Knesses Chizkiyahu was one of the first Lithuania

Lithuania

Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...

n yeshiva

Yeshiva

Yeshiva is a Jewish educational institution that focuses on the study of traditional religious texts, primarily the Talmud and Torah study. Study is usually done through daily shiurim and in study pairs called chavrutas...

s founded after the establishment of the State of Israel

Israel

The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...

 and one of the first Torah

Torah

Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five books of the bible—Genesis , Exodus , Leviticus , Numbers and Deuteronomy Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five...

 institutions in the northern part of the country. Originally founded in Zikhron Ya'akov in 1949, it relocated to Kfar Hasidim

Kfar Hasidim

Kfar Hasidim , also known as Kfar Hasidim Alef to distinguish it from Kfar Hasidim Bet, is a moshav in northern Israel. Located near Kiryat Ata, it falls under the jurisdiction of Zevulun Regional Council. In 2006 it had a population of 572....

 in 1955, where it operates today with nearly 200 students and a kollel

Kollel

A kollel is an institute for full-time, advanced study of the Talmud and rabbinic literature. Like a yeshiva, a kollel features shiurim and learning sedarim ; unlike a yeshiva, the student body of a kollel are all married men...

.

Early history

Knesses Chizkiyahu was founded by Rabbi Noah Shimonowitz, one of the greatest students of Rabbi Boruch Ber Leibowitz, who decided to open a yeshiva after surviving the Holocaust

The Holocaust

The Holocaust , also known as the Shoah , was the genocide of approximately six million European Jews and millions of others during World War II, a programme of systematic state-sponsored murder by Nazi...

. He visited the Chazon Ish for his blessing and advice, and was told to seek a suitable location in the north of Israel, which at the time did not host any Torah institutions. Together with his brother-in-law, Rabbi Dovid Mishkovsky, Rabbi Shimonowitz established the yeshiva in the central synagogue of Zikhron Ya'akov and named it after Mishkovsky's father, Rabbi Chizkiyahu Yosef Mishkovsky, former Rav of Krinik, Poland. The initial enrollment of three students expanded to thirty students by the end of the first year.

In 1952, Rabbi Elyah Lopian

Elyah Lopian

Eliyahu Lopian , known as Reb Elyah, was among the most prominent rabbis of the Mussar Movement. As a disciple of the Kelm Talmud Torah method, he was known for his strict keeping of order and strong self-control...

, the contemporary leader of the Mussar movement

Mussar movement

The Musar movement is a Jewish ethical, educational and cultural movement that developed in 19th century Eastern Europe, particularly among Orthodox Lithuanian Jews. The Hebrew term Musar , is from the book of Proverbs 1:2 meaning instruction, discipline, or conduct...

, joined the staff as Mashgiach Ruchani

Mashgiach ruchani

Mashgiach ruchani or mashgiach for short, means a spiritual supervisor or guide. It is a title which usually refers to a rabbi who has an official position within a yeshiva and is responsible for the non-academic areas of yeshiva students' lives.The position of mashgiach ruchani arose with the...

, together with his son-in-law, Rabbi Kalman Pinsky. Rabbi Elyah's influence on the yeshiva was so pronounced that it continues to this day. As an example of one tradition which he instituted, any yeshiva student who fills a cup to wash his hands must refill it for the next user in line.

Move to Kfar Hasidim

The yeshiva experienced much difficulty in its early years, as students lacked sleeping facilities and organized meals due to the country's difficult economic situation. The location of the yeshiva in the central synagogue also caused friction between the students and local residents coming to pray. The yeshiva administration decided to find a new building, and then to leave Zikhron Ya'akov altogether.

When the news spread that the yeshiva was seeking a new home, many Orthodox Jewish

Orthodox Judaism

Orthodox Judaism , is the approach to Judaism which adheres to the traditional interpretation and application of the laws and ethics of the Torah as legislated in the Talmudic texts by the Sanhedrin and subsequently developed and applied by the later authorities known as the Gaonim, Rishonim, and...

 communities extended a hand of welcome, but none were located in the north where the Chazon Ish had desired a yeshiva to be founded. Finally, a group of activists from the northern village of Kfar Hasidim petitioned the yeshiva and were accepted.

With the blessing of the Chazon Ish, the yeshiva purchased a ten-dunam lot on the outskirts of the village and five buildings containing a beth midrash

Beth midrash

Beth Midrash refers to a study hall, whether in a synagogue, yeshiva, kollel, or other building. It is distinct from a synagogue, although many synagogues are also used as batei midrash and vice versa....

, dining hall, dormitories and offices. The yeshiva moved in to its new home at the end of April 1955.

Five days after the move, the Rosh Yeshiva, Rabbi Shimonowitz, died of a stroke

Stroke

A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...

. Rabbi Elyah took charge and appointed Rabbi Shimonowitz's brother-in-law, Rabbi Raphael Eliyahu Eliezer Mishkovsky, who was also the Rav of Kfar Hasidim, as the new rosh yeshiva.

Another expansion

Rabbi Mishkovsky worked together with Rabbi Elyah to shape and guide the yeshiva and its students. In May 1964, they laid the cornerstone for a new building to house the many students who had outgrown the original site. This building is still in use today.

Rabbi Mishkovsky led the yeshiva until his death in 1981. He was succeeded as rosh yeshiva by his son-in-law, Rabbi Dovid Yitzchak Mann. Rabbi Elyah Lopian died in 1970 and was succeeded by his protege, Rabbi Dov Yaffe.

Rosh yeshivas

• Rabbi Noah Shimonowitz (1949–1955)
• Rabbi Raphael Eliyahu Eliezer Mishkovsky (1955–1981)
• Rabbi Dovid Yitzchak Mann (1981–present)

Notable alumni

• Rabbi Israel Meir Lau, Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel