Midrashiat Noam

Midrashiat Noam (Hebrew acronym for "Noar Mizrachi") (also referred to as "the Midrashia" or Manapach - an acronym for Midrashiat Noam Pardes Hanna) is a religious high school (yeshiva) that operated in the city of Pardes Hanna, Israel. In 2007, it merged with the Herzog High School Division in Kfar Saba.

Pardes Hanna
Midrashiat Noam was established in 1945 by Israel Sadan (then Israel Kozhnitzky) and Michael Tzur (then Michael Lieberman), who led the "Noar Mizrachi" youth movement, in collaboration with Rabbi Yehoshua Yagel. Rabbi Yagel was close to the Chazon Ish and received his blessing to open the Midrashia. The first class consisted of 17 students, most of whom were members of the Noar Mizrachi movement.

The new institution aimed to change the situation of the religious society at that time, especially among the younger generation. Rabbi Yagel emphasized that in those days, young people were ashamed to wear a kippah, and "religious" was a derogatory term in Israel. The purpose of establishing the institution was to instill pride in religious youth through a high-level, value-based education alongside general studies. The institution taught both general and religious studies.

The uniqueness of the Midrashia lay in the combination of religious and secular studies. The goal was to prepare the youth of religious Zionism for practical life in society and the state.

For years, the Midrashia published the journal "Niv HaMidrashia," which contained religious, philosophical, and educational articles.

During the thirtieth anniversary celebrations of Midrashiat Noam, Israel Sadan established the "Mekhina for Midrashia" in Kfar Saba - "Herzog High School Division." The "Mekhina" served as the first religious junior high school in the country and became a model for the establishment of many such divisions. The first head of the "Mekhina" was Rabbi Aharon Lapidot. Most students of the Mekhina for Midrashia continued to Midrashiat Noam in Pardes Hanna.

The administrative headquarters of the institutions (Midrashiat Noam and the Mekhina for Midrashia - Herzog High School Division) was located in Tel Aviv and served as the management for the institutions located in Pardes Hanna and Kfar Saba.

Among the rabbis who taught at the yeshiva in the past were Shaul Yisraeli, who, together with Israel Sadan, developed the subject of 'Jewish Thought' taught in many schools across the country, Menachem Elon, Simcha Kaplan, Uzzi Kalchheim, Meir Tzvi Gruzman, and Akiva Hakarmi. After Rabbi Yagel completed his role as head of the yeshiva, several rabbis succeeded him, but Rabbi Yagel continued to teach students until his passing in December 2006.

In its final years in Pardes Hanna, the Midrashia saw increased disciplinary issues among students. In the last classes, there was a rise in rebellion and vandalism, leading the institution's heads to realize that the atmosphere had become unmanageable.

In the film "The Midrashia" by graduate director Chagai Becher, which was screened at the Docaviv Festival in 2023, a violent organizational culture is documented, including vandalism and various forms of abuse, referred to as "Kristallnacht."

Kfar Saba
Starting in 2007, the Herzog High School Division in Kfar Saba became the new Midrashiat Noam. Rabbi Tzvi Ezraki was appointed as the head of the yeshiva and has since led the institution, along with several other rabbis, including Rabbi Kaufman and Rabbi Zelikovich. In 2014, Elikim Shiovitz was appointed as the principal of the high school. Shmuel Bar Levav served as the CEO of the institutions for about a decade.

In 2015, Midrashiat Noam partially came under the ownership of the ORT network, which introduced social programs and projects, such as the "Screen Savers" project, where high school students conducted workshops and activities on preventing cyberbullying.

At the end of 2017–2018, CEO Shmuel Bar Levav resigned, and Avi Hirsch was appointed in his place. In the 2020–2021 school year, Elad Shoval was appointed as the CEO.

The historic beit midrash of the yeshiva in Pardes Hanna, designed by architect Genia Averbuch and inaugurated in 1965, is now home to the "Liba-Ba'ei" beit midrash, led by musician Yitzhak Meir.

Alumni
The Midrashia has produced over seven thousand graduates who are integrated into all sectors of Israeli society. Notable alumni include former Justice Minister Yaakov Neeman, former Knesset members Eitan Cabel and Yehuda Glick.

In Culture
In 2023, a documentary film titled "The Midrashia" was produced about the institution, created by Tal Becher, Netanel Yamin, and Yair Agmon. The film was screened at the Docaviv Festival in 2023.