Many yeshiva parents choose a religious education for their children because it is central to their cultural identity, and because it teaches the importance of community, a deep respect for one’s traditions and heritage, a high level of ethics and morals, and those qualities that make a good citizen: honesty, integrity, and commitment. Yeshivas also help build the strong bonds of family, as children may often attend the same yeshivas their parents attended.

Although school curriculum varies, yeshivas focus on the study of sacred religious texts, such as the Torah and the Talmud, to develop critical thinking and analytical skills, as well as Jewish literature, philosophy, and ethics. Secular coursework may include English and foreign languages, math, history, and science.

A yeshiva education is a rigorous one that requires discipline inside and outside the classroom, the same kind of discipline and willpower needed to succeed in professional life. Coursework often presents students with complex moral and ethical issues that one may later encounter as an adult. Yeshiva students learn to approach challenges with careful analysis and penetrating inquiry, develop solutions on their own, and argue their respective viewpoint persuasively – skills they will continue to cultivate as they mature.

Yeshiva instruction also instills in young people a strong sense of self-worth, helping to shape them into active citizens dedicated to bettering their communities. Students go on to lead careers at Fortune 500 companies, own businesses, and contribute to the fields of law, religion, education, medicine and technology – all while balancing their professional goals with a deep commitment to family and faith.