02 Dec YESHIVAT SHAVEI CHEVRON: PRESERVING TORAH, HERITAGE, AND COMMUNITY — AN EXCLUSIVE CONVERSATION WITH EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR DOVI WEISS
FAST FACTS
ABOUT DOVI WEISS AND
YESHIVAT SHAVEI CHEVRON
Name: Dovi Weiss
Born in: Kibbutz Chofetz Chaim, Israel. Later moved to Yerushalayim and then Beit El. After finishing high school in Beit El, I came to Shavei Chevron.
Age: 49
Currently lives in: Ma’ale Chever, a yishuv about 15 minutes southeast of Chevron, stretching toward Carmel and Susya.
Family: Married to Michal. Seven children and seven grandchildren. Two of them live in the area.
Title at Yeshiva: Executive Director for almost 18 years
Before working at the yeshiva: Worked for the Misrad HaShikun (Ministry of Housing) for two years
Yeshivat Shavei Chevron started in: 1982
Nestled in the historic city of Chevron, Yeshivat Shavei Chevron stands as a beacon of Torah learning, spiritual growth, and national service. Founded in 1982 by Rav Moshe Bleicher, a disciple
of Rabbi Tzvi Yehuda Kook of Merkaz HaRav, the yeshiva began with just ten students and a bold vision: to provide a Makom Shel Torah in the heart of the Jewish ancestral homeland. Over the years, Shavei Chevron has grown into a thriving institution with hundreds of students, a post- army program, and multiple affiliated schools and communities throughout Israel.
Ari Hirsch from Jewish Vues was in Chevron for Shabbat Chayei Sarah and sat down with Dovi Weiss, the Executive Director of Yeshivat Shavei Chevron, to discuss the yeshiva’s origins, its unique character, and his personal journey. Dovi Weiss, a lifelong resident of Israel, grew up in Kibbutz Chofetz Chaim and later lived in Yerushalayim and Beit El. After finishing high school, he came to Shavei Chevron as a student and quickly felt at home. Today, he has served as Executive Director for nearly 18 years, overseeing the growth of the yeshiva, fundraising, and multiple building projects, while also maintaining deep ties to alumni, students, and the local Chevron community. Beyond his work at the yeshiva, Dovi is a family man with seven children and seven grandchildren and serves as an officer in the Chevron Brigade, combining service to Torah and country in a remarkable way.
Please give Jewish Vues readers a little history about Yeshivat Shavei Chevron.
After the Six-Day War, a group decided to rebuild Chevron and establish a Makom Shel Torah. They brought Rav Moshe Bleicher from Ovetzion to open the yeshiva. In Elul 1982, ten boys arrived, though tragically, one, Asher Aharon Gross, was killed that summer. Today, his family still visits annually for his Yahrzeit.
Over the years, Shavei Chevron has graduated over 3,500 students. Unlike Hesder yeshivot, our Yeshiva Gevura allows students to extend their Torah study before joining the army. Many return after army service for post-army learning.
Yeshivat Shavei Chevron has also expanded to include:
1- An elementary school in Kiryat Arba
2- A Midrasha for girls after army service
3- A high school yeshiva in Ma’ale Chever
4- A Machina Yeshiva in Telem
5- A new yeshiva in Yokne’am for 45 students
How did you become Executive Director?
I came to Shavei Chevron after high school and fell in love with its atmosphere. Two years later, I got married, served in the army, and then returned to the yeshiva when Rav Moshe Bleicher invited me to help.
Please tell everyone about the original Rosh Yeshiva, Rav Moshe Bleicher.
He was a talmid of Rabbi Tzvi Yehuda Kook in Merkaz HaRav. First, he served as a Rav in Ovetzion under Rav Dukeman and Rav Shapira for a couple of years. When he turned 28,
he established this yeshiva in 1982. Unfortunately, he had a stroke 22 years ago, in 2003. One of his students, Rav Chananel Etrog, who served as a Rav in Shavei Chevron, is an exceptional man. He currently lives in northern Yerushalayim; Chevron was too intense for him, and the doctor advised a different location.
