Yeshivah Gedolah of Johannesburg was one of the firstYeshivot established inSouth Africa.[1] Since its founding in 1978, it has played an important - though understated - role in the South African religious community.[2] It was established and headed byRosh Yeshiva RabbiAzriel Goldfein until his death in 2007, and is now headed by his sons Rabbi Avraham and Rabbi David Goldfein. It is based inGlenhazel,Johannesburg. It accommodates students from across thespectrum of Orthodoxy. The Hirsch Lyons Primary and High Schools are associated with the Yeshivah.
Rabbi Goldfein studied inTelz Yeshiva, undergreat rabbis who survived the Holocaust, and was a lifelongtalmid muvhak (prominent student) of RabbiMordechai Gifter.[3] During this time, he developed a "love of and profound knowledge of" the writings of theMaharal of Prague. With his wife Clarice Goldfein, he came to South Africa from the United States in 1972, "with a mission to establish an authentic, world-class yeshiva... for the training of South African rabbis for South Africa",[2] and "Yeshivah Gedolah" was established the next year, originally based at theYeshiva College of South Africa.
Rabbi Avraham Goldfein studied at Telz inCleveland for four years. In addition to studying at the Yeshivah Gedolah under his father, where he receivedsemichah (ordination) he also studied atYeshivas Netzach Yisroel in Israel. Rabbi David Goldfein completed his schooling through correspondence and learnt under his father from the age of 15.
The Yeshivah'sderech (educational model) is built on two main approaches. Primarily, the Yeshivah follows the"Telshederech", stressingMussar (Ethics) andDerech Eretz (character and behaviour) alongside Talmud study.[4] Secondly, and in complementary fashion, thederech of the Maharal[5] influences the Yeshivah's approach to learning, and more particularly, itsHashkafa ("worldview"). Additional to these, there is a further and direct link to theLithuanian yeshivas: In the 1980s, Rabbi Jacob Symanowitz[6] of theJohannesburg Beth Din, taught theshiur ("lecture") inYoreh Deah, including to the currentRoshei Yeshiva, who subsequently studied with him for several years. He, in turn, had studied inYeshiva Ohel Torah-Baranovich underElchonon Wasserman, as well as inMir andSlabodka and receivedsemichah -Yadin Yadin - fromMeyer Abovitz.
Yeshivah Gedolah is known for its "uncomplicated approach to learning"[7] — continuingthat of Telz, and consistent with theMaharal's approach toTorah study, as well asthat of Baranovich — and for its high standards[8] and thoroughsemichah programme, requiring that graduates "betalmidei chachamim and not just religious functionaries".[7]The Yeshiva has trained dozens of South Africanrabbis, includingChief Rabbi Dr.Warren Goldstein. More than 50shuls, 20 communal organisations and virtually all of South Africa'sJewish day schools have been served by itsalumni.[2]
The yeshiva also provides learning opportunities and resources to the community. Over the decades, Rabbi Goldfein gave thousands ofpublic lectures, including the very popular weeklyParashat ha-Shavuashiur, more than 1000 of which were recorded and are widely distributed.A documentary film, Bridging Worlds: The Life and Teachings of Rav Azriel Chaim Goldfein was produced in 2014.
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