Od Yosef Chai Yeshiva - Revision history

David at 09:56, 14 June 2026

2026-06-14T09:56:22Z

David: /* Teachings and Controversies */

2026-06-14T09:54:41Z

Teachings and Controversies

David at 09:53, 14 June 2026

2026-06-14T09:53:33Z

David: Created page with "{{short description|Hardline religious Zionist yeshiva in Yitzhar settlement, known for controversial teachings and links to settler extremism}} {{Infobox organization | name..."

2026-06-14T09:52:50Z

Created page with "{{short description|Hardline religious Zionist yeshiva in Yitzhar settlement, known for controversial teachings and links to settler extremism}} {{Infobox organization | name..."

New page

{{short description|Hardline religious Zionist yeshiva in Yitzhar settlement, known for controversial teachings and links to settler extremism}}

{{Infobox organization
| name = Od Yosef Chai Yeshiva
| native_name = ישיבת עוד יוסף חי
| image =
| caption =
| formation = 1982
| founder = Romem Aldubi
| type = [[Yeshiva]]
| headquarters = [[Yitzhar]], [[West Bank]]
| location = [[West Bank]]
| key_people = [[Yitzchak Ginsburgh]] (spiritual leader and president)<br>[[Yitzhak Shapira]] (former head)<br>[[Yosef Elitzur]]
| focus = Torah study, Kabbalah, Hasidic philosophy, religious Zionism
| website = {{URL|https://www.odyosefchai.org/}}
}}

'''Od Yosef Chai''' (Hebrew: עוד יוסף חי, "Joseph still lives") is a hardline religious Zionist yeshiva located in the [[West Bank]] settlement of [[Yitzhar]].<ref name="JGive">JGive, [https://www.jgive.com/new/en/ils/charity-organizations/1535 Yeshivat Od Yosef Chai] ''JGive'', accessed June 2026.</ref><ref name="TOI2023">Times of Israel, [https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/shift-shake-jewish-terrorism-from-hills-to-the-big-apple-skyscrapers/ Shift & Shake: Jewish Terrorism] ''Times of Israel'', 27 September 2023.</ref>

It is known for its radical interpretations of Jewish law, Kabbalistic teachings, and associations with settler violence, including "price tag" attacks linked to the [[Hilltop Youth]].<ref name="972Mag">+972 Magazine, [https://www.972mag.com/yitzhar-hilltop-settler-violence/ How one hilltop became an incubator for Israeli settler violence] ''+972 Magazine'', 2 January 2020.</ref>

== History ==
The yeshiva was founded in 1982 (5742) by Romem Aldubi and associates at [[Joseph's Tomb]] in Nablus (Shechem).<ref name="JGive" />

It operated there until the Second Intifada, when the IDF withdrew from the site in 2000. The yeshiva then relocated to the settlement of [[Yitzhar]], where it expanded to include a high school, yeshiva gedolah, kollel, and publishing activities.<ref name="JGive" /><ref name="TOI2023" />

== Leadership ==
Rabbi [[Yitzchak Ginsburgh]], an American-born rabbi affiliated with [[Chabad-Lubavitch]], serves as the spiritual leader and president. He has headed or influenced the institution since the late 1980s.<ref name="TOI2023" /><ref name="Forward2016">Forward, [https://forward.com/news/352016/the-kabbalist-who-would-be-king-of-a-new-jewish-monarchy-in-israel/ The Kabbalist Who Would Be King] ''Forward'', 14 October 2016.</ref>

Other key figures include Rabbis [[Yitzhak Shapira]] and [[Yosef Elitzur]], who served as heads and authored controversial texts.<ref name="Haaretz2010">Haaretz, [https://www.haaretz.com/2010-01-22/ty-article/the-kings-torah-a-rabbinic-text-or-a-call-to-terror/0000017f-e58c-dea7-adff-f5ff8b080000 The King's Torah: A Rabbinic Text or a Call to Terror?] ''Haaretz'', 22 January 2010.</ref>

== Teachings and Controversies ==
The yeshiva promotes a blend of Hasidic philosophy, Kabbalah, and hardline religious Zionism. Critics accuse it of fostering Jewish supremacism through interpretations distinguishing between Jewish and non-Jewish souls and permitting violence in certain contexts.<ref name="TOI2023" /><ref name="Forward2016" />

In 2009, rabbis associated with the yeshiva published ''Torat HaMelech'' (''The King's Torah''), which argued that the prohibition on murder applies primarily to Jews and outlined scenarios where killing non-Jews, including civilians and children, could be permissible if they pose a threat.<ref name="Haaretz2010" /><ref name="972Mag" />

