Yeshiva-B.A. Gap Year
Earn a Bachelors of Arts While Learning Torah
Gap Year Time Well Spent
Upcoming male high school graduates can experience a year of Jewish life and learning at the Old City of Jerusalem beginning in the Fall of 2026, during which they will also have the opportunity to earn an accredited Bachelor of Arts degree in record time and inexpensively—achievable in a year or less.
Gap year Program Overview
Students come to us from a variety of backgrounds in Torah learning, from zero background to varying degrees of learning experience, so our Gap Year Program includes two to three seders of learning per day tailored to the needs and goals of the individual students, from beginner to intermediate. One or two periods each day are dedicated to traditional Yeshiva learning, such as the Ramchal’s method of in-depth Talmud study and a variety of Talmudic subjects.
Gap Year students who want to also earn an accredited Bachelor of Arts degree while learning with us use one period each day for academic learning and testing dedicated to earning the B.A. at their own pace, with variety of degree plans to choose from, in Jewish Studies, Business, Business Administration, Business Management, Marketing, Accounting, Computer Science, Data Science, Biotechnology, International Trade, Education, Criminal Justice, Cultural Studies, Human Development, Psychology, Liberal Arts, or Liberal Studies.
B.A. degrees are conferred by one of six universities, depending upon the particular degree plan they wish to pursue.
The Bachelor of Arts can then be used either to secure a solid position in your field of interest or for continued education at an institution of higher learning, such as to earn their Master’s degree, while those who are interested in continuing to learn Torah with us might also be invited to do so.
Students who have earned bachelor degrees in this way have been accepted into competitive master’s programs and go on to earn graduate degrees in many areas in many top-rated universities, such as:
- New York University
- Columbia University
- Georgetown University
- University of Pennsylvania
- University of Texas
- Emory University
- University of Toronto
- York University
- Bar Ilan University
- Baruch School of Business
- Fairleigh Dickenson University
- Downstate Medical School
- Wurzweiler School of Social Work
“They really care about each and every student, and they are willing to do anything to help students reach their ultimate goal. I found the cost of the program to be affordable, and my experience here to be amazing.”
– Coby
“They helped me get through college and gave me the finest service whenever I needed it. I appreciate the entire staff helping me out.”
– Yosef
“When considering college I was worried about the time commitment and prohibitive cost. [They] allowed me to get a head start on my degree within a short time and at a very reasonable cost.”
– Matthew
Features of Yeshiva Life on Mount Zion
Minutes to the Kosel
Right outside the Old City’s Zion Gate and just minutes to the Jewish Quarter and to the Kotel (Western Wall).
Close to the Center
Located right outside Zion Gate, a short walk or bus to the city, plenty of amenities, and to public transit across Israel.
Sports Pavilion
Overlooking the Temple Mount, the Yeshiva’s new Sports Pavilion provides a perspective to fitness like no other.
Regular Special Events
With regular Oneg Shabboses, Shabbos meals, Festival events, and simchas in general, a life of Torah is full of simchah.
Trips Across Israel
Three monthly trips, from Tzfas in the North to Eilat in the South, learning about the Holy Land in relation to the Torah.
At the center of the Yeshiva campus, where we have weekly shiurim, and Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur services.
Regular Shabbos Dinners at the Yeshiva
Diaspora Yeshiva provides three full Shabbos meals for the students at the Yeshiva during regular learning (excepting bein hazmanim). As often as you prefer to stay put and rest on Shabbos with the Yeshiva, you are always welcome. You are also free to go out for Shabbos meals as often as you like.
Sample B.A. Curriculum (Jewish Studies)
Torah
1. Genesis: An In-Depth Study
2. Exodus: An In-Depth Study
3. Leviticus: An In-Depth Study
4. Numbers: An In-Depth Study
5. Deuteronomy: An In-Depth Study
6. Comprehensive Genesis
7. Comprehensive Exodus
8. Comprehensive Leviticus
Jewish Law (Shabbos)
9. The Laws of the Sabbath: The Laws of Agriculture/ Making Bread
10. The Laws of the Sabbath: The Order of Garments
11. The Laws of the Sabbath: The Order of Construction
Jewish History
12. Jewish History 300: Orthodox Jewry in the United States
13. Jewish History 306: The Jews in Medieval Western Europe
14. Jewish History 307: The Spanish Expulsion -14th and 15th Centuries
Ethics
15. Ethics of Communication I
16. Ethics of Communication II
Philosophy
17. Principles of Moral Development II
Core Courses
18. English 101
19. English 102
20. Math 101
21. Science 101 – Biology
22. Science 102
Cost
Tuition for the Yeshiva is 5,600 NIS (1,800 USD) per month,* including daily learning, a shared room on Mount Zion, and three meals per day during times of regular learning, including Shabbos. Additional fees for the B.A. are approximately 12,000 USD.
*Ask us about subsidies for Yeshiva tuition if necessary.
Application
If you have reviewed the program details and think its right for you, apply below. Your application will be reviewed to ensure its completeness and your fitness for the program. An initial meeting will then be scheduled with the appropriate Rabbi.