After many Chabad yeshivos in Eretz Yisroel introduced the government curriculum due to mounting pressure and the threat of lost funding, Netanya Rosh Yeshiva, Rabbi Moshe Orenstein, announced the opening of a new zal al taharas hakodesh, without any government-imposed secular studies.

By Anash.org reporter

Despite mounting government pressure and the threat of losing millions of shekels in State funding, the Lubavitch Yeshiva in Netanya, under the leadership of Rosh Yeshiva Rabbi Moshe Orenstein, has announced the opening of a new Shiur Alef class in Yeshiva Gedolah. The new track will operate exclusively al taharas hakodesh, without any external influences such as secular studies or government curriculum, which have recently begun infiltrating many yeshivos.

As reported on Anash.org, in recent months, various factions within the Israeli government have been exerting intense pressure on Mesivtas and Zals across Eretz Yisroel to introduce secular subjects into their curriculum. While this issue has been discussed for years – and Lubavitch yeshivos, along with other Chareidi institutions, have consistently rejected such initiatives – the recent threat of losing government funding, amounting to millions of shekels, has led some Chabad yeshivos to explore ways of complying with government demands.

Though these yeshivos are not introducing outright limudei chol, the subjects are being presented in Torah-related formats: math taught through the laws of Kiddush Hachodesh, Hebrew grammar through Torah sources, and history focused on Jewish topics.

This shift has sparked resistance. Many parents are disturbed by the encroachment of secular studies into Tomchei Temimim, fearing that even Torah-framed material may open the door to further compromise. Once the government has a foothold, they say, it may be difficult to resist future demands.

Rabbi Moshe Orenstein has been an outspoken critic of these changes.

“Tomchei Temimim was established with mesirus nefesh,” he said at a farbrengen held several months ago. “Yes, this is a major challenge, and I’m sure some will permit it, but Temimim come from mesirus nefesh! If we don’t take a stand now, it will only go from bad to worse.”

Rabbi Orenstein noted that when the Rebbe Rashab founded Tomchei Temimim, his first priority was not for the yeshiva to have harchava b’gashmiyus or to produce great geonim. His wish was “that the yeshiva should produce talmidim who are ba’alei mesirus nefesh.”

“A top-tier staff has been selected for the new program,” the Yeshiva said in a statement. “A house near the current zal of the Yeshiva Ketana has been secured, where the bochurim will learn.” The new program is scheduled to open on Tuesday, 2 Elul.

Despite the significant pressure and financial strain, Rabbi Orenstein firmly rejects the claim that yeshivos cannot survive without government support.

“We are living proof that it’s possible,” he said. “Yes, it’s difficult – but if you follow in the footsteps of the founders of the yeshiva, if you follow the way of the Rebbe, the Rebbe walks with you. And when you go with mesirus nefesh, the brachos of the Rebbeim are immeasurable.”