Rabbi, Congregation Ahavath Israel of Greenpoint, Brooklyn, New York

Maurice was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY. After high school, he spent a year in Israel learning at Yeshivat Ohr Hadarom in Rehovot. Maurice spent time at Rutgers University and graduated from Brooklyn College with a BA in Sociology. He has been involved in Yachad - The National Jewish Council for Disabilities and he led a summer teen tour to Israel. While studying at YCT, Maurice has interned at Congregation Beth Tefillah in Paramus, NJ and at the Abraham Joshua Heschel High School in Manhattan. He and his wife, Rebeccah, have a little girl, Helen.               

Campus Rabbi/Senior Jewish Educator, Ohio State University Hillel, Columbus, OH

Ben was born and raised in Los Angeles, CA. He received a BA in Politics from the University of California at Santa Cruz. Before coming to YCT, he was a Steinhardt JCSC Fellow at Cornell University Hillel and subsequent to that, the Program Director at University of Michigan Hillel. He has served as a rabbinic intern at Congregation Kesher of Tenafly and Englewood, NJ, as well as at the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale. Ben has also worked closely with Rabbi Irving Greenberg, Director of the Limdu Heitev Religious Leadership Initiative, and has spearheaded an archival project of the rabbi’s recorded lectures. Ben is married to Rachel Weiss-Berger and together they have two daughters, Tovah and Avital.   

Music Program Coordinator/Support Program Talmud Instructor, SAR High School, Riverdale, NY

Kenny grew up in Brooklyn, NY. He received his BA from QueensCollege, CUNY where he majored in music education. In addition to studying at Yeshivat Chovevei Torah Rabbinical School, Kenny completed his MA at Teachers College, Columbia University. Last year he was a rabbinic intern at Congregation Beit Avraham in Bethlehem, PA and this year he is serving as a rabbinic intern at Kehilat Rayim Ahuvim on Manhattan’s Upper West Side.              

Associate Rabbi, Hebrew Institute of Riverdale - The Bayit, Riverdale, NY

Steven grew up in Baltimore, MD, and attended Beth Tfiloh Community School from kindergarten through high school. He studied at Yeshivat Har Etzion before attending Brandeis University, where he graduated magna cum laude with a BA in Biology. He received an MA in Bible from Bernard Revel Graduate School and studied in the Yeshiva University Beit Midrash and Yeshivat Maale Gilboa. While at YCT as a Wexner Graduate Fellow, he interned at Sons of Israel in Yonkers, NY, Kehilat Chovevei Tzion in Scarsdale, NY, United Orthodox Synagogues in Houston, TX, and led the Meorot University Fellowships for two years. http://www.hir.org/                                         

Jewish Chaplain, Oxford University, Oxford, United Kingdom

Daniel was born in Montrose, NY and graduated from UMass Amherst, where he met his wife, Hannah. Following graduation, Daniel learned at Yeshivat Darchei Noam, worked for the National Jewish Outreach Program and then began his rabbinical studies at YCT. A highlight of Daniel’s career as a rabbinical student included facilitating and participating in various social action programs all over the world. Daniel also makes it a priority to engage with other movements and faiths. He was honored with the Irving Weinstein Memorial Award for the Advancement of Interdenominational Cooperation. He has worked with children in diverse settings, which have included camp, Hebrew school, Shabbat groups and private tutoring. Daniel has held rabbinic internships at the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale, Congregation Bais Abraham in St. Louis, Beth Israel Medical Center and New York University. Daniel and Hannah are working in the United Kingdom as Jewish Chaplains at Oxford University.

Rabbi and Co-Director, JLIC at Harvard, Cambridge, MA

Ben received his BA in Psychology from The Lander College for Men where he was on the Dean’s List and was a recipient of the President’s Scholarship. He founded the Lander College chapter of Yavneh Olami, the Religious Zionist college student movement of World Mizrachi. Ben has interned at the Jewish Center of Teaneck and the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale. He completed a 400-hour rotation in hospital chaplaincy at St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Medical Center in the neuroscience critical care unit and the post-surgery unit. During his tenure at YCT, Ben has been awarded fellowships at CLAL: The National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership, The Jewish Council on Urban Affairs and The Healthcare Chaplaincy. He has completed graduate coursework in Medieval Jewish History at Yeshiva University. Ben and his wife, Sharon, are the Rabbi and Co-Director, respectively, of The Jewish Learning Initiative on Campus (JLIC) at Harvard University.

Alevy Family Campus Rabbi for Alevy Jewish Student Services, Long Beach Hillel and Orange County Hillel, Long Beach, CA

Drew is originally from Gahanna, OH. He earned his BA in Jewish Studies from Indiana University and has also learned at Yeshiva University, Ohio State University and Ohr Somayach. Drew entered YCT as a member of the inaugural class of the Beit Midrash Program. He has completed rabbinic internships at Beth David Synagogue in West Hartford, CT and at the Center for Modern Torah Leadership in Boston. Drew is married to Rachel Scheier and enjoys spending time with his daughter, Sophie Bella. Drew intends to continue to contribute to the broader Jewish conversation on his eponymous web log and his rabbinic website: http://RabbiDrew.info.