How many students are in the yeshiva right now?
Right now, we have 380 bachurim and about 75 avreichim. Most avreichim live in the area, primarily in Kiryat Arba and surrounding yishuvim. Recently, ten avreichi families established a new community called Givat Aviad, located between Kiryat Arba and Beit Hagai, built from scratch on the mountains.
How would you describe the unique character of Shavei Chevron?
Its location in Chevron is unmatched, where students learn Torah where Avraham, Yitzchak, and Yaakov once lived. There’s a sense of mission, mesiras nefesh, and responsibility unique to this yeshiva. The combination of historical significance and personal growth makes Shavei Chevron unlike any other yeshiva in Israel.
Does every member of the yeshiva go to the army?
Yes, almost all. We have a high percentage of officers and commanders, including alumni serving in the army, Mossad, and Shin Bet.
What’s the yearly budget here?
Approximately $12 million a year. About half comes from government and tuition, and the rest we fundraise through alumni and supporters globally.
Are you in charge of fundraising for all these yeshivot?
Yes, including ongoing building projects. Our main focus is Chevron, including new dormitories in the casba and plans near Ma’arat HaMachpela.
What’s the secret of being a good fundraiser?
Do it with your heart.
How many years were you in the army?
I served a year and a half before joining the Chevron Brigade as an officer of operations. In the last six to seven years, I’ve been managing operations teams, often for weeks at a time during exercises or emergencies.
Do you think it’s possible to reconcile differing views about army service between chilonim, charedim, and hesder yeshiva students?
Absolutely. With understanding and proper frameworks, more young people from all sectors will serve without coercion.
How many people come to Chevron typically for Shabbat Chayei Sarah?
About 25,000 people. Here at the yeshiva, we host around 350 guests from Canada, Europe, America, and Israel.
What’s involved in preparing for the busy Shabbat Chayei Sarah week?
We host 350 guests from around the world. Boys give up their beds and help in kitchens and dining halls. This embodies the Avraham Avinu tradition of hachnasat orchim.
Is there anything we haven’t discussed that you’d like to add?
Since its founding in 1982, Shavei Hevron has produced approximately 3,800 graduates. Their involvement and contributions to Israeli society are evident across many fields. Many serve as educators and rabbis, shaping the future of the Jewish people. Others hold high-ranking positions in the Israel Defense Forces, while many more work in business and various professional Sectors.
As influential and dedicated members of Israeli society, the graduates of Shavei Hevron are paving the way for future generations and bringing blessing to Am Yisrael. The yeshiva also maintains strong relationships with the army and police, viewing them as vital expressions of Hashem’s protection over Chevron.
FUN QUESTIONS WITH DOVI WEISS
If you could have a one-hour conversation with anyone buried in Chevron, who would it be?
One of the Avot. It doesn’t make a difference which one.
What would you ask them?
I would ask what they think about what we are doing here today.
If Avraham Avinu could see the modern world, what would surprise him most?
That after almost 4,000 years, Jews still follow his way.
What’s something you wish you knew how to do better?
Have more spare time to learn Torah.
At Techiyat HaMeitim, aside from your family, who would you be most excited to meet?
Friends from the army that we lost.
What’s your favorite quote?
“Don’t talk, just do.”
If you could have any job in the Beit HaMikdash, what would it be?
Not a fundraiser, for sure.
What is the first Middah someone should look for in a shidduch?
Chesed.
You could have dinner with three people from history. Who would they be?
Rav Avraham Yitzchak Kook, Theodor Herzl, and Rav Moshe Bleicher.
IF READERS WOULD LIKE TO DONATE TO YESHIVAT SHAVEI CHEVRON, THEY CAN CHECK OUT THE YESHIVA’S WEBSITE:
HTTPS://YSH.ORG.IL/ SHAVEI CHEVRON INSTITUTIONS
Address: Beit Romano, Hevron, Israel
Mailing Address: P.O.B. 72, Kiryat
Arba, Israel 9010000
Email: sherry@shaveihevron.org
Website: https://ysh.org.il/
Telephone: 972-2-9963838