Rabbi Nachum Amsel

Rabbi Dr. Nachum Amsel currently works with Rabbi Berel Wein and the Destiny Foundation as the Director of Educational Programming, and they have developed a new methodology for instilling and enhancing Jewish Identity through the teaching of Jewish history interactively to Jews of all ages. For more than 30 years, Rabbi Amsel has been an outreach professional, working with tens of thousands youth and adults. He worked for Ner LeElef first as a supervisor of Rabbis in Russia, and, more recently, founded a program, STARS (Student Torah Alliance for Russian Speakers), where more than 3000 students in 12 Russian speaking countries learn Torah for five hours each week. Rabbi Amsel has been involved in all areas of formal and informal Jewish education and has written numerous curricula, including a methodology with lesson plans how to teach Jewish Values using media. He lives with his wife and four children in Jerusalem.

 

Rabbi Mordechai Becher

Rabbi Mordechai Becher, originally from Australia, is a Senior Lecturer for the Gateways Organization.  He was a Senior Lecturer at Ohr Somayach, Neve Yerushalayim and Darchei Binah in Jerusalem for 15 years, was a chaplain in the Israel Defence Forces and taught in a number of Rabbinic training programs.  Rabbi Becher is the co-author of After the Return, and has answered thousands of questions on the Ask-the-Rabbi website. His latest book, Gateway to Judaism, was published by Shaar Press and is in its fourth printing. Rabbi Becher received his ordination from the Chief Rabbinate of Israel.  He has lectured for the UJA, Jewish Federations, the Zionist Organization of America, Hillel and is on the speakers bureau of the Israeli Consulate in New York.  Rabbi Becher also gives a popular Talmud class on Shalom TV's cable station. He has taught in Canada, the United States, England, Israel, South Africa, Australia and Russia.

 

Rabbi Harvey Belovski

Rabbi Harvey Belovski grew up in North-West London and was educated at University College, Oxford, from where he has a degree in Mathematics; at Gateshead Yeshiva, from where he has Semichah; and then at the Beis HaTalmud Kolel.  Previously the rabbi of two communities in East London, he has been rabbi of the Golders Green Synagogue since 2003.  In addition to his rabbinical duties, Rabbi Belovski teaches widely - giving regular classes at the J.L.E. (Ohr Somayach) and the London School of Jewish Studies, where he is a teaching fellow.  He is the New Chaplains’ Mentor for Jewish Chaplaincy, a relationship counsellor, dating adviser and popular speaker. His special areas of interest include study of Midrash, contemporary halachah, the thought of Sochaczew, experimental synagogue programming, pre-marriage training for young couples and the development of independent-minded students.  He is the author of two books - a translation of the Chassidic classic ‘Shem MiShmuel’ and ‘The Shabbat Siddur Companion,’ and has written numerous articles for HaModia, the London Jewish Chronicle and other publications.  He lives in Golders Green, with his wife Vicki and their six children.

 

Rabbi Eliyahu Bergstein

Rabbi Eliyahu Bergstein is a renowned speaker, who has inspired, informed, and entertained many diverse Jewish audiences throughout the United States, Canada, and England.  Rabbi Bergstein received his Rabbinical Ordination at Yeshiva Torah Vodaath in Brooklyn, N.Y.  He has served as a Yeshiva Rebbe at the Bobover Yeshiva Bnei Zion and at Yeshiva Karlin Stolin, both in Brooklyn, N.Y.    He is currently a lecturer at Aish HaTorah in New York and Philadelphia, a teacher at the Jewish Renaissance Center and at Project Chazon, and a speaker for the well known Discovery and Gateways Seminars. He is a popular scholar-in-residence and guest presenter at Shabbaton, retreat, weekday, and weekend programs, for schools, congregations, Community Kollelim, outreach centers, and diverse Jewish organizations.    Rabbi Bergstein is also a Systems Analyst to the financial industry, having worked at ADP, Paine Weber, Citibank, and SIAC. He is currently employed in the Billing and Finance area at the Depository Trust Clearing Corporation in New York City. He lives in Monsey, New York with his wife and children.

