Yeshivat Hesder Orot Shaul was established by Rabbi
Yuval Cherlow, Rabbi
David Stav, and Rabbi
Shai Piron, founders of the
Tzohar Foundation, a moderate
Orthodox organization that promotes ties between religious and secular
Jews in Israel. The yeshiva, which embraces a modern Orthodox educational philosophy, combines Torah study with military service. Orot Shaul is known for its demanding curriculum, and its study hall can be found fully occupied into the latest hours of the night. For this reason, Orot Shaul has instituted rigorous entrance exams in order to ensure that its prospective students can meet its demanding 5-year program. Its students have served in some of the Israel Defense Forces' most elite units, ranging from intelligence to combat. The yeshiva is notable within the Dati Leumi world for its combination of traditional Talmudic study and openness to Hasidic teachings. ==References==