Seminary Shabbat, Holidays and Breaks: Is the Dorm Open?

Seminaries mix "in" Shabbatot, spent together as a school, with free Shabbatot, when students go to family, friends or hosts. What happens on free weekends and in the long breaks differs a lot from school to school, and it affects flights, family visits and spending money. This is what each school's own site says.

Dorm open through Shabbat, chagim and breaks

Midreshet Lindenbaum: the dorm never closes, including Shabbat and holidays, and meals are provided.
Baer Miriam: the dorms never close, on Shabbat, Yom Tov or vacation. Shabbat and chag meals are provided if needed, at the seminary or with families in the neighborhood.
Amudim: the apartments stay open at all times, including Shabbat and chagim.
Midreshet Torah v'Avodah: the apartments never close, and students may stay for all free Shabbatot and chagim, in coordination with staff.
Midreshet Tehillah: the dorm stays open during all vacations, and is open and supervised on free Shabbatot.
Sha'alvim for Women: the dorm is always open. The Av and Em Bayit host students who stay in, and the madrichot help find placements.
Yeshivat Drisha: the dorms are open year-round, including vacations.
Midreshet Torat Chessed: the campus stays open for students who want to stay.
Bnot Torah (Sharfman's): students don't need to find a place for Shabbat or Yom Tov and may stay at the school. A faculty-led second Pesach Seder is held for students who stay in Israel.

Open, with some days closed

Midreshet HaRova: the dorms stay open with meals during the Sukkot and Pesach breaks, closing only on the first and last day of chag and on vacation Shabbatot, when students are placed with families. On free Shabbatot students may stay in if at least ten choose to.
Midreshet AMIT: the building is closed for Rosh Hashana and the Yom Tov days of Sukkot and Pesach, and open on chol hamoed. Staying in hotels or empty apartments needs emailed permission from parents.
Midreshet Moriah: the residence is open on chol hamoed Sukkot and Pesach, and Shavuot is spent together at the school.

Hosts and meals

Tiferet: students can be set up at teachers' homes for meals on every Shabbat and chag.
Machon Maayan: students are invited to teachers' homes for Shabbatot and chagim.
Pninim: three meals a day, including Shabbos and Yom Tov. When there's no program or meal in the building, a student can arrange her own or ask the school to.
Midreshet Rachel v'Chaya: each week students can sign up to be placed with a family for a meal or the whole Shabbat.
MMY: four "in Shabbatot" in the dorm with programming, and Rosh Hashanah and Shavuot are spent at MMY.

Schools not named here don't say on their sites. Ask them.

When the Pesach break falls

The Pesach break is the longest of the year, and the one most families plan flights around. The 2026-27 dates the schools have published:

Midreshet HaRova: April 9 to May 2, 2027 (its calendar is marked tentative).
Midreshet Lev: April 8 to May 2, 2027.
Mayanot: April 13 to May 4, 2027. Mayanot also lists a winter break from January 7 to 11, 2027.
Midreshet Tehillah lists breaks at Sukkot, Chanukah, midwinter and Pesach, and Midreshet Torah v'Avodah at Sukkot, Chanukah and Pesach.

The holidays themselves, as kept in Israel, are on the year calendar, and each school's start and end dates are on its page in our seminary list.

Before booking a visit or a flight home

Which weeks are vacation, and is the dorm open then?
May students leave Israel during term? Sha'alvim for Women asks for the Menahel's permission for travel abroad outside the Pesach break, and Midreshet AMIT doesn't support trips abroad during term.
Can parents visiting take their daughter out for a Shabbat, and which Shabbatot are school Shabbatonim?
Are meals provided on free Shabbatot and in the breaks, or is that extra spending money?
Students from abroad often ask how to keep the second day of Yom Tov while in Israel. Ask your school or your own rav.

Questions and answers

Do seminary dorms stay open over Pesach?

At many schools, yes. Midreshet Lindenbaum, Baer Miriam, Amudim, Midreshet Torah v'Avodah, Midreshet Tehillah, Sha'alvim for Women and Yeshivat Drisha say their dorms stay open through vacations. Midreshet HaRova and Midreshet AMIT stay open on chol hamoed but close on the Yom Tov days themselves.

Where do seminary students go on free Shabbatot?

To family, friends or host families, or they stay in the dorm where it's open. Several schools, including Tiferet, Machon Maayan and Midreshet Rachel v'Chaya, arrange meals with teachers or local families.

When is the seminary Pesach break in 2027?

It differs by school. Midreshet HaRova lists April 9 to May 2, 2027, Midreshet Lev April 8 to May 2, and Mayanot April 13 to May 4. Check your own school's calendar before you book.

Can students fly home during the year?

Check the school's rules first. Sha'alvim for Women needs the Menahel's permission for travel abroad outside the Pesach break, and Midreshet AMIT doesn't support trips abroad during term.

Sources

Read on 30 October 2026. Open them to check a figure or see whether it has changed.

Shabbat, holidays and vacations: which dorms stay open