ROSH YESHIVA & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, TVA

Rabbi Seif studied at Yeshivat Har Etzion and received his ordination from Rav Zalman Nechemiah Goldberg. He received his BA from Columbia College, his MA in Religion and Education from Columbia's Teacher's College, and Israeli Teacher Certification from Herzog College. He was a fellow at the Center for Jewish Law and Contemporary Civilization at the Cardozo School of Law, and he completed his PhD in Religious Studies at University of Pennsylvania. He served as a Senior Program Officer at the Tikvah Fund. He served as the Jewish Learning Initiative on Campus educator at the University of Pennsylvania from 2002-2006.

Founder and Dean of Nishmat

Rabbanit Chana Henkin, founder and Dean of Nishmat, is one of today’s most acclaimed Jewish educators and a leader in re-drawing the landscape of Torah leadership and scholarship for women. She has headed Nishmat’s beit midrash for thirty years, where her legendary, infectious love of Torah inspires generation after generation of students. Together with her husband, noted halachic authority Rav Yehuda Henkin ztz”l, Rabbanit Henkin created the unique role of Yoatzot Halacha, experts in women’s health and Jewish law, to address women’s questions in taharat hamishpacha and women’s health. Rabbanit Henkin is a graduate of Yeshiva University’s Stern College and YU’s Bernard Revel Graduate School. She received Honorary Doctorates from both Bar Ilan University and Yeshiva University, and was awarded Israel’s prestigious Agrest Prize for innovative religious education. The Henkins made aliyah in 1972 and Rabbanit Henkin lives in Jerusalem, where her life is devoted to advancing Torah and serving Klal Yisrael.

Director of the Overseas Program at Midreshet HaRova

Rabbi David Milston is Director of the Overseas Program at Midreshet HaRova. Born and raised in London, Rabbi Milston earned a B.A. in Jewish Studies at Jews’ College where he became a talmid “muvhak” of Rabbi Isaac Bernstein zt”l. He studied for several years at Yeshivat Har Etzion under the guidance of Rav Yehuda Amital, zt”l and Rav Aharon Lichtenstein, zt”l, and received semicha from the Chief Rabbinate of Israel.

RA”M, TANACH COORDINATOR, MASHGICHA RUCHANIT, TVA

EDUCATIONAL DIRECTOR, MIZRACHI

Rabbanit Shani Taragin completed a B.A. and M.A. in Tanach and Talmud at Bar-Ilan University. She is currently pursuing her Ph.D in Tanach.  She is the educational director of Matan Eshkolot – Tanakh teachers’ education program and of the Morot l’Halacha program in Matan Renana. She teaches collegiates and adults at MaTaN, Migdal Oz, Sha'alvim for Women, Lander's College, and the Womens' Beit Midrash in Efrat and Ramat Shilo. Shani is a graduate of Nishmat’s Keren Ariel Program for certification as a halachic advisor in issues of family purity law.

Menahel of Midreshet Moriah

"Rav Eitan," as our students call him, is known both for his wry sense of humor and his shiurim in Chumash and Machshavah, which emphasize creative thinking and personal grappling with Torah and its implications for our lives. Rav Eitan is always available for personal advice, halachic questions, and discussions on emunah. Rav Eitan learned at Yeshivat Sha'alvim, received Semichah at RIETS as a Wexner Graduate Fellow, and continued his learning in the Beren Kollel Elyon. He earned a BA in English Literature and an MA in Jewish Education at Yeshiva University, and is completing an MA in Jewish Philosophy and an EdD in Jewish Education at Yeshiva University. Rav Eitan taught Gemara and Halachah at the Graduate Program for Women at Yeshiva University and served as Assistant Rabbi at The Jewish Center on Manhattan's Upper West Side. Rav Eitan lives in Neve Daniel with his family.

FOUNDING DIRECTOR, OU-JLIC

Rabbi Menachem Schrader studied at Yeshivat Har Etzion and Yeshiva University. He has a BA in Philosophy from YU, an MA in History from NYU, and received his Smicha from Yeshiva University’s Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary. He was on the Torah studies faculty of Yeshivat Hamivtar, teaching Talmud, Bible, and Halachah. He was the director of the Aliza Flatow program at Nishmat. In the year 2000 he founded the Orthodox Union’s Jewish Learning Initiative on Campus of the Orthodox Union.

Founder, TVA; Director, Bnei Akiva of the United States and Canada

Rabbi Shaul Feldman is the Executive Director of Bnei Akiva of the US and Canada and just recently served as the campaign manager for the Religious Zionist Party in the World Zionist Congress elections. He received smicha from the Chief Rabbinate of Israel and a law degree from Bar Ilan Law School. Today, Rabbi Feldman is a highly admired Rav both in Israel and North America and mixes a keen mind with humor and a down to earth nature. After serving as a paratrooper in the IDF, he went on to teach in the Kerem B’Yavneh overseas program, Stern College and Torah Mi’Zion Kollel.

Director of OU-JLIC Israel

Rabbi Shulman is the director of Summer in Jerusalem, OU-JLIC in Israel and Yavneh. He lives in Jerusalem with his wife Jenny and their three kids. He loves to learn Torah, hike, do yoga and bake bread.

Director of Summer Programs for OU-JLIC

Yonina (Silverman) Rosenthal originally from New Jersey, now lives with her husband Gabi in Jerusalem. Yonina holds a bachelors in Psychology and Judaic Studies from Hunter College. She spent many summers at Camp Stone where she has strengthened her love for Torah and informal education in her many different roles. Yonina has a master’s in nonprofit management from Hebrew University and is working towards getting a second master’s degree in Jewish Education. She is also part of the Nachshon Project Graduate fellowship which has helped her get to where she is today. With her past work experience as a placement coordinator from Onward Israel, Yonina is very much looking forward to giving future participants an unparalleled experience on the JLIC summer programs in Israel.

OU-JLIC ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY PROJECTS

Hani Lowenstein received a BA from the Stern College for Women Honors program, and an MA from the Bernard Revel Graduate School of Yeshiva University. During the over seven years that she has worked for OU-JLIC, she has coordinated successful programs, crafted innovative curricula and created engaging PR materials and publications. