Bein Hazmanim information

Bein hazmanim (Hebrew: בֵּין הַזְּמַנִּים, lit. 'between the times') refers to vacation time in Jewish yeshivas. Bein hazmanim generally correspond to the major Jewish holidays, and are periods during which official studies are suspended and students typically leave the yeshiva setting.^[1] Bein hazmanim blocks divide between the three major yeshiva zmanim (semesters)—the Elul zman, choref (winter) zman, and kayitz (summer) zman. The summer zman is sometimes referred to as the "Pesach zman"—particularly in yeshivas that end their semesters prior to, or at the very beginning of, the summer rather than on Tisha B'Av.

The yeshiva year typically begins on 1 Elul—this being Rosh Chodesh Elul. The first zman runs for five and a half weeks; until the end of Yom Kippur on 10 Tishrei. The month of Elul, the beginning of Tishrei, and the High Holy Days, all marked by focus on repentance, are followed by the extended, more joyous holiday of Sukkot at the end of Tishrei. The first major bein hazmanim period usually begins immediately following Yom Kippur, and runs at least until the end of Sukkot (22 Tishrei in Israel, and 23 Tishrei in the diaspora). Some yeshivas extend bein hazmanim until the end of Tishrei.

Choref zman begins after Sukkot and is the longest zman of the yeshiva year. It spans the month of Cheshvan through the end of Adar, with only a few holidays in the middle (Hanukkah, Tu BiShvat, and Purim). This zman traditionally ends early in the month of Nissan—either on Rosh Chodesh Nissan or a few days later. Bein hazmanim beginning at this juncture in the year span most of Nissan, which includes the holiday of Pesach in its entirety (15-21 Nissan, and 22 Nissan in the diaspora).

After Passover, yeshiva starts up again by the beginning of Iyar. Kayitz zman runs for just over three months, and concludes with The Three Weeks. These three weeks of mourning culminate with Tisha B'Av and the end of kayitz zman. Between Tisha B’Av and 1 Elul are roughly three weeks, which make up the final bein hazmanim in the yeshiva year.