Judaic Studies Teacher, Hillel Day School, Farmington Hills, MI

Michael, a native of Farmington Hills, MI, received his BA in History with a minor in Judaic Studies from the University of Michigan. Following graduation, he learned for two years in Israel at Yeshivas Ohr Sameach and Yeshivat Hamivtar. Michael has taught and lectured at Kollel Moshe of Congregation B’nai Moshe, the Frankel Jewish Academy in Detroit, and for the National Jewish Outreach Program. While studying for semikha, Michael also completed his MA in Talmud at Yeshiva University's Bernard Revel Graduate School. 

Judaic Studies Faculty Member, Abraham Joshua Heschel High School, New York, NY

Benji was born and raised in Cleveland,  OH. He spent two years studying at Yeshivat Har Etzion in Israel and received his BA in English Literature and Fine Arts from Yeshiva University. Benji also served as a combat infantry soldier in the Israel Defense Forces, and has led and taught Jewish high school students on trips to Poland and Israel. Prior to coming to YCT, Benji taught middle school English. While at YCT, Benji served as a rabbinic intern at Congregation Agudath Sholom in Stamford, CT, the Hebrew Home for the Aged in Riverdale and as a Judaic Studies teaching intern at SAR High School in Riverdale. He currently lives in Riverdale with his wife, Atara, and their daughters, Avielle and Hila. 

Limudei Kodesh instructor and Family Educator, Harkham Hillel Hebrew Academy
Los Angeles, CA

Devin is a graduate of the University of California at Los Angeles with a degree in the Study of Religion and a recipient of the Wexner Graduate Fellowship. The four years he has spent at YCT have been profoundly enriching and have given him the opportunity to work with communities in Maine, New York, Tennessee and California. He and his wife, Pamela,  have two children, Oliver and Elinor. 

Judaic Studies Faculty, Solomon Schecter School, Skokie, Illinois

Eric grew up in Newton, MA. He received his BA in English Language and Literature from the University of Chicago, his MA in Jewish Education from Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and a Certificate of Advanced Jewish Studies from the Pardes Institute of Jerusalem. Before coming to YCT, he taught Talmud at Chicagoland Jewish High School. While at YCT, Eric has worked at the Abraham Joshua Heschel Middle School in New York and at Akiba-Schechter in Chicago. Eric will continue to work in education and intends to run a multidenominational high school. Eric lives in Chicago with his wife, Jillian, and his son, Joshua.

Rabbinic Educator, Beth Israel/Judaic Faculty, Oakland Hebrew Day School,                    Berkeley, CA 

After completing a year of study at Yeshivat Hamivtar in Israel, an Urban Studies BA at Harvard, and concurrent Jewish youth work, Max plunged into YCT with fervent aspirations to "do good." He has since completed coursework for an MA in Jewish Education at Azrieli Graduate School and enjoyed rabbinical internships at Ohev Shalom in Washington, D.C., Beth Israel, Berkeley, and Riker's Island Detention Center.

High School Principal, Beth Tfiloh Dahan Community School, Baltimore, MD

Rabbi Frank has been at Beth Tfiloh since 2001, serving as Lower School Principal until 2009, and currently serving as High School Principal.  He is a graduate of the Jerusalem Fellows program at the Mandel Leadership Institute in Jerusalem as well as of the Principals' Center at Harvard Graduate School of Education. Rabbi Frank currently serves on the boards of the International Rabbinic Fellowship and of Kehilat Netivot Shalom, an Open Orthodox congregation in Baltimore.  He served as Associate Rabbi of the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale under the mentorship of Rabbi Avi Weiss from 1996 until 2000.  He received semikha from Yeshivat Chovevei Torah and from Rabbi David Weiss Halivni. He holds a B.A. in Philosophy from the University of Michigan and an M.S. from Columbia University School of Social Work. Since 2001, Rabbi Frank has served as a High Holidays rabbi at Beth Sholom Congregation in Potomac, Maryland. Rabbi Frank is married to Laura Shaw Frank. They have four children: Ateret, Yanniv, Elinadav and Neri.
www.btfiloh.org

Riverdale, NY

Charlie is a product of Dov Revel Yeshiva, the Ramaz School, and Beit Midrash L'torah (BMT) in Givat Mordechai, Yerushalayim and holds a BA in Hebrew and Judaic Studies from New York University. For many years prior to applying to YCT, Charles worked alongside his father and brother in their family business, Gibraltar PlasticsCorp. As the factory reached the end of its thirty-year run, Charlie found himself at a crossroads. Upon entering YCT, Charles felt a sense of homecoming: he found a synthesis of musar avikha, his father's dedication to synagogue life, and Torat emehkha, his mother's convictions regarding feminism and social justice. Charlie was the Resident Chaplain at the Bridgeport Hospital in Bridgeport, CT.

