Chinuch

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Streams & Educational Networks

There are several frameworks within which Chareidi educational institutions operate.

Boys

Preschool

The last year before first grade is commonly called mechinah [preparatory program], as it prepares the children for cheider (not to be confused with mechinah for yeshivah ketanah). During that year they will learn how to read.

Cheider

Chareidi elementary schools for boys are referred to as Talmud Torah (the more formal usage, usually part of the title) or cheider. They include first through eighth grades. Most chadorim also maintain a preschool for the two or three preceding grade levels.

Eighth grade is sometimes referred to as mechinah [preparatory program], as it prepares the talmidim for yeshivah ketanah, and in many cases has an entirely different schedule than the rest of the school.

Mechinah

There is an optional stand-alone year-long program, usually not connected to any specific school, for preparing children for yeshivah ketanah. While most talmidim advance directly from cheider to yeshivah ketanah, there are many who opt for a year of mechinah, either instead of or following eighth grade.

Yeshivah Ketanah

Chareidi boys high school is called yeshivah ketanah (what in America is sometimes called mesivta, which is not used here). It is a three year program, with each year called a "shiur," named shiur aleph, shiur beis, and shiur gimmel respectively, corresponding to ninth through eleventh grades. The day in yeshivah ketanah begins from around 7-7.30 in the morning with shacharis which may be followed sometimes with a sichah from the rosh yeshiva or mashgiach, followed by breakfast, seder and a shiur, lunch, mincha (may be later), a break, second seder (usually bekius), supper. maariv, and third seder. The day ends at around 9.30 p.m. Unlike in chutz la'aretz the bochurim only learn limmudei kodesh, there are no secular studies. It has become less common for boys to dorm at yeshivah ketanah age, but some do, and so most attend yeshiva ketanah in their own city. On Friday there is generally only a morning seder. The number of "in Shabboses" varies among the yeshivos. Some may have 3 Shabboses a month in the yeshiva, others 1 or 2, and some may send the boys home most weeks with only occasional Shabboses in the yeshiva.

In most cases it is not a natural continuation of any specific cheider. It is generally considered the job of the cheider, and specifically the eighth-grade rebbi, to direct and help with placement of their talmidim in yeshivos ketanos.

Yeshivah Gedolah

Israeli yeshivos gedolos have a unique culture very different from the American counterpart.

Girls

Gan (Preschool)

Ages 3-4,

Gan Kdam-Chovah

Ages 4-5, hours are the same as Gan Chova, tuition and expenses are like Gan Chova

Gan Chovah

Preschool for ages 5-6, its the year before first grade also known as "Kittah Aleph". It's completely subsidized there are no tuition expenses aside for extra curricular fee of a few hundred Shekel for the entire year.

Hours:8:00-1:30 with an option for leaving the child for "Tzaharon", meaning after school program until 3:45. A hot meal is served for the children who stay for the afternoon program.

Elementary

For grades 1-8.

There are two options for elementary schools.

1. The local school: Every neighborhood had a local Bais Yaakov which is made up of a student body of the local population, this way girls in the same class generally also know each other from the neighborhood. Its very rare for a girl to attend a Bais Yaakov that is not in her neighborhood. The Bais Yaakovs are government subsidized and are basically free aside for some basic extra curricular fees. The local Bais Yaakovs accept all the girls of its neighborhood which makes each Bais Yaakov unique in its student body representing the unique character of its neighborhood. The Bais Yaakov in the Ezrat Torah neighborhood in Yerushalaim is very different from the Bais Yaakov in the Pisgat Zeev neighborhood in Yerushalaim. The former is very Chareidi and Yeshivish while the latter is less Chareidi and more dati- reflecting the character of the neighborhood. The Bais Yaakov in Sanhedria in Yerushalaim is very anglo, reflecting the local residents.

Its very accepted for mainstream chareidim to send to the local Bais Yaakovs.

2. Private schools: There are a few private elementary schools which cater for various crowds which prefer some alternative to the local Bais Yaakov. Some teach in Yiddish, others offer an alternative approach or curriculum that is not offered in the local Bais Yaakov. These schools charge tuition generally a few thousand Shekels a year.

Seminar

High school for Chareidi girls is called Seminar. Grades 9-12. with the majority of the girls staying an additional two years to learn a profession. There are no local Bais Yaakov high schools as there are elementary schools, rather the high schools are generally private but are still somewhat government subsidized and therefore do not charge a high tuition Around 2-3 thousand NIS a year. It is common for girls to bus in to the neighborhood where their school is located, many schools arrange transportation for their students.

Most Chareidi schools do not do the government administered tests called "Bagruyot" (like the regents in New York) rather they offer an alternative testing system called "Chutzim". On an academic level "Chutzim" are on par with the "Bagruyot" tests, however since they are not government administered they are not recognized and cannot be used to get accepted to institutions of higher education.

Masslulim: Most Chareidi girls stay on for an additional two years of schooling after they complete grade 12. This is called "masslulim"- tracks. During these two years the girls learn a profession which they can use later on in life to help support their families. The "Masslulim" offer a variety of professions ranging from medical secretary, graphic designing, interior designing, architecture, accounting, commuter developer etc..

While learning a profession the girls maintain a structure of Limudei Kodesh as part of their day in the seminary.