Jerusalem’s Mayanot Yeshiva Opens State-of-the-Art New Building

Four hundred guests enjoyed the views of a Jerusaelm sunset on the rooftop garden of the new Mayanot campus last week. They came to celebrate its grand opening and to tour its gleaming facility: hotel-level dorms, a state-of-the-art study hall and library, and gym.

Executive Director Rabbi Kasriel Shemtov says the moment has been nearly three decades in the making. “Mayanot started 29 years ago,” he recalled, “when Rabbi Shlomo Gestetner and I were both doing outreach in Israel. We found that there was a real lack of places for young students who wanted to further their Jewish discovery. We decided to create a yeshiva where their lives could be fully integrated with Chasidus.” The mission from the start, he said, was to help students weave their pasts and identities into a Judaism that felt accessible and true.

Over the years, Mayanot built a reputation for strong academics, outstanding teachers, and an atmosphere defined by genuine sensitivity. Today, a student body of over 130 students ages 18-29 — coming from all over the world for an immersive experience. Students hail from different backgrounds — some right after high school, some in middle of their college studies. With demand rapidly increasing — especially since October 7th, a winter program beginning this month will bring an additional 60 students.

The brand-new campus, funded by four lead donors — the Koum Family Foundation, Igor Tolchinsky, George and Pamela Rohr, and Yitzchak Mirilashvili — was designed to accommodate that growth and to make the student experience comfortable and enjoyable. The spacious lobby opens into bright hallways lined with artwork; dorm rooms feature en-suite bathrooms, and the mikvah, classrooms, and dining hall are all built to the highest modern standards. 

Sydney native Yossi Samuell, who has been studying at Mayanot for nearly two years, said the new building has fundamentally elevated the atmosphere. “Learning in a clean, calm, beautifully designed space really changes how you think. The new library is gorgeous — heaps of new books — and the study hall is so much bigger. And, of course, everyone loves the gym.” What strikes him most, though, is the spirit behind it. “The rabbis have such a clear grasp of where we come from. They have real ahavat Yisrael — they don’t bring the Torah to you, they bring you closer to the Torah.”

Elliot Weisberg of Los Angeles first encountered Chabad at UC Davis. After spending time at Mayanot last year, he began keeping Shabbat and has continued weekly study sessions with friends he met there. He’s looking forward to returning to the new Mayanot building for the upcoming winter program. “The classrooms are modern, and the dorm feels like a hotel,” he said. But for Weisberg, it’s not just about the beautiful building. “The environment and atmosphere is what really resonates with me. Every student is on a shared journey.”

The event began with the dedication of the Dovid and Gittel Fisher Beis Medrash, and continued with greetings from lead donors Igor Tolshinsky and Yitzchak Mirilashvili. In a surprise announcement, Tolshinsky pledged an additional $1 million toward student scholarships. Guests were also astonished to learn that the elegant catering had been prepared entirely by Mayanot’s in-house chef — who provides high-quality meals to students three times a day.

With the new campus now fully operational, Mayanot is positioned to expand its programs and meet growing demand in the months ahead.