Yeshivat Orayta

It depends on the friend, but if they enjoy questioning and a philosophical/spiritual approach to torah, then this is the place.

I don’t think it’s for everyone, but if you fit the type then it is a great experience

With many tiyulim, torat eretz yisrael is at the heart of the programming.

There are Hebrew classes but conversational Hebrew is not a focus. My Aramaic improved massively though.

They definitely have opportunities that I did not take advantage of.

All the rebbeim were for everyone.

This is a very person focussed experience. The location helps, but it is the relationships and the family that makes the yeshiva what it is.

To a point, as it’s still a program. Like, the students had a lot of input in things, and a lot we were just given or led to.

Just in my year there were a handful of students who came in with almost nothing and they flourished. Orayta almost specializes in making myself work for students with secular backgrounds.

I came in with very bad Hebrew skills and no gemara experience. It wasn't easy. But the help was there.

About 2 hours for lunch, and 1.5 hours for dinner. Plus Wednesday afternoons off, and any chaggim of course.

There is free time each day, and Fridays. But the course is intensive.

Varied but generally very consistently filling and decent. Only rarely would be something most people wouldn’t like.

Breakfast and lunch is made by Michael, an incredible chef. The dinners were not the best. Could have changed since I was there.

The Breakfast and Lunch was incredible, the dinners and Shabbat food less so. They have since moved to another campus so I can’t speak for the current food quality

Much better now in the new dormitories we moved into.

They literally live in hotel rooms with ensuite bathrooms now.

Orayta has recently moved campuses to the former Aish girls building, which was a considerable upgrade

But they moved and it’s way better now

It’s a dormitory, so I had roommates. That being said, I did have my own Makom and decent storage space in my room.

I had little, but I enjoyed the fraternity it produced.

Usually very on-top of fixing things around the building. Shoutout Yoni and Rueven Levi goats.

I stayed in Israel after, so it stuck.

They are working to improve this with the new Hesder though.

They had two different ulpan groups.

Depends what level you are on. Orayta had shiurim in every level of translation. Very few entirely Hebrew taught though.

I’m making Aliyah soon so that’s that I guess lol. I came in enrolled in Binghamton, and left wanted Shana bet, sherut, and a life in israel.

Not really honestly, that wasn’t so much a focus. They did connect us with Israeli alumni and sent us all out for Shabbat at their houses. And they connected us with people we visited on tiyulim, and we got to visit them independently.

Some of the madrichim became Israeli contacts, but not generally.

Important was the out-of-town nature.

The chats very much active, and orayta works hard to provide post- experience learning and experiences.

It was an extremely engaging and meaningful experience. I think that’s putting it as best as I can. The rebbeim do everything in their power to empower and encourage every student in their own ways.

I learned a lot I’ve never had the chance or the courage to. I also broke a lot of fears through tiyulim.

I didn't know what to expect, but it is was a perfect fit.

I had expected it to be a boring, learning Gemara 24/7 thing, but there were many interesting classes/topics, as well as lots gained outside the classroom

I have 3+ chevrutot from my time there still going. We are not always so focussed, but the learning has lasted.