Once you get over the idea of sending your son away to yeshiva, it’s time to figure out just what he’ll need when he gets there.
When a boy leaves home for yeshiva, there are different levels of leaving.
The first level is dorming in a local yeshiva. They might get to come home every Shabbos, they can get frequent deliveries of food and maybe even some of mom’s laundry services.
Then there’s moving into a dorm in a yeshiva in a different city. This usually means coming home once a month (or every 2-3 months if a flight is involved), occasional rides that can take a care package from home and Amazon prime availability. And Mom’s not doing the laundry anymore!
And then there’s going overseas. For most, but not all, this means Israel. And this can either be in a dorm or rooming with other boys in an apartment. These boys are not coming home too often – maybe just once a year. There’s no more food packages and very rarely do you get to send “just one small thing that doesn’t weigh a lot” with a friend or family member who is traveling. And now it’s not just laundry – chances are they’re buying some clothing on their own, too.
Packing for these different situations is somewhat different. Local guys can take as much as they want when they move into the dorm, but don’t need as much to start off. Boys who are going to a different city are limited to what fits in their suitcases, but can add more seasonal items and toiletries on a vacation weekend. And boys going to Israel (or elsewhere) are limited mostly by luggage weight. Like we discussed in the seminary packing list, the boys also tend to do laundry once every two weeks. The numbers listed should work for most, but adjust as necessary. Also, keep in mind bulk and weight when flying. Detergent, body wash, shampoo etc can be shipped from local stores within the US or bought at local stores in Israel. Pack just enough for the first few days and plan to purchase once settled in.
Clothing:
- 14 weekday shirts
- 4 Shabbos shirts
- 5 dress pants
- 20 sets of underwear and socks
- 3 tzitzis
- 2 Shabbos suits
- Several ties
[don’t skimp, they’re not bulky and you’ll get bored of wearing just 2-3 all zman] - Cufflinks
- Shabbos shoes
- Weekday shoes
[good for lots of walking if in Israel. Keep notes of brand/style/size so you can send replacements from home when needed] - Spare yarmulke
- Glasses
[spare if you don’t wear lenses] - 7 sets of pajamas
- Sports clothing
- Sneakers
- Slides
- Sweater
- Hoodie
- Shabbos and weekday hats
- Blazer
- Winter coat
- Rain coat
Toiletries:
- Shampoo
- Body wash
- Hand soap
- Toothbrush
- Toothbrush holder
- Toothpaste
- Detergent
- Deodorant
- Skincare
[acne products] - Lenses and accessories
- Mouthwash
- Flossers
- Qtips
- Bandaids
- Over the counter medications
[see this post] - Melatonin
- Hat brush
- Shoe polish
- Shaver
[don’t forget the charger. An adapter is sufficient for most to use in Israel.] - Earplugs and/or eye mask
- Nail clippers or nail scissors
Other items:
- Kosher lamp
[for Israel, better to buy there and it’ll have the Israeli plug] - Towels [bathrobe]
- Linens [bedding]
- Chargers for all devices
- Adapters
- Power strip
[for Israel, buy it there] - Dryer sheets
- Stain remover
- Laundry bags
- Drawers
- Pens and notebooks
[For Israel, don’t bring along a binder and American binder paper. You will not find more paper that size in Israel. Rather, buy when you get there.] - Alarm clock
[vibrating] - Washing cup
- Hangers
- Garment bag
- Luggage to use for weekends
- Machzorim and selichos
Extras to consider:
- Warm robe
- Ugg type slippers
[dorm floors can be very cold] - Swimwear
- Baseball cap
- Backpack
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