OUR MISSION Machon Yaakov's mission is to accept promising students with little formal Jewish educational background, and to create an environment that maximizes their spiritual, intellectual and character growth. Through its one- and two-year programs, Machon Yaakov seeks to connect its students to the full range of classical Jewish texts in philosophy, law and ethics. The program seeks to give its students the independence and the inspiration to continue a lifetime of Jewish growth. The goal is to inspire and nurture the Jewish leaders of the future.

Every student is encouraged to express the uniqueness with which he was endowed. While a small percentage may find their calling as rabbis and teachers, the vast majority will naturally find their path towards expression as businessmen, doctors, lawyers and academics (see Alumni section).








IMPORTANT LINKS

The Abraham Scholarships, the first Jewish international educational fellowships focused on identifying and nurturing future leaders of the Jewish people, were initiated to bring outstanding students from top universities throughout the United States to explore their heritage and traditions in leading yeshivot and seminaries in Israel. Due to the fact that many Jewish students have little or no contact with advanced Jewish learning, the Abraham Scholarships were designed to allow top students the opportunity to expand their experiences and knowledge of classic Jewish texts, and develop themselves to become leaders in the Jewish community. The opportunity to study in Israel, in the land which serves as a source of inspiration for Jews throughout the world, creates an atmosphere where students are able to develop a familiarity with their heritage, while living in the historic homeland of the Jewish People.


Sinai Retreats is a two-week summer experience like nothing else in the world. Our unique program gives Jewish men and women from diverse backgrounds and affiliations an opportunity to explore what it really means to be Jewish. At Sinai, you will engage in a vibrant excursion through contemporary and classical Jewish thought. Perhaps even more importantly, you will take this journey in a warm, open environment that makes it easy to ask straight-forward questions. There's also plenty of time for recreation and relaxation: canoeing; swimming; tennis; basketball; baseball; hiking; volleyball; water sports; ping-pong. And that doesn't even tell half the story.


Machon Yaakov hosts YeshivaLite during the summer and mid-winter breaks. Under direction of Avraham Jacobowitz of Detroit, the program caters to students who seek a short term "yeshiva" experience.

STUDENT SURVEY Machon Yaakov recently conducted a detailed anonymous survey of its students. Here’s some of what they had to say:

Q. How do you rate your year at Machon Yaakov?
First-year class median: very satisfied (highest rating)
Second-year class median: very satisfied

Q. Relative to expectations, how did you rate the year?
First-year class median: Big upside surprise (highest rating)
Second-year class median: Big upside surprise

Some general comments about the year:

• "It has been an amazing and life-changing experience"
• "Amazing"
• "Above and beyond"
• "If I would not have learned … from the amazing, brilliant and diverse [teachers], I can say confidently that my Jewish identity and my perception of my purpose in life would be incomplete. At least now it has a direction!"
• "Several factors contributed to my overall satisfaction. 1) professionalism, knowledge and character of the rabbis. 2) the level of interaction between students -- all interesting, motivated, and respectful individuals. 3) accommodations."
• "I literally loved EVERYTHING about the year."
• "Incredible!"
• "I expected my learning to be interesting, but it affected me more deeply than I anticipated."
• "I was not expecting to see a radical personal growth."
• "Generally, my experience at Machon Yaakov has been extraordinary. It is almost obvious to say this, but it has been the most positively influential year of my life. I have never been in an environment in which the image of who I am capable of becoming has been made so clear. Likewise, since I believe this is true for my peers as well, the result is a place that is like a magnetic field—there is momentum and directed growth on a communal level like I have never witnessed anywhere else."

SCHEDULE Our academic schedule roughly follows the standard college calendar, though with a twist: since we always start 2-3 weeks before Rosh Hashana, the start date can be as late as mid-September or as early as mid-late August. For the 2007-2008 program, our start date is August 22nd 2007, and our ending date is June 7th 2008. In June 2007, Machon Yaakov is also launching a summer program for those students interested in continuing studies in Jerusalem in the 6 weeks following their 1st year. Following the Jewish calendar, primary vacation times lying before and after Succot in the Fall and Pesach in the Spring, and a shorter break over Chanuka, during which times many students choose to travel throughout Israel.

Our class schedule is broad and intensive, and contains significant exposure to Talmudic analysis, Jewish philosophy, Jewish Law (Halacha), ethics, character development (with significant one:one counseling time available from several senior staff members) and Hebrew language.

We have included here our sample first- and second-year class schedules.

Sample Schedule

TUITION The cost of the program is $12,500 a year. This amount includes tuition, room and board. There is an additional charge of $200 annually to cover outside yeshiva events and travel (such as our annual trips to the North, to Masada and to Ein Gedi, as well as numerous other group activities).

Other expenses include round-trip air fare, medical insurance (about $1 a day), primary texts/books ($50-$100), laundry machines and spending money. Students wishing to utilize internet access, the internet phone, and/or the yeshiva's computer are charged nominal annual fees.

FINANCIAL AID Students wishing to apply for financial aid should please email Rabbi Jacobs.