The book drew widespread condemnation, led to investigations for incitement, and prompted funding cuts from Israeli ministries.<ref name="TOI2023" />

Rabbi [[Yitzchak Ginsburgh]] has faced multiple detentions and accusations of incitement, including for statements describing Arabs as a "cancer" and endorsing related texts.<ref name="Forward2016" />

== Links to Chabad ==
While not formally part of the [[Chabad-Lubavitch]] network, [[Yitzchak Ginsburgh]] has deep ties to the movement. He studied in Chabad institutions, developed a relationship with the [[Lubavitcher Rebbe]], and incorporates Chassidut and Kabbalah into teachings at the yeshiva. Chabad students have attended classes there.<ref name="Forward2016" /><ref name="TOI2023" />

== Connections to Hilltop Youth and Price Tag Attacks ==
Od Yosef Chai is widely regarded as an ideological incubator for the [[Hilltop Youth]], a radical settler movement known for unauthorised outposts and "price tag" attacks—retaliatory violence against Palestinians and Israeli forces, including arson, vandalism, and killings.<ref name="972Mag" /><ref name="BBC2012">BBC, [https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-19601311 'Price-tag' tactics of West Bank Jewish settlers] ''BBC'', 17 September 2012.</ref>

Students and alumni have been implicated in such attacks. Israeli security services have linked the yeshiva's teachings to encouragement of violence, leading to raids, funding suspensions, and temporary seizures.<ref name="972Mag" /><ref name="TOI2023" />

== See also ==
* [[Yitzchak Ginsburgh]]
* [[The King's Torah]]
* [[Hilltop Youth]]
* [[Price tag attack policy]]
* [[Chabad-Lubavitch]]
* [[Jewish extremism in Israel]]

== External links ==
[https://www.odyosefchai.org/ Official website]

==Notes==
<references/>

[[Category:Yeshivas in the West Bank]]
[[Category:Religious Zionism]]
[[Category:1982 establishments in Israel]]
[[Category:Chabad-Lubavitch]]
[[Category:Jewish extremism in Israel]]
[[Category:Controversial religious groups]]

@@ Line 15: / Line 15: @@
 | website = [https://www.odyosefchai.org/ odyoesfchai.org]
 }}
+{{Chabad sidebar}}
 '''Od Yosef Chai''' (Hebrew: עוד יוסף חי, "Joseph still lives") is a hardline religious Zionist yeshiva located in the [[West Bank]] settlement of [[Yitzhar]].<ref name="JGive">JGive, [https://www.jgive.com/new/en/ils/charity-organizations/1535 Yeshivat Od Yosef Chai] ''JGive'', accessed June 2026.</ref><ref name="TOI2023">Times of Israel, [https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/shift-shake-jewish-terrorism-from-hills-to-the-big-apple-skyscrapers/ Shift & Shake: Jewish Terrorism] ''Times of Israel'', 27 September 2023.</ref>

@@ Line 33: / Line 33: @@
 The yeshiva promotes a blend of Hasidic philosophy, Kabbalah, and hardline religious Zionism. Critics accuse it of fostering Jewish supremacism through interpretations distinguishing between Jewish and non-Jewish souls and permitting violence in certain contexts.<ref name="TOI2023" /><ref name="Forward2016" />
-In 2009, rabbis associated with the yeshiva published ''Torat HaMelech'' (''The King's Torah''), which argued that the prohibition on murder applies primarily to Jews and outlined scenarios where killing non-Jews, including civilians and children, could be permissible if they pose a threat.<ref name="Haaretz2010" /><ref name="972Mag" />
+In 2009, rabbis associated with the yeshiva published ''[[Torat HaMelech]]'' (''[[The King's Torah]]''), which argued that the prohibition on murder applies primarily to Jews and outlined scenarios where killing non-Jews, including civilians and children, could be permissible if they pose a threat.<ref name="Haaretz2010" /><ref name="972Mag" />
 The book drew widespread condemnation, led to investigations for incitement, and prompted funding cuts from Israeli ministries.<ref name="TOI2023" />

@@ Line 13: / Line 13: @@
 | key_people = [[Yitzchak Ginsburgh]] (spiritual leader and president)<br>[[Yitzhak Shapira]] (former head)<br>[[Yosef Elitzur]]
 | focus = Torah study, Kabbalah, Hasidic philosophy, religious Zionism
-| website = {{URL|https://www.odyosefchai.org/}}
+| website = [https://www.odyosefchai.org/ odyoesfchai.org]
 }}