Bein Hazmanim

Bein Hazmanim (Hebrew: בֵּין הַזְּמַנִּים) (lit. between time periods) refers to vacation time in Jewish Orthodox Yeshivas. These periods of time, generally corresponding to the major Jewish holidays, are large blocks of calendar dates in which official studies are suspended and students typically leave the Yeshiva setting. These Bein Hazmanim blocks divide between the three major Yeshiva Zmanim (semesters) – the Elul Zman, the Choref (winter) Zman, and the Kayitz (summer) Zman. (The Kayitz/Summer Zman is sometimes referred to as the Pesach Zman, particularly among 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, 23 Tishrei in the Diaspora). Some Yeshivas extend Bein Hazmanim until the end of Tishrei.

Choref Zman (winter semester) 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 Nissan, either on Rosh Chodesh Nissan or a few days later. Bein Hazmanim beginning at this juncture in the year spans most of Nissan, which includes the holiday of Passover in its entirety (15-21 Nissan (22 Nissan in the Diaspora)).

After Passover, Yeshiva starts up again by the beginning of Iyar. Kayitz Zman, the summer semester, runs for just over three months, concluding 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 around three weeks, which make up the final period of Bein Hazmanim in the Yeshiva year.