Rabbinic Assistant, Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun, New York, NY

Alexander studied in Yeshivat Har Etzion in Israel before graduating from the University of Cambridge with a BA (First Class Honors) and later an MPhil in Historical Studies. He studied at RIETS before joining Yeshivat Chovevei Torah and has been pursuing a PhD in Jewish History at Columbia University.  Alexander is the recipient of numerous fellowships and awards including the Arts and Humanities Research Board Fellowship from the British Government and the Richard Hofstadter Faculty Fellowship from Columbia University. He has served rabbinic internships under Rabbi Marc Angel at the Institute for Jewish Ideas and Ideals and under Rabbi Daniel Wolff at Congregation Beth Tefillah in Paramus. Alexander was also an Adjunct Professor at Stern College and a history teacher at SAR High School. He is currently a Fellow at Cardozo Law School's Center for Jewish Law and Contemporary Civilization. His PhD dissertation is an intellectual history of the Chief Rabbinate of Mandate Palestine and Israel.
www.ckj.org

Chaplain, Rambam Hospital, Haifa, Israel

After year learning at Yeshivat Hakotel, in the Old City Jerusalem, Mike attended Harvard University, where he got to know the direct service nonprofit world, directing a homeless shelter and a summer camp for low-income Native American youth in Boston and serving as an officer in the Phillips Brooks House Association, Harvard’s community service organization. In order to combine his desires to serve the Jewish community and the world at large, Mike used his Stride Rite Post-Graduate Fellowship year to create the service learning program at Stern Hebrew HS, in Philadelphia. At YCT, Mike received the Herbert Lieberman Community Service Award for work in New Orleans with the Jewish Student Union and was one the co-founders of Uri L'Tzedek, the Orthodox social justice association. He interned at Congregation B'nai David-Judea in Los Angeles, Netivot Shalom in Baltimore, and at the Educational Alliance on Lower East Side. Before Haifa, Michael was the Resident Chaplain at New York Presbyterian Hospital - Weill Cornell in New York City.
www.rambam.org.il

Rabbi, Congregation Beth Shalom, Red Bank, NJ

Yerachmiel was raised in Northbrook, IL where he starred on the Glenbrook North football team until he decided to embrace a life of Torah.He spent two years of Torah learning and spiritual growth at Yeshivat Hakotel. Returning stateside, he excelled as a Dean's list student at Brandeis University, where he majored in Psychology and Near Eastern Judaic Studies. During his years at Chovevei, he led multiple weekly Talmud learning groups, delivered food packages for Kosher Meals on Wheels, and participated in transformative internships with Rabbis Asher Lopatin and Shmuel Herzfeld. www.bethshalomredbank.org

Director, Jewish Learning Initiative on Campus, Princeton, NJ

David has a BA in Intellectual History from Harvard University and has completed graduate level coursework in Jewish History at Yeshiva University’s Bernard Revel Graduate School. He learned for two years at Yeshivat Hamivtar in Efrat prior to enrolling at YCT. David has served as a rabbinic intern at The Hampton Synagogue in Westhampton Beach, The Kemp Mill Synagogue in Silver Spring, and at United Orthodox Synagogues in Houston. He currently serves as co- Director, with his wife, Sarah, of the JLI on Princeton University’s campus. In his capacity as a JLI educator, David teaches shiurim and learns one on one with Princeton students of all denominations and Jewish educational backgrounds and serves as a halakhic advisor to Orthodox undergraduates, graduate students, and professors. http://www.jliconline.org/campus/C41

Assistant Rabbi, Congregation Shaar Hashomayim, Montreal, Canada

Yonah grew up in Teaneck, NJ. He studied at Yeshivat Har Etzion in Israel and received his BA in Psychology from Yeshiva University. After graduation, he returned to Israel and served in the IDF in a front-line tank unit, where he was awarded for his performance during training. During his time at YCT, Yonah has held rabbinic internships at CLAL, the Hebrew Home for the Aged at Riverdale, Beth David Congregation inWest Hartford, CT, Congregation Beth Sholom in Providence, RI, and BIAV Congregation in Overland Park, KS. www.shaarhashomayim.org

Limudei Kodesh Faculty, SAR High School, Riverdale, NY

Avidan grew up in Montreal, Quebec. After high school, he spent two years studying in Israel at Yeshivat Har Etzion, and received a BA from Yeshiva University. Avidan has been steadily involved in Bnei Akiva, the Religious Zionist youth movement, since high school, including working as National Programs Director and National Education Director in Bnei Akiva's national office. Avidan received an MA in Jewish Education from the Azrieli Graduate School and has been pursuing ordination with the Israeli Rabbinate along with his semikha at YCT.

