For First Time in History, Shiur Klali at Mir Yerushalayim Given in Hebrew


Yesterday was somewhat of an historic day at Yeshivas Mir Yerushalayim, as, for the first time in the yeshiva’s glorious history, a shiur klali was delivered in Hebrew, rather than Yiddish.

The shiur was delivered by Rav Yaakov Shmulevitz, a R”M at the yeshiva and son of Rav Refoel Shmulevitz zt”l, rosh yeshiva of Mir Yerushalayim who passed away about a month ago.

The shiur was delivered Wednesday afternoon in the main bais medrash of the yeshiva in the presence of the rosh yeshiva, Rav Eliezer Yehuda Finkel, and Rav Yitzchok Ezrachi.

This was Rav Yaakov’s first shiur klali delivered at the main bais medrash of yeshiva, a role generally reserved for the roshei yeshiva.

Shiurei klali at the yeshiva, even for Israeli bochurim who understand Hebrew better and some of whom who struggle with Yiddish, have always been delivered in Yiddish. This was the first such shiur given in the bais medrash in Hebrew.

It has been noted that, in general, American bochurim, despite English being their first language, generally have a better grasp of Yiddish than their Israeli counterparts, having heard shiurim in Yiddish during many of their formative yeshiva years. Even if they may struggle speaking it, understanding shiurim in Yiddish is generally a given. In recent years, many formerly Yiddish shiurim in Israeli yeshivos have started being given in Hebrew.

Since the passing of his father, Rav Yaakov had given shiurim in the Friedman building of the Mir. Yesterday was his first shiur in the main bais medrash.

David Steger – Israel


  1. All shiurim in such a yeshiva should be given in Hebrew, that is the language of the Jewish people (not yiddish. That is the language of poor German Jewish peasants. Chazal teach us the important of speaking Hebrew (in Yerushalmi Shekalim it says that one will be a ben-olam habah) in Viyikra Rabba it says that since we spoke Hebrew in Mitzriyim we were zocheh to the geulah (among other reasons.)

  2. What a good idea!!! Now you can understand the Torah in the language it was given in. This will enable hundreds of buchrim to understand and actually atend and be given a mesora in learning from their Rosh Yeshiva.

  3. in Viyikra Rabba it says that since we spoke Hebrew in Mitzriyim we were zocheh to the geulah

    this is not true that is not what it says it says shelo shina es lishonom the point being they didnt speak like mitriyim and they kept their old language the point of the gemara is not that they spoke hebrew. plus ivrit is loshon hatziyonim ivrit is not loson hakodesh and is not the language of klal yisroel

  4. FYI, it’s only the hassidishe yeshivas and those primarily for chutznikim that give shiurim in Yiddish in EY.

    Litvishe yeshivas for Israelis give shiur in hebrew.

    For instance, Rav Shach gave shiur in Hebrew, as did Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach, as do the Roshei Yeshiva in Chevron.

Leave a Reply to Shulem Cancel reply

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here