 

Aliza Bulow

Aliza Bulow is the national coordinator for Ner LeElef’s North American Women’s Program, and the Senior Educator for The Jewish Experience in Denver, Colorado. She mentors women in their roles as kiruv professionals, and provides consulting for kiruv organizations across the country. She spent the early eighties studying at Michlelet Bruria and the Hebrew University, and serving in the Nachal division of the Israeli Defense Forces. In 1985, while completing her BA in Hebrew and Jewish Social Studies at Hunter College, she married and moved to Long Beach, NY where she began teaching adults as a lay leader. In the late 90s she became the Study Coordinator at Partners in Torah in Manhattan, and began volunteering for AJOP. Today, she lives in Denver where she lectures widely both locally and nationally. Mother, and mother-in-law, of eight young adults, Aliza’s passion is facilitating the growth of both the family under her roof, and the family of the wider Jewish community.  As a parent, as an educator and as an author, Aliza works to strengthen Jews and their connections to their heritage, to their mission and to each other.

 

Rabbi Steve Burg

Rabbi Burg, a graduate and musmach of Yeshiva University, holds a Masters Degree in Jewish History from the Bernard Revel Graduate School of Yeshiva University, and has extensive experience in outreach work. After several years as associate regional director of NCSY Central Eastern Region, in 2000 Rabbi Burg relocated to Los Angeles to assume the role of regional director of West Coast NCSY. During his tenure on the West Coast, Rabbi Burg extended NCSY's reach by developing the Jewish Student Union (JSU), a lunch-time club program for Los Angeles public school students that offers free food and Jewish programming, and now has a roster of 1,000 members. Most recently, Rabbi Burg returned to the East coast to become international NCSY director.

Rabbi Dovid Cohen

Rav Dovid Cohen is a Morah D’Asrah of Congregation G’vul Yaabetz in Brooklyn, NY and he is the Morah D’Asrah of Ohel Children’s Home and Family Services and NEFESH International.

 

Rabbi Avraham Edelstein

Rabbi Edelstein is currently the director of both the Heritage House and Ner L'Elef, while also holding the position of Senior Lecturer for Neve Yerushalayim's Moreshet Kiruv Training Program. He has extensive experience managing an international network and is responsible for all fiscal and operational matters.

 

Rabbi Dave Felsenthal

Rabbi Dave Felsenthal has NCSY in his blood. He grew up in Baltimore, Maryland and joined NCSY in 5th grade. Except for a few years learning in Kollel and then working for Aish HaTorah (NCSY does not have its own Rabbinical Program) and the Heritage House (or its own Youth Hostel), he has worked in various capacities for NCSY for almost 25 years in Atlantic Seaboard, New York, Central East, New Jersey and National NCSY. He is currently the Director of OU Alumni Connections, Connecting OU Alumni to Great Jewish Programs as They Graduate, which includes NCSY Alumni. His current project is to find and connect the 30,000 alumni of NCSY who are on secular college campuses with the great Jewish programs on those campuses. In its first year, he is already working with 1,000 of the freshman. He also Directs NCSY Taglit - Birthright Israel. "Rabbi Dave", as he prefers to be called, has learned in many great Torah institutions, picking up the unique insights and tools that have led to his success. He started in Beth Tfiloh in Baltimore for elementary school, had chavrusot in Ner Israel Rabbinical College in high school, learned in Yeshiva University, Kerem B’Yavneh and then returned to Ner Israel where he received a Bachelors degree in Talmudic Law along with rav u'manhig. He also earned a bachelors degree in computer science and a master's degree in business at the University of Maryland. He continued to learn in Ner Israel’s Kollel followed by the Semicha program in Aish HaTorah and the post rabbinical Ohr LaGolah program in Ohr Sameach. In addition to his rabbinic activities, Rabbi Dave exercises his business acumen as an Executive Director 3 with Melaleuca, The Wellness Company (helping people with both physical and financial wellness) and is a board member of the Association of Jewish Outreach Professionals (AJOP). He and Chani live with their six children in Passaic, NJ.

 

Rabbi Tzvi Gluckin

Rabbi Tzvi Gluckin has been everywhere and done everything. His eclectic tastes and unusual life experiences render him uniquely qualified to discuss a wide array of issues and topics from a fresh and different perspective. His style is unconventional and humorous, his message is powerful and focused, and the experience is inspiring and transformative. Rabbi Gluckin lectures extensively to English speaking audiences internationally on a wide range topics. He has served in the Israeli Army, holds a B.M. in Jazz Studies from the New England Conservatory of Music and received his rabbinical ordination from Rabbi Noah Weinberg at Aish HaTorah in Jerusalem. He is currently the director of Aish Campus in Boston, a university-centered Jewish educational organization.

