean on?
1 None · 5 A real support system
Asked "Did the program give you a real social circle of Israelis to lean on?", alumni of Aish HaTorah – Aish Gesher averaged 2.3 out of 5 (1 = None, 5 = A real support system), based on 7 responses.
n=7How easily did you find people you clicked with?
1 Never really did · 5 Found my people fast
Asked "How easily did you find people you clicked with?", alumni of Aish HaTorah – Aish Gesher averaged 4.8 out of 5 (1 = Never really did, 5 = Found my people fast), based on 8 responses.
n=8How much do you feel you gained close friendships that lasted?
1 None Lasted · 5 Lifelong Friends
Asked "How much do you feel you gained close friendships that lasted?", alumni of Aish HaTorah – Aish Gesher averaged 4.5 out of 5 (1 = None Lasted, 5 = Lifelong Friends), based on 8 responses.
n=8How much did the social scene depend on your particular cohort?
Not enough responses yet.
How much did the program push you out of your comfort zone?
1 I stayed with-in my comfort zone5 I was pushed completely out of my comfort zone
Closest to: I was greatly pushed
Asked "How much did the program push you out of your comfort zone?", alumni of Aish HaTorah – Aish Gesher answered closest to "I was greatly pushed", based on 6 responses.
n=6Did the learning translate into something you kept doing after the program?
1 No I did not continue any learning after the program · 5 Yes I have many chavrutot and do daily learning (ie daf yomi)
Asked "Did the learning translate into something you kept doing after the program?", alumni of Aish HaTorah – Aish Gesher averaged 3.7 out of 5 (1 = No I did not continue any learning after the program, 5 = Yes I have many chavrutot and do daily learning (ie daf yomi)), based on 7 responses.
n=7Was the program what you expected, or different?
1 Much worse than expected5 Much better
Closest to: Much better
Asked "Was the program what you expected, or different?", alumni of Aish HaTorah – Aish Gesher answered closest to "Much better", based on 7 responses.
n=7How much did the program actually make you want to stay in Israel?
1 No desire whatsoever · 5 Changed my trajectory
Asked "How much did the program actually make you want to stay in Israel?", alumni of Aish HaTorah – Aish Gesher averaged 4.0 out of 5 (1 = No desire whatsoever, 5 = Changed my trajectory), based on 6 responses.
n=6How much are you still connected to learning now, after the program?
1 Not at all · 5 It's a part of my life
Asked "How much are you still connected to learning now, after the program?", alumni of Aish HaTorah – Aish Gesher averaged 3.7 out of 5 (1 = Not at all, 5 = It's a part of my life), based on 7 responses.
n=7Who it's for
For young men from public-school backgrounds wanting a traditional year-long Old City yeshiva experience combining serious text study with leadership development.
- Duration
- Gap Year — 1 year
- How to sign up
- Apply through Aish HaTorah's entry programs admissions page. https://yeshiva.aish.com/entry-programs/
- Contact
- jkalla@aish.comNot yet verifiedhttps://aish.com/
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Reviews
How much did your connection to israel grow
How much did your Hebrew actually improve, honestly, by the end?
Reading and Understanding much better than speaking
How much did your experience depend on which specific staff/rabbis/madrichim you got?
Lots of different rabbis, so you connect to who you want. You can switch shiurim if you don't connect to the rabbi you're with.
How much prior Torah learning background did you need to keep up?
I had a regular yeshiva background, but I had friends from public school who were very motivated and they learned how to learn just as well as me in just a few months.
How much free time do you have outside of a learning schedule?
There is an organized schedule but if you wanted to go do something outside yeshiva, depending on the activity it would be encouraged or discouraged to go.
How was the food, realistically, day to day?
Lunch is amazing. Breakfast and dinner are usually fine. But there are restaurants in the old city, so anytime you don't like the food you can buy a bagel, shwarma, etc.
How would you rate the living conditions?
Comfortable.
How much did the program strengthen your intention to build a life in Israel?
They don't push it, but you see from the rabbis how beautiful life is living in Israel.
How easily did you find people you clicked with?
Low-key Aish gets amazing guys. I don't think ppl realize since they get kids from out of town and Ncsy and stuff, but they are really awesome kids.
How much do you feel you gained close friendships that lasted?
Everyone gets very close
Overall, how was the program?
Amazing experience. Great rabbis, great guys. Changed my life.
Was the program what you expected, or different?
Nowhere is perfect, but Aish's rabbis give everything they have to the guys and the classes are really eye opening. Whatever you need, it's there. Good location. Good facilities.. Food is solid. Awesome trips.
How much did the program actually make you want to stay in Israel?
Really fell in love with Israel
Alumni References
Some past participants have offered to answer questions about their experience.
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