Rabbi, Congregation Shaarey Tphiloh, Portland, ME

Akiva received his BA in Classical Languages from Yeshiva University, where he graduated magna cum laude. He received the Norman Palefski Award for most outstanding senior athlete-scholar, as well as the Bernard Floch Award for Classical Languages. Akiva holds an MA in History from Columbia University and he has also studied at Yeshivat Hamivtar in Efrat, Israel, the Goethe Institute in Berlin, Germany, and the American Language Institute in Fez, Morocco. While at YCT, Akiva worked as a student rabbi at the Jewish Home for the Elderly of Fairfield, CT,  interned at the Stanton Street Shul, NY, the Beth David Synagogue of West Hartford, CT, Congregation Shaarey Tephiloh of Portland, ME, and the Gann Academy in Waltham, MA. Akiva is a Wexner Graduate Fellow. www.mainesynagogue.org

Co-Director, the Jewish Learning Initiative on Campus at Brandeis University and Advisor to the Orthodox Community, Waltham, MA

Elliot grew up in Livingston, NJ. After learning for a year in Israel at Yeshivat Sha'arei Mevasseret Zion, he attended Brandeis University, where he received a combined BA/MA in Jewish Studies and graduated magna cum laude. He wrote an honors thesis on the "Jewish Legal Decisions of Rabbis Ovadia Yosef and Moses Feinstein." Elliot was active in Brandeis Hillel and was president of the Brandeis Orthodox Organization. Prior to coming to YCT, he worked as the Iyyun Fellow at Hillel's International Center in Washington, DC, where he focused on developing curricular materials for Hillels across the country; coordinated the educational component of all Hillel conferences, and provided support for Hillel professionals in the field. While at YCT, Elliot interned at Congregation Beth Sholom in Providence, RI and Congregation Shaarei Tefillah in Newton, MA.
www.brandeishillel.org; www.jliconline.org; www.booweb.org

Senior Jewish Educator, UC Berkeley Hillel, Berkeley, CA

David was first drawn to Jewish life by growing up spending summers in Satmar and New Square Chassidic communities and was later re-inspired by his encounter with the Modern Orthodox community in Berkeley, CA. After college at Wesleyan University, he spent two years in Israel at Machon Shlomo in Jerusalem. He returned to the Bay Area and, at a friend's recommendation, began teaching for a pluralistic Jewish after-school program for high school students across denominational lines. It was this immensely gratifying experience which finally solidified his commitment to Jewish service and led him to pursue the rabbinate.
www.berkeleyhillel.org

Talmud Faculty, Rae Kushner Yeshiva High School, Livingston, NJ

Benjamin grew up in Toronto, Canada and Southfield, MI. He received his BA and MFA at Columbia University where he has been an instructor of creative writing for the last eight years. During his years at YCT, he served as an intern at the Abraham Joshua Heschel High School in Manhattan and SAR High School in Riverdale.

Rabbi, Federation of Jewish Communities in Romania and Choral Temple, Bucharest, Romania

Sorin was born and raised in Bucharest, Romania. He graduated the Politehnica University in Bucharest, with a Master's degree in Computer Science and Industrial Automation. As a teenager, Sorin became actively involved in the Jewish community, working as a volunteer and part-time employee of the Jewish Agency for Israel. He has taught at the Ronald S. Lauder School in Bucharest and eventually became the National Coordinator for the Talmud Torah Hebrew School Program at the Federation of Jewish Communities in Romania. At the Federation, Sorin worked towards the establishment of the Pedagogical Center in Bucharest, and contributed to the development of diverse educational programs, as well as edited various religious and Jewish educational materials. http://www.dvartora.ro

Faculty, Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies, Jerusalem, Israel

Akiva grew up in Albany, NY. He received his BA in History from Columbia College and spent his junior year abroad at Hebrew University, Yeshivat Hamivtar, and the Hartman Institute. After college, Akiva taught at Maimonides Day School in Boston, MA. Akiva then pursued a medical degree at SUNY Downstate Medical School, where he served as the President of the Maimonides Society. He completed his residency in Pediatrics at the Long Island Jewish Medical Center. While studying at YCT, Akiva worked at St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital in Manhattan and interned at the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale. Akiva made aliyah to Hashmonaim with his wife, Sharon, and his three sons, Ezra, Elisha, and Avidan. 

Lead Professional, Uri L'Tzedek and Rabbinic Fellow, The Bronfman Center for Jewish Student Life at NYU, New York, NY  

Ari is the Lead Professional of Uri L'Tzedek. Prior to Uri L'Tzedek, he was Co-Director of the Meorot University Fellowship and has served on the Judaic Studies Faculty of the Heschel School.  In the summer of 2006, Rabbi Weiss was a JCUA Rabbinical Student Fellow and interned at We The People Media, a Chicago based public housing advocacy group. He has served as a Jewish educator for American Jewish World Service, Bnei Akiva, and the Lauder Foundation on missions to Nicaragua, Ghana, Israel, and Hungary. He is completing a Masters degree in Jewish Philosophy from Yeshiva University where he completed his undergraduate work in philosophy and religion.  He has studied at Yeshivat Har Etzion and Beit Morasha of Jerusalem.