 

Mr. Baruch S. Gottesman, Esq.

Baruch S. Gottesman, Esq., is an attorney in New York and New Jersey.  His practice focuses on the organization, management and compliance issues of public charities and private foundations.  He represents a number of prominent outreach organizations.

 

Rabbi Yaacov Haber

Rabbi Haber attended Yeshivas Torah Ore in Jerusalem where he received his smicha.  After his ordination in Israel, Rabbi Haber returned to his hometown of Buffalo, New York, where he founded the Torah Center of Buffalo and served as spiritual leader, first of the Amherst Synagogue and later at the Saranac Synagogue.  From there he moved to Melbourne, Australia where he founded the Australian Institute of Torah, an adult education program that ran in almost every synagogue in Australia.   Rabbi Haber was the Rav of Bais Torah Congregation in Monsey,  Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivas Orchos Chaim in Jerusalem, and is currently the president of TorahLab.  He is the author of Reachings-- Talks on Torah and Critical Issues for Jews of Today, and was the founder and motivational force behind the OU's Pardes Program.  A sought after lecturer and speaker, Rabbi Haber has been instrumental in forming numerous learning programs throughout the USA, Canada and Australia. His easy listening approach to teaching Judaism to men and women of all walks of life has been widely acclaimed.  

 

Rabbi Nissan Hakakian

Rabbi Hakakian was born in Shiraz, Iran, where he was forced to escape from the oppressive Khomeini Regime at a young age. During his yeshiva years he attended Beth Moshe of Scranton P.A. where years later he was honored with  the "Keter  Shem Tov Award." Rabbi Hakaian continued his studies at Yeshivat Porat Yoseph under the leadership of Chacham Shalom Cohen Shlita, where he received rabbinical smicha and  shichita from the renown Harav Massas zt'l. He continued his journey in the Mirrer Brooklyn where he was ordained  as a rabbinical leader under Harav Shmuel Birnbum zt'l and Rabbi Kalmanowitz zt'l. Shortly after, Rabbi Hakakian obtained his Masters in school psychology  and was involved in chinuch for over 14 years ,putting out many p'tach workbooks that would aid a spectrum of students across the globe. In his rabbinical field he has reached out to many Sephardic communities which include Brooklyn, Staten Island, and formally the Monsey community where he gives the daily Daf Yomi shiur and is the spiritual leader at Sephardic Cong. of South Monsey. Recently  Rabbi Hakakian has, in conjunction with Rabbi Rokowsky and Rabbi Braun shlita,  launched  a Sephardic division in Ohr Somayach  Yeshiva, which for the first time ever, has given many Sephardic students around the globe an opportunity to explore and learn about their rich Sephardic heritage in a welcoming environment. Rabbi Hakakian is currently involved in many kiruv programs  reaching out to many college and post college students, introducing this incredible opportunity. He creates  a warm, friendly relationship and lasting bond with each and every person that comes his way.

 

Mr. Richard Horowitz

Mr. Richard Horowitz has been a part time insurance executive and part time Kiruv worker for the past twenty years.  He has been the President of the North American Aish HaTorah Organization for over a decade and co-authored the well-known chart "Will Your Grandchildren Be Jewish?” with Chanan Gordon.

 

Mr. Matt Kaufman

Mr. Kaufman is the Chief Executive Officer of MK Partners. In addition to developing the variety of custom applications MK Partners offers, he oversees all internal strategy. Before founding MK Partners, Mr. Kaufman was a salesforce.com employee for more than three years. At Salesforce.com, he served as a technical consultant and worked as a premium support representative. Having worked on over hundreds of implementations while at salesforce.com, Mr. Kaufman leverages his depth of experience to provide clients with expert consulting services. He received a Bachelor’s Degree from UC Berkeley and lives in Los Angeles, California.

