The Jerusalem Post - The Jerusalem Post Magazine
Days of mourning, days of study
With our return to Israel we have also returned to the book of history and of land. In the modern state, Tanach study, which had been neglected for centuries, has experienced a spectacular renaissance.
The Herzog College Yemei Iyun B’Tanach at Yeshivat Har Etzion in Gush Etzion is one of the largest annual Torah gatherings in the world. A weeklong conference offering 120 lectures is attended by over 3,000 people, many of whom fly in from overseas specifically to attend the conference. Watching teenagers and retirees, local Israelis and international visitors all gather in the Gush is a thrilling reminder of how Torah study draws our people back to our homeland – literally and figuratively.
The study week attracts a broad range of ages and offers a special menu of lectures in English. Over 60% of the attendees are women, and several lectures are delivered by women, highlighting the impressive development and expansion of Torah study for women.
Over the years, the conference has expanded well beyond a Torah study event. Currently, private sellers offer a broad range of merchandise, from Hebrew books and religious items to general books, shmita produce and even clothing for the religious community. The event has morphed from a study week into a cultural festival for the religious public.
The event is held during the week immediately prior to Tisha Be’av, and it is powerfully symbolic that as we mourn over Jewish exile and dream of redemption, thousands of people immerse themselves in the Book of Prophecy and Jewish history.