Gateshead Talmudical College , popularly known as
Gateshead Yeshiva, is located in the town of
GatesheadGateshead is a town in Tyne and Wear, England and is the main settlement in the Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead. Historically a part of County Durham, it lies on the southern bank of the River Tyne opposite Newcastle upon Tyne and together they form the urban core of Tyneside...
in England. It is the largest
yeshivaYeshiva is a Jewish educational institution that focuses on the study of traditional religious texts, primarily the Talmud and Torah study. Study is usually done through daily shiurim and in study pairs called chavrutas...
in Europe and considered to be one of the most prestigious advanced yeshivas in the
OrthodoxOrthodox Judaism , is the approach to Judaism which adheres to the traditional interpretation and application of the laws and ethics of the Torah as legislated in the Talmudic texts by the Sanhedrin and subsequently developed and applied by the later authorities known as the Gaonim, Rishonim, and...
world. The student body currently (2011) numbers 350. Although students are mainly British, there are European, American and Israeli pupils, as well as some from South Africa, South America and Australia.
The yeshiva was founded in Gateshead in 1929 by Reb Dovid Dryan, with the
Chofetz ChaimYisrael Meir Poupko , known popularly as The Chofetz Chaim, was an influential Eastern European rabbi, Halakhist, posek, and ethicist whose works continue to be widely influential in Jewish life...
serving as an active patron and appointing the original heads of the yeshiva. The first rosh yeshiva and
menahel (principal) were respectively Rabbi Nachman Landinski and Rabbi Eliezer Kahan, both alumni of the famed
Novardok yeshivaThe Novardok yeshiva in Navahrudak, then the Russian Empire, was one of the biggest and most important yeshivas in pre-World War II Europe, and a powerful force within the Mussar movement. The yeshiva was established in 1896, together with a Kollel for married men, under the direction of Rabbi...
. At its conception, Gateshead Yeshiva was seen as a branch of Novardok, officially sharing its doctrines, ideals and methodology and named "Yeshivas Beis Yosef" in common with other branches of Novardok.
Present
- Rosh Yeshiva
Rosh yeshiva, , , is the title given to the dean of a Talmudical academy . It is made up of the Hebrew words rosh — meaning head, and yeshiva — a school of religious Jewish education...
: Hagaon Harav Avrohom GurwiczAvrohom Gurwicz is an English-born Orthodox rabbi and Talmudic scholar. Since 1983 he has been the rosh yeshivah of Gateshead Talmudical College, a yeshiva in Gateshead, England, where he gives the largest shiur in Europe with approximately 350 students attending.Rabbi Gurwicz is the second son of...
, an alumnus of Brisk yeshiva, and a past student
- Rabbi Mordechai Yosef Karnovsky, Mashgiach
- Rabbi Ezriel Rosenbaum, Maggid Shiur
- Rabbi Yosef Ahron Oppenheimer, Maggid Shiur
- Rabbi Chaim Ozer Gurwicz, Maggid Shiur
- Rabbi Gershon Miller, Mashgiach
Past
Rosh yeshivas:
- 1929-1951:Rabbi Nachman Dovid Landinski, an alumnus of Radin
Raduń Yeshiva, originally located in Raduń, Poland , was established by the Chofetz Chaim in 1869.-Origins:In 1869 when the Chofetz Chaim returned from Vashilyshok to Raduń his first action was to establish a group to whom he could spread the knowledge of Torah...
, Eishishok, KelmThe Kelm Talmud Torah was a famous yeshiva in pre-holocaust Kelmė, Lithuania. Unlike other yeshivas, the Talmud Torah focused primarily on the study of Musar and self-improvement.-Under the Leadership of Simcha Zissel Ziv:...
, MirThe Mir yeshiva , commonly known as the Mirrer Yeshiva or The Mir, was a Haredi yeshiva located in the town of Mir, Russian Empire...
, Łomża, Suvalk and Novardok yeshivas
- 1947-1979:Rabbi Leib Lopian, son of Rabbi Elyah Lopian
Eliyahu Lopian , known as Reb Elyah, was among the most prominent rabbis of the Mussar Movement. As a disciple of the Kelm Talmud Torah method, he was known for his strict keeping of order and strong self-control...
, an alumnus of Telz yeshiva
- 1947-1986: Rabbi Leib Gurwicz
Aryeh Ze'ev Gurwicz was an influential Orthodox rabbi and Talmudic scholar. He was the son-in-law of Rabbi Elyah Lopian and best known as Rosh Yeshiva of the Gateshead Yeshiva in Gateshead, England, where he taught for over 30 years.He studied at various yeshivas in Lithuania and Poland before...