 

Rabbi Shmuel Kamenetsky

Rabbi Shmuel Kamenetsky, a world-renowned leader of Diaspora Jews, serves as the Rosh Yeshiva of the Talmudical Yeshiva of Philadelphia, the esteemed position he has held for the past fifty years. He is a member of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah and serves on the Rabbinical Board of many worldwide organizations, including: Torah Schools for Israel, Torah Umesorah and the Association of Jewish Outreach Professionals. His sagacious Torah wisdom and practical down-to-earth advice is sought on both the personal and communal levels locally, nationally and around the world.  Always with a characteristic smile and pleasant demeanor, Rabbi Kamenetsky embodies the Talmudic dictum, "Torah scholars increase Shalom in the world.”

 

Rabbi Bentzion Klatzko

Rabbi Bentzion Klatzko, a native of Cleveland, Ohio, received his rabbinic ordination from the Mir Yeshviah. He went on to serve as a Rabbi in Agudah of Boro Pork for seven years, followed by a three year stint as Rabbi in a local Perth Amboy, New Jersey Congregation. He later accepted a position as on-campus-rabbi for UCLA, where he was instrumental in the enrollment of hundreds of students to various yeshivos and seminaries. He currently serves as the national collegiate director for the Afikim and Wolson foundations, and has  published a book, entitled The Kuntrus by Moznaim Publications. In addition to his talents in the outreach field, he has studied milah under Rabbi Benzion Krohn, and composes music professionally. Rabbi Klatzko is also one of the founders of the "See You On Shabbos" shidduch program as well as the Seeyouonshabbos.com website. Rabbi Klatzko and his wife Shoshana  currently live in Monsey  and are the proud parents of nine ten children. They would be happy to have you and your 30 closest friends for Shabbos!

 

Rabbi Yaakov Kleiman

Sparked by the discovery of the so-called "Cohen-Gene" which relates present day Kohanim to their common ancestor, Rabbi Yaakov Kleiman began researching the new science of molecular population genetics – the tracking of peoples’ history through DNA, sometimes called 'genetic genealogy.' He is the author of the recently published book "DNA & TRADITION – the Genetic Link to the Ancient Hebrews,” which summarizes the remarkable research findings and relates them to Biblical tradition. Rabbi Kleiman has developed a power-point presentation and lectures extensively on the subject. He is originally from Baltimore, and received rabbinical ordination in Jerusalem. He now resides with his family, in Jerusalem's Old City. Rabbi Kleiman is a Kohen and serves as the Director of The Center for Kohanim and www.Cohen-Levi.org, which seeks to inform and inspire today's Kohanim and Levi'm.

 

Rebbetzin Leah Kohn

Rebbetzin Leah Kohn, a twelfth-generation Jerusalemite, was trained as an educator in Israel.  Currently, Rebbetzin Kohn is a co-founder and director of the Jewish Renaissance Center in New York City, a unique learning center devoted exclusively to Jewish women with limited Jewish educational background.  With over 30 years of teaching experience in Israel and the United States, her range of expertise covers a broad spectrum of issues and activities. Whether formally lecturing, leading a casual discussion group, or offering personal guidance, Rebbetzin Kohn's unique blend of wisdom, character, insight, sensitivity and depth of understanding leaves an indelible mark on all her students.

 

Dr. David Lieberman

David Lieberman, Ph.D., is an award-winning author and internationally recognized leader in the field of human behavior and interpersonal relationships. Techniques based on his six books, which have been translated into eighteen languages and include two New York Times bestsellers, are used by the FBI, The Department of the Navy, FORTUNE 500 companies, and by governments, corporations, and mental health professionals in more than twenty-five countries. He has appeared as a guest expert on more than 200 programs such as The Today Show, Fox News, and The View, and his work has been featured in publications around the world. Blending Torah wisdom into the psychological process, David Lieberman delivers keynote addresses, lectures, and interactive workshops across a spectrum of audiences – frum- and kiruv-oriented alike. Topics range from personal development and emotional wellness to conflict resolution, anger management, parenting, and shalom bayis. He writes a bi-weekly column called Human Nature 101 for The Jewish Press and resides in Lakewood, New Jersey with his wife and children.

