RABBI AVI WEISS, FOUNDER & PRESIDENT
Rabbi Avi Weiss founded YCT in 1999.  He is Senior Rabbi of the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale, a modern and Open Orthodox congregation of 850 families in Bronx, NY. Rabbi Weiss is the National President of the AMCHA – the Coalition for Jewish Concerns, a grassroots organization that speaks out for Jewish causes throughout the world.  He has authored two books: "Women at Prayer: A Halakhic Analysis of Women’s Prayer Groups" and "Principles of Spiritual Activism."

RABBI DOV LINZER, ROSH HAYESHIVA & DEAN
Rabbi Linzer studied for many years at Yeshivat Har Etzion, was a member of Yeshiva University’s Gruss Kollel Elyon, and received his ordination from the Israeli Rabbinate. He is a recipient of the Javits Graduate fellowship, and a doctoral candidate in Religion at Columbia University. Rabbi Linzer headed the Boca Raton Kollel for the first two-and-a-half years of its existence, giving classes to the rabbis of the Kollel, and lecturing throughout the South Florida communities. He has published Halakha and machshava articles in Torah journals and lectures widely at synagogues and conferences on topics relating to Halakha, Orthodoxy, and modernity. Rabbi Linzer spearheaded the development of the YCT Rabbinical School curriculum into an innovative four year semikha program which provides its students with rigorous halakhic study and sophisticated professional training in the context of a religious atmosphere which cultivates openness and inclusiveness. In addition to overseeing the Yeshiva's Torah curriculum, he teaches advanced Halakha in a broad range of areas across all four sections of the Shulchan Aruch – including Kashrut, Ishut and Niddah, and Shabbat and Eruvin. Rabbi Linzer teaches advanced classes in Talmud and a year-long class in Contemporary Challenges of Modern Orthodoxy.

RABBI YAMIN LEVY, VICE PRESIDENT OF YESHIVA AFFAIRS
Rabbi Yamin Levy was ordained rabbi by Yeshiva University.  Formerly, the Academic Director of Sephardic Studies at Yeshiva University (2001-2006), he spent 18 years in the rabbinate in New Jersey, Seattle, WA. and Long Island, NY. Rabbi Levy is the author of the internationally acclaimed “Confronting the Loss of a Baby: A Personal and Jewish Perspective,” which was translated in Hebrew by Ruben Mass Publishers. He also wrote “Journey Through Grief: A Sephardic Manual for the Bereaved and Their Community” as well as authored numerous scholarly articles published in English and Hebrew on a range of topics including Jewish Law, Biblical Studies, and Maimonidean Studies.  Most recently, Rabbi Levy co-edited a book entitled “The Legacy of Maimonides: Religion, Reason, and Community.”  In addition to his work at YCT, Rabbi Levy is the Founder and Dean of the Maimonides Heritage Center.

OKSANA V. BELLAS, DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
Born and raised in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Oksana V. Bellas is a graduate of the University of Judaism's MBA Program in Nonprofit Management with focus in Accounting. Prior to joining the staff of YCT in 2003, Oksana served on staff of AVODAH: The Jewish Service Corps and the University of Judaism.

RABBI SAUL BERMAN, DIRECTOR OF CONTINUING RABBINIC EDUCATION
Rabbi Saul J. Berman is a leading Orthodox teacher and thinker.  Ordained by Yeshiva University, at which he also earned a BA and an MHL, he has completed a JD at New York University and an MA in Political Science at the University of California at Berkeley.   He served as a congregational rabbi at Beth Israel in Berkeley, CA; Young Israel of Brookline, MA; and Lincoln Square Synagogue in New York, NY.  Rabbi Berman served as Chairman of the Department of Judaic Studies of Stern College for Women of Yeshiva University for 13 years, where he still serves as an Associate Professor of Jewish Studies. He is also an adjunct Professor at Columbia University School of Law.  In 1997, Rabbi Berman founded and became Director of Edah, an organization devoted to the invigoration of Modern Orthodox ideology and religious life.