Assistant Rabbi/Director of Education, Beth Sholom Congregation and Talmud Torah, Potomac, MD

Nissan grew up in Cleveland, Ohio and graduated from Case Western Reserve University in 2002 with B.A. in Philosophy and Religion. During his undergraduate years, he was a member of the Torat Tzion Kollel in Cleveland, Ohio and taught at the Fuchs Mizrachi School. One of Nissan's passions is adult education and he has designed and taught classes on Contemporary Halakhic Issues and Rabbinic Narrative. While at YCT, he has interned at Kesher Israel Congregation in Washington, D.C.

Associate Director of Mercaz: the New Center for Youth Education at Hebrew College, Boston, MA /Director of The Szarvas Fellowships, Hungary

Seth has traveled extensively working for many Jewish communities around the world. Some of his experiences included the educational directorship for YUSSR in Belarus, coordinating a communal educational empowerment program in Perth, Australia, and directing an outdoor adventure leadership training program at Camp Moshava.  He has also led inter-denominational teen programs to both Israel and Hungary.  Seth has worked with a variety of special needs groups both in the Jewish community and the greater world.  He has coordinated programs for Yachad, the Council for the Jewish Disabled, and participated in an inter-denominational rabbinical mission to El Salvador. Seth was also the Rabbinic Associate at the Hebrew Institute of White Plains for two years. http://www.szarvas.org/; http://www.hebrewcollege.edu/

Rabbi, Congregation Beth Israel, Berkeley, CA

Yonatan was born in Israel and grew up in Montreal, Canada. After receiving his BA in Philosophy from McGill University, Yonatan studied at Kollel Torah Mitzion and the Metivta. While at YCT, Yonatan led a Beit Midrash program for teenagers in Montclair, New Jersey, taught adult education classes at the JCC of Manhattan, and spent a summer as a chaplain at the Florence Nightingale Health Center. He also served as the first rabbinic intern at Kehilat Chovevei Tzion in Scarsdale. For the last two years, Yonatan served as the rabbinic intern at the Hebrew Institute of White Plains together with his wife, Frayda, who also served as the shul's first congregational intern.
http://www.cbiberkeley.org/

Founder and Director, AITZIM (Atlanta Institute of Torah and Zionism), Atlanta, GA

Zev grew up in Miami, Florida. He received his BA in Psychology from Touro College in 1997, and his MA in Jewish History from Hebrew University in 2002. In addition, he has studied for many years in Yeshiva B'nei Torah, Far Rockaway, and, eventually served as director and Ra"m in Yeshiva B'nei Torah, Israel. During his time at YCT, Zev has interned in Roslyn Synagogue and Beit Rabban Elementary School. He is married to Channie and has two daughters, Eden and Orli. Zev is studying for dayanut, Halakhic judgeship, with Rabbi Michael Broyde of the Beit Din of America and is a PhD Candidate in Jewish Religious Cultures at Emory University.

Jewish Educator, Israel

Aryeh grew up in Teaneck, New Jersey. He earned his BA in Near Eastern and Judaic Studies at Brandeis University and spent two years studying at Yeshivat HaKotel in Israel. He has been teaching Bar and Bat Mitzvah students for the past twelve years, served as a Hebrew school teacher and principal, and has taught Hebrew to adults. While at YCT, Aryeh interned with Rabbi Yitzchok Adler at Congregation Beth David in West Hartford, Connecticut; Rabbi Joel Tessler at Beth Sholom Congregation in Potomac, Maryland; and participated in the American Jewish World Service's rabbinical student delegation to El Salvador. Aryeh was the Director of Judaic Studies at the Eleanor Kolitz Academy in San Antonio, TX.

Assistant Rabbi, B'nai David-Judea Congregation, Los Angeles, CA

Ari grew up in Cleveland, Ohio. He earned his BA in Business from Yeshiva University's Sy Syms School of Business. After working in the e-commerce sector for several years, Ari decided to study at Yeshivat Ohr Sameach for a year. The following term, Ari enrolled in YCT. He successfully juggled the rigors of YCT's academic demands and the challenges of the Davidson School of Jewish Education, while also teaching. He prepared classes in Tanakh, Talmud, Jewish Ethics and Prayer for students of varying ages from across denominations and affiliations. Ari's talent and dedication were recognized when he was awarded the prestigious Grinspoon-Steinhardt Award for Excellence in Jewish education. He has interned at the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale, Hebrew Institute of White Plains, Beth Israel Hospital, and Fairfield Home for the Aged.

