General Studies at ‘Etz Chaim’ Institutions Founded by the Vilna Gaon’s Followers in Jerusalem, 1855-1946

The article examines the educational curricula of the Etz Chaim institutions founded by the Vilna Gaon’s followers in Jerusalem, focusing on the inclusion of secular subjects alongside Talmud and halacha from 1855 to 1946. The research shows that during this period the Etz Chaim institutions strove to provide a high-quality and well-rounded education for Ashkenazi children in Jerusalem and elsewhere and they were willing to accept students from all socioeconomic backgrounds. In addition to the Oral Law, the curriculum included Bible, grammar, Hebrew language, penmanship, dictation, and arithmetic with the goal of providing students with the means to earn a livelihood. With the influx of Lithuanian immigrants with a broad religious and secular education, the institutions were able to recruit professional teachers in subjects such as arithmetic and Hebrew language. Most graduates became merchants or clerks, and some pursued further secular education and became professionals, while only a minority remained in higher Torah study. This challenges the view that all of the educational institutions in the Old Yishuv opposed the teaching of secular subjects and foreign languages. The leadership of the Lithuanian Perushim sought a society of God-fearing, self-sufficient individuals. Only a select few continued on to higher yeshiva studies and received financial assistance, which was intended to support Torah learners from within the Haluka (charitable distribution system) or from similar sources.