RABBI BARRY GELMAN, DIRECTOR OF PLACEMENT
Rabbi Barry Gelman received his rabbinic ordination from RIETS at Yeshiva University.  He is Rabbi of United Orthodox Synagogues of Houston.  He has previously served as Rabbi of Congregation Shaar Hashomayim in Montreal, Canada as well as Assistant Rabbi at Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun and the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale, both in New York.  

RABBI YSOSCHER KATZ, DIRECTOR OF BEIT MIDRASH PROGRAM 
Rabbi Ysoscher Katz received ordination in 1986 from Rabbi Roth, dayan of UTA Satmer. Rabbi Katz studied in Brisk and in Yeshivat Beis Yosef, Navaradok for over ten years. A graduate of the HaSha'ar Program for Jewish Educators, Rabbi Katz has taught at the Ma'ayanot High School for Girls and SAR High School.  He was a leading teacher of a daf yomi class in Boro Park for over eight years.

RUTHIE STROSBERG SIMON, DIRECTOR OF STUDENT SERVICES
Ruthie Strosberg Simon holds a Master's Degree in Jewish Education from Hebrew College in Newton, MA.   Born and raised in Schenectady, NY, Ruthie graduated from Union College with a B.A. in Russian and Spanish languages.   Previously she worked at Prozdor Hebrew High School of Hebrew College.

RABBI DOV WEISS, DIRECTOR OF ADMISSIONS
Rabbi Dov Weiss previously served as the Director of Operations at YCT.  He is currently pursuing a doctorate in rabbinic theology at the University of Chicago. A former Wexner Graduate Fellow, he received Semicha (ordination) from the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary - RIETS (affiliated with Yeshiva University) and an MA in Modern Jewish History at Yeshiva University (Revel). He was previously a visiting professor of Jewish Studies at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

DR. MICHELLE FRIEDMAN, CHAIR, DEPARTMENT OF PASTORAL COUNSELING
Dr. Michelle Friedman received an MD from the NYU School of Medicine and has completed advanced training at the Columbia University Psychoanalytic Center for Training and Research. She is a highly respected psychiatrist who focuses on the Jewish community and has a special interest in the rabbinate and pastoral counseling. In addition to her private practice and her role at YCT, Dr. Friedman is also Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychiatry at Mount Sinai Hospital, New York.

RABBI NATHANIEL HELFGOT, CHAIR, DEPARTMENTS OF BIBLE AND JEWISH THOUGHT
Rabbi Nathaniel Helfgot was previously Director of the Judaic Studies Curriculum at Ma`ayanot Yeshiva High School for Girls. Ordained by RIETS and a recipient of the Jerusalem Fellowship, Rabbi Helfgot holds an MA in Education from the Azrieli Graduate School of Yeshiva University.  He has authored dozens of essays in Hebrew and English, serves as co-editor of the Hebrew journal Or HaMizrach and most recently served as editor of the volume "Community, Covenant and Commitment: Selected Letters and Communications of Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik."

RABBI YAACOV LOVE, CHAIR, DEPARTMENT OF HALAKHA
Rabbi Yaacov Love has studied at Yeshiva Netzach Yisrael under Harav Yisrael Gustman, z"l. He received Yoreh Yoreh and Yadin Yadin ordinations from noted rabbis and dayanim in Israel. Rabbi Love taught at Shappel Institute and Machon Pardes in Israel for nine years and completed course work for the MA/PhD program in Talmud at Hebrew University, Jerusalem.

RABBI CHAIM MARDER, CHAIR, DEPARTMENT OF PRACTICAL RABBINICS
Rabbi Chaim Marder has served as Rabbi of the Hebrew Institute of White Plains since 1995. He is a graduate of Yeshiva University, holds an MA in Jewish History and received rabbinical ordination from RIETS. He is an Officer of the Rabbinical Council of America, Vice President of the Westchester Board of Rabbis, and a member of the Orthodox Caucus.