Head Jewish Chaplain, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA

Jason grew up in Southern California, attended the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and California State University - Monterey Bay, where he founded and led a "Jewish Student Union" and graduated in 2000.  He attended Yeshiva Ohr Sameach in Monsey for two years before starting at Yeshivat Chovevei Torah.  During his time at YCT, he also earned a Masters degree in Jewish History from the Bernard Revel Graduate School at Yeshiva University, and served as a rabbinic intern at Congregation Ahavas Achim in Highland Park, NJ, Bnai David-Judea in Los Angeles, and the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale. 

Student, Senior Educators program of the Melton School for Jewish Education at Hebrew University

David is a 1999 graduate of the Joint Program at JTS/Columbia University. After completing his undergraduate studies, he traveled the Far East and Israel. David has spent time in varied Yeshivot including Yeshiva B’nei Torah and the Conservative Yeshiva. During his time in YCT he has interned at Harlem’s Old Broadway Synagogue, Congregation Mikveh Israel in Philadelphia, and the Columbia/Barnard Hillel. Before the Senior Educators Program, David was the Columbia/Barnard Hillel Campus Rabbi in NYC. He will be starting a doctorate in Talmud at JTS in September of 2010.

Rabbi, Mount Freedom Jewish Center, Randolph, NJ

Menashe graduated from Yeshiva University with a degree in literature. After spending one year at RIETS, Menashe transferred to the second year class at YCT. Over the next three years, Menashe managed his schedule, juggling the rigors of YCT’s academic demands and the challenges of Wurzweiler School of Social Work. Before coming to the Mount Freedom Jewish Center, Menashe was the Rabbi at Kehillat Ahavat Yisrael in San Diego, CA. 
www.mtfjc.org

Campus Rabbi, the Louis and Saeree Fiedler Hillel Center of Northwestern University, Chicago, IL

Joshua grew up in Ann Arbor, Michigan and graduated cum laude from Yale University in 1998 with a BA in Music. As an undergraduate, Josh was the principal tuba of the Yale symphony orchestra and conducted a student orchestra for two years. He also served as president of the Young Israel House at Yale and chair of the Yale Hillel steering committee. In 1995 he was elected to the chief national youth leadership position in the Boy Scouts of America. Josh was a Wexner Graduate Fellow. He served as a Rabbinic Intern at the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale and at the Hebrew Institute of White Plains.
www.nuhillel.org; http://www.rabbijosh.com/

Faculty, Judaic Studies Department, The Abraham Joshua Heschel High School, New York, NY

Samuel received his BA in Religion from Columbia University, as well as a BA and MA in Talmudic Studies from JTS. During his time spent at YCT, Sam taught Tanakh, Talmud, Jewish Ethics, and Spirituality workshops to students of varying ages from all denominations and affiliations. He served the community of B’nai David-Judea, Los Angeles, as an intern, and taught Judaic Studies at the Heschel High School. Sam has participated in various chesed and bridge-building projects, including AJWS’ rabbinical-student delegation to El Salvador. His writings and liturgical poetry have been published in various Jewish scholarly and artistic publications. Sam combines his deep passion for Torah, music, art, and contemplative practice in his rabbinic work.

Rabbi, East Denver Orthodox Synagogue, Denver, CO 

Upon graduating from Yeshiva University in 1999, Marc traveled to Minsk, Belarus where he served as the overseas director for YUSSR helping build Jewish communities. Coordinating events at the Lauder Lech-Lecha youth center for a year, and creating the infrastructure for a Jewish Community in Moghilev for another, Marc returned to America to complete his education in 2001. Selected as a Wexner Fellow, Marc enrolled at YCT, and New York University's Wagner school of public service. Over four years he has worked for the Koby Mandell Foundation, taught Tanakh at the NYU Hillel, and participated in American Jewish World Service’s first Rabbinic Mission to El Salvador.

Rabbi, Congregation Beth Israel - West Side Jewish Center, Director of the International Rabbinic Fellowship, New York, New York

Jason holds a BA in International Studies and a BS in Economics from the Huntsman Program at the University of Pennsylvania. Upon graduation from college, he worked for two years as an investment banker. Jason has spent time lecturing at various synagogues and universities. Jason served as the Rabbinic Intern at both Netivot Shalom in Teaneck, NJ and Highland Park, NJ and has taught at the Rebecca and Israel Ivry Prozdor at The Jewish Theological Seminary, and CLAL-Center for Leadership and Learning.

