Mayanot Opens New $20 Million World Center in Jerusalem

by Yossi Reicher – chabad.org

On a cool December afternoon, hundreds gathered in the eternal capital of the Jewish people to celebrate the opening of the new home of the Mayanot Institute of Jewish Studies. The $20 million Mayanot World Center, located across from Sacher Park, and minutes away from the Machane Yehuda market, represents a new chapter for the pioneering yeshivah as it approaches three decades of teaching more than 10,000 students.

“We are standing here in the neighbourhood called the ‘Gateway to Jerusalem,’” Rabbi Shlomo Gestetner, dean of Mayanot, told the crowd of dignitaries, alumni and supporters. “But a gateway works in both directions. Here at Mayanot, students come to delve deeply into their Jewish heritage, and then, as they return home, they become ambassadors for Judaism, spreading it to their communities, families and friends.”

The ribbon-cutting ceremony marked a shift from what many have called “the Jewish world’s best-kept secret” to a highly visible campus in the heart of the capital of the Land of Israel.

The five-story, 37,600-square-foot facility features an expansive beit medrash (study hall), a rooftop terrace with sweeping views of Jerusalem, state-of-the-art student dormitories, landscaped gardens and a modern exercise gym.

“The fact that we have the best physical amenities possible helps us study distraction-free, allowing us to make the most use of our time here,” said Noach Rosenzweig, a student from Long Island, N.Y. “Having such high-standard facilities is a game-changer.”

From Humble Beginnings

Many transformative institutions start with humble beginnings, and Mayanot Institute of Jewish Studies—a Chabad-Lubavitch institution of higher learning for Jews of all backgrounds who lack a strong Jewish education and upbringing—is no different. In the early 1990s, Rabbi Kasriel Shemtov and Rabbi Shlomo Gestetner were working in Jewish outreach in Tel Aviv and the Old City of Jerusalem when they identified a gap: there were throngs of Jewish young adults rediscovering their Judaism who sought rigorous, text-based study, but needed an environment that understood their backgrounds and integrated their past experiences.

With hard work, and the support of key figures such as philanthropist Rabbi Joseph I. Gutnick and Rabbi Sholom Duchman, director of Colel Chabad, Mayanot opened its doors in 1997.

Housed in a historic building on 15 Mesillat Yesharim St., the institution grew steadily as eager students poured in from around the world, combining rigorous Talmud study for beginners and immersive Chassidic learning and experiences. Mayonot attracted students who were ready to dive into deep Jewish learning for the first time in their lives, and ready to experience the warmth and light of authentic Judaism.

When Shemtov, executive director of Mayanot, reflects on the institution’s founding, he recalls a guiding principle of the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of righteous memory, which set the institution apart: Recognizing that students come with rich histories and connections, embracing Torah study and Jewish observance doesn’t mean one has to cut off their past lives. Mayanot’s aim is to “integrate, not separate” them from their families and communities.

“Our goal is to show students that through their Jewish learning, they don’t retreat from their families, but instead become shining examples, inspiring those around them,” he said.

Rabbi Dovid Birk, an alumnus who now serves as a Chabad emissary at Cornell University, recalls his time in Mayanot. “I’ll never forget the dedication and warmth of the teachers, sitting with us for hours, answering our questions, and genuinely caring about who we are and would become,” Birk recalled. “Even so many years later, I still share stories of my years at Mayanot with my children and students.”

Education for Life

Nearly three decades later, that small operation has evolved into a global powerhouse. The institution draws students from around the world—from the United Kingdom and Kuwait to New York and Sydney—with over 400 enrolling annually in a wide range of programs. These include a post-high-school program, men’s and women’s programs, summer and winter sessions, and short four-to six week programs, offering students a variety of options to explore their Jewish identity.

Mayanot Israel, headed by Rabbi Levi Margolin, is the leading provider of Taglit-Birthright Israel trips, bringing as many as 3,500 participants per year.

Nimrod Ran, Deputy CEO of Taglit-Birthright Israel, offered valuable insight into Mayanot’s success. “They do it from the neshamah,” Ran said. “The students feel that warmth and authenticity, and are drawn to it, building a deep connection to their Jewish identity and the Land of Israel.”

The opening event was attended by Mr. Meir Holtz, CEO of Masa; Rabbi Avi Weinstein, COO of Chabad on Campus International; and Rabbi Yosef Gerlitzky, director of Chabad of Tel Aviv, highlighting the strategic partnerships among the various Jewish organizations dedicated to enriching Jewish education and helping students build lasting ties to their heritage.

Despite the massive upgrade in Mayanot’s square footage, the educational philosophy inside the classrooms remains unchanged. The curriculum, whether in Talmud, Halachah, or Chassidism, is designed to be thorough yet accessible, fostering independent learners who are capable of navigating Jewish texts on their own. And the trademark chavrusah (one-on-one) learning sessions, where lifelong relationships are forged, remain unchanged. In fact, to meet the growing demand, Mayanot has opened a Shana Bet Program headed by Rabbi Yossi Shemtov, for post-high school students who want to study Torah in the Holy Land for an additional year. Other programs in development are the Lone Soldier Center and the Onward Israel internships.

“While inspiration is important, the foundation of a balanced Jewish life lies in education, being confident to study independently and teach others,” says Rabbi Yisroel Noach Wichnin, Mayanot’s beloved Rosh Yeshivah. Responsible for overseeing students’ growth and engaging with students one on one, he believes that Mayanot sets up students for long-term success by equipping them with the skills to live informed, proud Jewish lives.

Mayanot’s extracurricular offerings provide students with immersive experiences that deepen their connection to the Holy Land and Jewish life. Shabbatons in the northern and southern communities are organized throughout the year, as well as day tours and trips that bring biblical history to life. Throughout Chanukah and Purim, students visit army bases, displaced refugees, and hospitals, helping them develop a sense of responsibility and leadership within the Jewish community.

“We’re not a one-year-and-done program,” says Rabbi Shneur Broh, head of the post-high school program. “I get true nachas when I see my students living with the lessons they learned in Mayanot, years later, in the thick of fatherhood and business.”

This approach is exemplified by Matias Lancewicki, a student who after learning in Mayanot for two years, returned to Cornell and started the “Tefillin Challenge,” encouraging people to share the mitzvah of tefillin with those in their own networks. His initiative has since reached hundreds of Jewish students on campuses around the world.

Looking to the Future

With the Jerusalem sunset casting its glow over the rooftop terrace, attendees gathered to honor the lead investors in Mayanot’s vision: the Koum Family Foundation, Igor Tulchinsky, George and Pamela Rohr, and Yitzchak and Vika Mirilashvili.

Special appreciation was also given to the donors of the building’s facilities who joined in person: Rabbi Dovid and Gittel Fischer, Dr. Stephen Joel Weiss, Jeffrey and Karen Cohen, , Martin and Melanie Glatt, Rabbi Mordechai Deitsch, and Dr. Rabiel and Natalie Amirian.

As the event, organized by Rabbi Moishe Silver, came to a close, the speeches gave way to spirited dancing.

Mr. Jeffrey Cohen, chairman of the Mayanot board, spoke of the challenges faced during the building’s development: “From Covid to October 7 and the years of war that followed, they have done it! Mayanot has built a center ready to welcome every young searching Jewish soul for years to come!”