Volozhin. Yeshiva

In the historical center of Volozhin, on the former Shopping Square, and now this place is called Freedom Square, you can park your car near the Catholic Church of St. Joseph. Cross the road and after 100 meters you will come to the yeshiva.

In Judaism, a yeshiva is an institution where rabbis are trained. The founder of the yeshiva in Volozhin is Chaim Volozhiner (1749-1821), one of the disciples of the Vilna Gaon and one of the most famous rabbis of his time.

The Yeshiva was opened in 1803, and according to other sources in 1806. during the heyday of the educational institution, there were more than 400 students. In 1896, by order of the tsarist authorities, the yeshiva was officially closed, but practically continued to operate until the Nazi occupation of 1939. Many famous rabbis, writers and poets, public and political figures studied at the Volozhin Yeshiva. 

Among the graduates, first of all, one can name the writer Mendele Moyher-Sforim (1836-1917); the poet and prose writer Chaim Bialik (1873-1934); the head of the Hebrew revival, Elizer Ben–Yehuda (1858-1922).

In recent years, a museum exposition has been created in the building of the former yeshiva, which is still operating on a voluntary basis. To get to the yeshiva, you need to contact the regional museum of local lore.

A few years ago, a commemorative silver coin was issued in honor of the Yeshiva in Belarus.

If you walk a few hundred meters behind the yeshiva, you will come to the Jewish cemetery.