Founding Rabbi, KiDMa – The Southwest Community and Jewish Studies Faculty, Jess Schwartz Jewish Community High School, Phoenix, AZ

In addition to Rabbi Kleinberg's work at the Jess Schwartz Jewish Community High School and KiDMa, he is a faculty member of Kol-El – The Kollel for living Judaism, a multi-denominational learning program headed by Rabbi William C. Berk. Darren is honored to be a member of the first group to be accepted to Limdu Heitev – a yearlong fellowship with Rabbi Irving “Yitz” Greenberg. Other groundbreaking projects that Rabbi Kleinberg is involved in include Synagogue 3000 – a working group on emergent sacred communities, and Kivun – the next generation of American Jewish leaders. Before arriving in Phoenix, Darren has lived, studied and taught in New York, Gainesville (Florida), Berkeley, Toronto, Israel, the UK and Amsterdam.

Tanakh Coordinator, Solomon Schechter High School of Westchester, Westchester, NY

Jack grew up in Skokie, Illinois. After attending college at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and Hebrew University in Jerusalem, his first career began in Chicago, with a law degree from Chicago Kent College of Law. Jack practiced environmental law for 6 years, and then started his second career when he moved to New York to attend the Jewish Theological Seminary. After a Masters from JTS, he began his studies at Yeshivat Chovevei Torah. Jack has served as an intern at B'nai David in Los Angeles, Anshe Sholom in Chicago, NYU's Bronfman Center for Jewish Life, and University of Texas Hillel in Austin, and he has taught at the 92nd Street Y and Manhattan JCC.

Rabbi, Beit Chaverim Synagogue of Westport/Norwalk, Westport, CT 

Yossi is originally from East Brunswick, NJ. He graduated from Rutgers University in 1998, majoring in Political Science. Before coming to Chovevei Torah he learned at Yeshivat Hamivtar in Efrat, Israel. Yossi especially enjoys learning Chassidut and spiritual texts. He also served for one year as the Assistant Rabbi at Ohev Sholom - The National Synagogue in Washington, D.C and as Rabbi of the Stanton Street Synagogue in New York City. www.beitchaverim.com

Rabbi, Congregation Sherith Israel, Nashville, TN

Saul grew up in Schenectady, New York. He received a BA in Business from Yeshiva University as well as studied Business Management at Hebrew University in Jerusalem, while spending his afternoons at Ateret Kohanim. He has spent most of summers at Camp Yavneh, a pluralistic camp in New Hampshire, where he met his wife, Daniella Pressner.  Saul served as an intern at the National Synagogue led by Rabbi Shmuel Herzfeld, a growing shul in Shepherd Park, Washington D.C. During his time at YCT, he also interned at Beth David Synagogue of West Hartford, CT under the tutelage of Rabbi Yitzchok Adler; worked as a Chaplain at Roosevelt Hospital in NYC; and volunteered at a local homeless shelter. Saul is an accomplished musician in classical piano and has worked for the Barock and Neshoma wedding bands.
www.sherithisrael.com

Rabbi, Beth Israel, New Orleans, LA 

Uri spent two years studying at Yeshivat Sha’alvim before attending the University of Maryland, College Park. While completing a BA in Communication, Uri played an integral role in the development of an inclusive, Jewish community on campus. He spent the following year living in Yerushalyim, learning and working for the Isralight Institute, further cultivating his passion for music and spirituality as a community leader. Uri has served as rabbinic intern at the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale, most recently assuming spiritual leadership of the Jewish Youth Encounter Program and the Learning Service communities. Before moving to New Orleans, Uri was the Associate Rabbi at HIR in Riverdale, NY.
www.BethIsraelNOLA.com

Faculty, Yeshivat Hadar and Drisha Institute for Jewish Education, New York, NY

Jeff graduated from Binghamton University with honors in 1998. He then went on to spend one year at RIETS before entering the "zeroith" class at YCT. Pioneering the very first class with just two students, Jeff was excited to enter into this new and intimate Yeshiva. After four years of shiur with Rabbi Linzer and interning at the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale with Rabbi Avi Weiss, Jeff entered into a pulpit in Tenafly, NJ at Congregation Kesher. Leading a young and growing community, Jeff loved both the challenges and rewards of the rabbinate.

Talmud Teacher, SAR High School/Rabbi of the Atria Riverdale, an Atria Senior Living Community, Riverdale, NY

Alan grew up in Cleveland, Ohio where he attended Bet Sefer Mizrachi. He studied for a year in Israel at Yeshivat Har Etzion and is a graduate of Yeshiva University with BA in Philosophy. Alan has interned under Rabbi Chaim Marder at the Hebrew Institute of White Plains, NY and upon graduation from YCT served as an Assistant Rabbi at Hebrew Institute of Riverdale, NYC for two years.

Faculty, Midreshet Lindenbaum, Jerusalem, Israel

Jonathan received his BA in History from Yeshiva University and earned his MA in Jewish History from the Bernard Revel Graduate School. Jonathan has served as USSR representative to Russia and Belarus as well as Shabbat Program Rabbi for Stern College. Having experience with many different communities, Jonathan has worked as Chaplain Intern at the Roosevelt Hospital in New York City, Rabbinic Intern at Congregation Ahavas Achim in Highland Park, NJ, and had a rabbinical internship at the Jewish Educational Center in Elizabeth, NJ.