 

Rabbi David Markowitz

Rabbi David Markowitz has worked in numerous kiruv capacities such as: educational development, programming, Kiruv training, camp programming, campus outreach and management.  Most recently he has worked as a campus Rabbi in UCLA, managed 10 college campuses for JAM in LA, and has now moved east to manage the NY Campus Department for Aish.  Rabbi Markowitz specializes in Salesforce administration and consulting and is a certified Power Administrator by Salesforce.com.  Rabbi Markowitz has consulted many organizations in finding the right database solution and setup to help drive the organizations' goals.

 

Rabbi Chaim Miller

Rabbi Miller is a British-born author living and teaching in New York. His published works include a popular translation and commentary of the Chumash (The Gutnick Edition), the Kol Menachem Haggadah, and an anthology on Rambam's Thirteen Principles of Faith. Rabbi Miller is an accomplished communicator and an engaging speaker. 

 

Rabbi Yerachmiel Milstein

Rabbi Yerachmiel Milstein is the Executive Vice President of Project Chazon, which presents hashkafa workshops to reduce at-risk behavior in more than 300 high schools across North America and the UK, and counsels hundreds of pre- and in-crisis teens. In addition, Rabbi Yerachmiel Milstein is an exciting, accomplished and much sought-after speaker who recently hosted the acclaimed "Mishpacha On Air" weekly radio program in New York City. As a Senior Lecturer for Aish HaTorah's Discovery Seminars for the better part of two decades, he has appeared before tens of thousands throughout North America, Israel, Europe, South Africa as well as at England's prestigious Cambridge University. A student of Yeshivas Mir Jerusalem and ordained at Mesivta Tifereth Jerusalem in New York City, Rabbi Milstein delivers popular weekly Torah lectures in New York City attended by hundreds of regular devotees.  He also appears frequently throughout the US and Canada as a motivational speaker for Project Inspire and has authored numerous articles on chinuch and other topics in the popular Jewish print and internet media.

 

Rabbi Chaim Muskat

Chaim Muskat is an estate tax planner and investment professional.  He specializes in the high-net worth estate planning market.  He has assisted various mosdos in establishing significant endowments.

 

Mr. Joel Paul

Joel H. Paul is President /CEO of Joel H. Paul and Associates, of New York City, a national executive search and recruitment firm which specializes in serving Non-Profit institutions hiring senior staff. His distinguished career includes 20 plus years in Kiruv. Having been founding director, New England Region, NCSY, Associated Director, Youth Bureau, Yeshiva University and Hillel Director, University of Pennsylvania. Professionally, today Joel Paul serves as a senior advisor to a wide variety of leading organizations and will be available all day Sunday at our conference to meet individually with individuals who wish to discuss the next steps in their careers.

Rabbi Yaakov Salomon

Rabbi Yaakov Salomon is a psychotherapist in private practice in Brooklyn, N.Y. for over 20 years. He is a Senior Lecturer and the Creative Director of Aish Hatorah's Discovery Productions. He is also an editor and author for the Artscroll Publishing Series' and a member of the Kollel of Yeshiva Torah Vodaath. His most recent book is, "What the Angel Taught You; Seven Keys to Life Fulfillment,” with Rabbi Noah Weinberg.

 

Rabbi Simcha Scholar

Rabbi Simcha Scholar, M.B.A., M.A., is the executive vice president of Chai Lifeline. He has lectured throughout the United States and has written many timely articles. Rabbi Scholar has built Chai Lifeline into an international organization with offices throughout the U.S., Europe, and the Middle East. He holds an M.B.A. and an M.A. in Education, as well as rabbinical ordination from the Mirrer Yeshiva, NY.

 

Rabbi Alexander Seinfeld

Rabbi Alexander Seinfeld grew up in Tacoma, Wash., and studied Classics and Anthropology at Stanford. After college he taught in rural Mississippi, "surrounded by people who knew my people's Book better than I did." By this time, he had all but abandoned Judaism and considered himself a Buddhist. Eventually, a worldwide voyage in search of his roots lead him to yeshiva in Jerusalem where eventually received smicha from R. Zalman Nehemia Goldberg, Shlita. Rabbi Seinfeld returned to Silicon Valley in 2000 to create adult Jewish Educational programs. In 2005, he published The Art of Amazement: Judaism's Forgotten Spirituality (Penguin) and now presents "entry-level outreach” seminars around the country based on the book. He moved to Baltimore with his wife and children where he founded Jewish Spiritual Literacy, which is building an educators’ website, jewishspirituality.net. He may be reached at seinfeld@jsli.org.

