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Yeshivas play a central role in the life of Orthodox Judaism and Ultra Orthodox Judaism so the position of Rosh yeshiva is the critical central pillar of leadership upon which the entire institution and system depends. In Hasidic Judaism the role of Rosh yeshiva is secondary to the Rebbe, who is head of the Hasidic dynasty that controls it.

Historically, the yeshivas continue the scholarly traditions of the Biblical Sanhedrin and the Seventy Elders (Shivim Z'kenim), wise men [1] (Exodus 24:1,9; Numbers 11:16,24) wherein were discussed and eloborated the 613 Mitzvot (commandments). This tradition was continued by the sages of the Mishnah and Talmud. In Babylonia the Rosh yeshiva was refered to as the Reish Metivta (or RaM) in Aramaic.

Depending on the size of the yeshiva, there may be several Roshei yeshiva, often from one extended family but not always. There are even dynasties of Roshei yeshiva the most famous of which is the Soloveitchik family to which Rabbi Joseph Soloveitchik of Yeshiva University belonged.

The general role of the rosh yeshiva is to oversee the Talmudic studies and practical legalHalakha in Hebrew or Halakhah Halacha Halachah is the collective corpus of Jewish law, custom and tradition regulating all aspects of behavior. The name Halakha derives from the Hebrew halach meaning "going" or the "[correct] way"; thus a literal translat matters. The rosh yeshiva may lecture on a daily or weekly basis to the highest class (shiur). He is also the one to decide whether to grant permission for students (talmidim) to undertake classes for ordination, known as semichaSemicha (meaning "leaning [of the hands]" in Hebrew) is roughly equivalent to the word " ordination" (in Hebrew: Semichut of a rabbi within Judaism. It is the transmission of rabbinic authority in the form of an authorization to give advice or judgment in, as rabbis.

The personal and ethical development of the students in the yehsiva is usually covered by a different personality, known as the mashgiach ("supervisor"). This concept, introduced by the Mussar movementThe Hebrew term mussar while literally derived from a word meaning " tradition", usually refers to Jewish ethics in general, or (and more commonly) refers to the Jewish ethics education movement that developed in the 19th century Orthodox Jewish European in the 19th centuryAlternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical ( 18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801- 1900. Events The Little Ice Age ended, led to perfection of character as one of the aims of attending a yeshiva.

Famous roshei yeshiva were Rabbis Naftali Zvi Yehuda BerlinRabbi Naftali Zvi Yehuda Berlin ( 1817- 10 August 1893) was a rosh yeshiva (dean of a yeshiva and author if several works of rabbinic literature in Lithuania. His name is commonly abbreviated by its consonants as Netziv , which can also mean "pillar"., Moshe FeinsteinRabbi Moshe Feinstein ( 1895- 1986) was an Orthodox Rabbi who was world renowned for his expertise in halacha (Jewish Law). He was born, according to the Hebrew calendar, on the 7th day of Adar, 5655 in Uzdan, near Minsk, Belorussia (traditionally the dat, and Isaac Hutner. Famous mashgichim include Rabbi Eliyahu Eliezer DesslerRabbi Eliyahu Eliezer Dessler ( 1892- 1953) was an influential Orthodox Jewish thinker of the 20th century. He is best known as mashgiach (spiritual counsellor) of the Ponovezh yeshiva in Israel. Lithuania Eliyahu Dessler (who was known throughout his lif.

Prior to the Holocaust most of the large yeshivas were based in Eastern Europe. Many Roshei yeshiva were trained by graduates of the Volozhin yeshiva , headed by its Rosh yeshiva Rabbi Chaim of Volozhin , ( 1749 - 1821). It was known as the "Mother of Yeshivas" because so many of its alumni established yeshivas of their own over time. Rabbi Chaim was the chief disciple of the famed Elijah of Vilna ( 1720 - 1797) known as the "Vilna Gaon".

Presently the majority of the world's yeshivas and their Roshei yeshiva are located in the United States and the State of Israel.