Rabbi, The Kiever Synagogue, Toronto, Canada

Aaron received BAs in Psychology and Talmud from Columbia University and the Jewish Theological Seminary. After college, he studied at Yeshivat Hamivtar for two years, during which time he was also a member of the cross-denominational Shalom Hartman Institute Rabbinical Student Seminar. Aaron served as Rabbinic Intern at the Bronfman Center for Jewish Student Life: Hillel at New York University, as a chaplain at St. Luke's Hospital in New York City, as the rabbinic intern at Kesher Israel: The Georgetown Synagogue, in Washington, DC, and taught in the adult education program at the Makor/Steinhardt Center of the 92nd St. Y. Aaron participates in various volunteer projects, including the American Jewish World Service delegation to El Salvador, and regularly visits a local homeless shelter.

Judaic Studies Faculty, North Shore Hebrew Academy High School, Great Neck, NY

Dan studied at Marianopolis College and Kollel Torah Mitzion before joining YCT upon his graduation from McGill University in Montreal. There he received his BA with a dual concentration in Economics and Jewish Studies. Dan has benefited greatly from the intense curriculum at YCT as it has allowed him to grow in both Torah and Mitzvot, strengthened his analytical thinking and enhanced his leadership skills. He is pursuing a career in Jewish education, ultimately using these skills to lead a Jewish day school into a new era of openness and academic rigor, combining classical learning with modern educational science. He has completed a Master's degree in education at Yeshiva University's Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration.

Jewish Education Specialist, The Foundation for Jewish Camp, New York, NY

Avi has always had a deep love for the Jewish people and making the world a better place. It was while building a community in the Former Soviet Union for YUSSR that he realized the transformative power of being a rabbi. Determined to pick up the tools to become an informed Jew, he went back to study in Yeshivat HaMivtar for two years. Consequently, he had the opportunity to become a charter student in Yeshivat Chovevei Torah. Avi is a graduate of Columbia College. He has spent years working in informal Jewish education and community building. He believes that in building an inclusive Orthodox Judaism, we also have a responsibility to be active in the larger Jewish and non-Jewish communities. While in Yeshiva, Avi was a CLAL Rabbinic Intern and initiated the Yeshiva's involvement in the Inter-Seminary Dialogue.

Senior Rabbi, Congregation Shaar Hashomayim, Montreal, Canada

Rabbi Adam Scheier is Senior Rabbi of Congregation Shaar Hashomayim, a 1500-family synagogue, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Prior to his post in Montreal, Rabbi Scheier worked extensively with the immigrant Jewish community in Germany, and established and taught at the first Yeshiva in post-World War II Germany. In Montreal, Rabbi Scheier is active in many communal and religious affairs, and sits on the Board of Trustees of Jewish Employment Montreal, Hillel Montreal, Magen David Adom, and on the executive committee of the Rabbinic Council of Canada, the Canadian Rabbinic Caucus, and the Montreal Board of Rabbis. Rabbi Scheier's hobbies include jogging, playing basketball, learning chassidut, and sledding with his children. Rabbi Scheier is married to Abby, and they have two daughters, Aviya and Ayelet. www.shaarhashomayim.org

Israel

Ya'akov studied at the Pardes Institute, Yeshivat Hamivtar, and RIETS before joining YCT, and was a Wexner Fellowship finalist. He received his BA from the University of Chicago in Religion and the Humanities, and his MA in Bible from the Bernard Revel Graduate School. Ya'akov is grateful for the textual and leadership skills that he received at YCT. These skills have enabled him to develop an appropriate curriculum for high school students: one that aims for the study of Talmud and Halakha to be a spiritually meaningful experience. Yaakov was a faculty member for 4 years at the Stern Hebrew High School in Philadelphia, PA.

New York, NY

Matthew grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. After graduating from Hillel Academy High School and spending a year at Yeshivat Hakotel in Jerusalem, Matthew studied literature and film at the University of Michigan where he graduated with Honors. Following another year at Yeshivat Hakotel, Matthew entered the Johns Hopkins Writing Seminars Program where he earned a Masters of Writing degree. In subsequent years Matthew worked as a medical editor and project manager, a technical writer for a publicly traded computer-security company, and as a knowledge management consultant and corporate trainer for Deloitte and Touche, LLP. In a wonderfully serendipitous moment, YCT was founded just as he was deciding to explore other career options. While at YCT, Matthew has enjoyed the multiplicity of approaches and subjects addressed by the curriculum, the quality of the faculty and students, and the attempt to integrate professional training within a traditional semikha program. In addition, he has interned at Congregations Ramath Orah (NYC) and Beth Sholom (Potomac, MD), as well as the CLAL Rabbinic Student Fellowship Program. Matthew worked as a Senior Program Associate at the Birthright Israel Foundation in New York City.