, an alumnus of Mir, BaranovitchBaranovichi , is a city in the Brest Province of western Belarus with a population of 173,000. It is a significant railway junction and home to a state university.-Overview:...
and Brisk yeshivas
Menahalim:
- Rabbi Chizkiyahu Eliezer Kahan, an alumnus of Novardok Yeshivah
- Rabbi Zev Cohen, an alumnus of Chevron Yeshivah (served the Yeshivah with all his might for 55 years, 1953–2007)
Mashgichim:
- Rabbi Moshe Shwab
- Rabbi Matisyohu Salomon, now mashgiach at Lakewood Yeshiva
Notable alumni
Over its 82-year history, Gateshead Yeshiva has produced thousands of alumni, among them prominent rabbis, businessmen and professionals.
- Dayan Chanoch Ehrentreu
Dayan Chanoch Ehrentreu served for many years as the head of the United Synagogue's Beth Din. He retired from the post in December 2006.-Early life:...
, (head dayan of London Beth DinThe London Beth Din is the Ashkenazi Beth Din of the United Synagogue, the largest Ashkenazi synagogal body in London, England. In its capacity as Court of the Chief Rabbi, it is historically the supreme halakhic Authority for Mitnagdim Ashkenazim several Commonwealth countries and additionally is...
)
- Rabbi Yaakov Moshe Hillel, (Rosh Yeshiva
Rosh yeshiva, , , is the title given to the dean of a Talmudical academy . It is made up of the Hebrew words rosh — meaning head, and yeshiva — a school of religious Jewish education...
of Ahavat Shalom)
- Professor Paul W. Franks
Paul Walter Franks is a scholar, writer and professor of philosophy. He graduated with his PhD from Harvard University in 1993, his dissertation supervisor was Stanley Cavell. Franks' dissertation, entitled "Kant and Hegel on the Esotericism of Philosophy", won the Emily and Charles Carrier Prize...
(chair of Jewish Philosophy, University of Toronto)
- Dayan Casriel Dovid Kaplin
Casriel Dovid Kaplin, , was a rabbi and a dayan in the London Beth Din. He lived for much of his life in London, England. He published three volumes of his responsa as well as numerous scholarly articles, besides having many unpublished writings....
(dayan of London Beth DinThe London Beth Din is the Ashkenazi Beth Din of the United Synagogue, the largest Ashkenazi synagogal body in London, England. In its capacity as Court of the Chief Rabbi, it is historically the supreme halakhic Authority for Mitnagdim Ashkenazim several Commonwealth countries and additionally is...
)
- Rabbi Daniel Lapin
Daniel Lapin is a political commentator and American Orthodox rabbi living on Mercer Island, Washington. He is the founder of Toward Tradition, a politically conservative Jewish-Christian organization. He once headed the Pacific Jewish Center in Venice, California. He is also the former head of...
- Professor Ze'ev Lev (founder of the Jerusalem College of Technology
The Jerusalem College of Technology , , is an Orthodox Jewish college. JCT's main campus are situated in the Givat Mordechai neighbourhood of Jerusalem. Other branches are located in the Givat Shaul neighbourhood of Jerusalem and Ramat Gan...
)
- Rabbi Jonathan Rietti (lecturer at Gateways
Gateways may refer to:Books*Gateways , the seventh volume of the Repairman Jack books by F. Paul Wilson*Gateways , a 2001 crossover novel series*Strange Gateways, a collection of stories by E...
)
- Dayan Gershon Lopian (Rav in Edgware, London)
- Rabbi Meilech Schwartz (Rav in Stamford Hill)
- Paul Reichmann
Paul Reichmann is a Canadian businessman best known for his leadership of the Olympia & York a real estate development company.-Formative years:Reichmann was born in Vienna in 1930 to Samuel Reichmann, a wealthy egg merchant and his wife René...
(Canadian real estate developer)
- Rabbi Binjomin Menzer (Mashgiach Koton of Sharei Chochmo)
- Harav Hagaon Reb Yoinesen yekusiel Zalmen Gottfried shlit"a
- Micky Geordie (majored in cleaning toilets)
Buildings and Structure
The original building of the yeshiva was at 179 Bewick Road. As the yeshiva expanded it acquired neighbouring properties in Rectory Road and 177 Bewick Road. In 1961 a new building was erected at 88 Windermere Street to house a new
beth hamedresh (the hall used for study and prayer), with the dining room on the floor below and the kitchens in the basement. The old
beth hamedrash building at 179 Bewick Road and neighbouring houses in Rectory Road were demolished to make way for a new two-storey dormitory block, Clore House, which was opened in 1963, forming the beginnings of the yeshiva campus. A later three-storey building further up Bewick Road joined the first dormitory block, and attached the yeshiva dormitories with the back of the study hall via a bridge. Later on,in 1992, a new building, Sebba House was built, which consisted of a state-of-the-art dormitory building for about 70 students. Later, in 1997 a new building, Tiferes Yonasan, was erected, which attached the study hall further down Windermere Street to the dormitories and extended the main building, including the study hall and the dining room. The last extension on the right hand side added more lecture halls. In addition these extensions created a courtyard leading on from the back alley, from Rydal Street.
Hashkafa
The yeshiva was originally established as a branch of the Novardok network of yeshivas then existing in Eastern Europe.