 

Rabbi Mike Stern

Rabbi Michael Stern, Director of Judaism Without Walls, has over 19 years of experience in Jewish education.  He was the founder of Aish HaTorah - Philadelphia, one of the most successful Jewish educational organizations in Philadelphia, founder of Rabbi without walls, an innovative approach to improving Kiruv- organizational effectiveness, creator of many dynamic and innovative programs that can help a organization: attract new prospects on the front-line, increase community wide visibility & credibility, and help make one’s entire program a more attractive financial investment. In addition, R. Stern has management consulting experience in helping organization’s improve overall effectiveness by increasing productivity, quality and service. Rabbi Stern's personal journey mirrors that of many Jews who grew up in a non-observant environment, fostering a warmth and understanding many find inviting.

 

Professor Rabbi Aaron Twerski

Rabbi Aaron Twerski, Professor of Law at Brooklyn Law School, is a nationally acclaimed scholar in the field of Products Liability. He was recently accorded one of America's highest legal honors with his appointment by the American Law Institute as Co-Reporter of Restatement (Third) of Torts: Products Liability. A prolific writer, Rabbi Twerski's incisive and authoritative expositions have been published in this country's most prestigious law review journals, and are frequently cited by the highest courts of the land in decisions which break new ground in this complex field of law. Of even greater note are Rabbi Twerski's extraordinary contributions to the Jewish community at large. Rich and poor, powerful and weak, political and personal, religious and secular , public and private, all make their way to his open door for guidance and counsel given with unsurpassed warmth and sensitivity. A widely sought after speaker, Rabbi Twerski has championed the causes of Torah Judaism in forums cutting across the spectrum of Jewish life in the United States. He is one of the few who speak their mind with singular candor and integrity, confronting contemporary Jewish issues cogently and fearlessly.

 

Rabbi Dr. Abraham Twerski

Rabbi Dr. Twerski is one of our generation's most eminent interpreters of the Torah's teachings regarding self-control and self-improvement. He is a psychiatrist, an ordained rabbi, and founder and medical director of Gateway Rehabilitation Center in Pennsylvania.

 

Rabbi Michel Twerski

Rabbi Michel Twerski went to Yeshivos in Chicago, Baltimore and Lakewood.  Rabbi Twerski became assistant rabbi to his father at Congregation Beth Jehudah.  As he learned from and worked with his father, he also pursued studies at Marquette University, receiving a Masters of Science Degree in Clinical Psychology.  In 1973, his father passed away and Rabbi Michel became the head rabbi of the congregation.  The demands of that position and of a growing family further put writing and his music playing ability somewhat to the side.  The Twerskis, with their ability to connect with non-Orthodox people, became nationally recognized figures in fostering the growth of the Baal Tshuva movement.  In 1989, Rabbi Twerski led efforts to create an elementary school and Kollel adult learning program in Milwaukee.   Each of the Twerskis is also now widely known nationally and they are often called upon to speak in other cities or to counsel people from far beyond Milwaukee.

 

Rebbetzin Feige Twerski

Rebbetzin Feige Twerski of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, has devoted her life to Jewish education and outreach.  Having lectured worldwide on a myriad of Judaic subjects, she is acknowledged as both imaginative and inspirational by audiences everywhere.  In addition to her responsibilities as Rebbetzin of Congregation Beth Jehudah, she is a close companion to her husband in his counseling and outreach efforts, and co-directs the many retreat weekends the Twerski’s participate in throughout North America and beyond. She and her husband are founders of the Torah Foundation of Milwaukee, and they have both been at the forefront in the development of both a Yeshiva Day School and a Kollel in their community.  A descendant of a Rumanian Chassidic family whose roots go back to the great Chassidic masters in the era of the Ba'al Shem Tov, The Rebbetzin came to the U.S. as a young girl. She attended the Bais Yaakov School in Brooklyn, NY and later graduated from its Teachers Seminary.  Notwithstanding her communal role, Rebbetzin Twerski considers her family her primary responsibility. As the mother of 11 children and over 30 grandchildren, she is a glowing example of a contemporary Orthodox Jewish woman who has become a pillar of strength to individuals throughout the world.

 

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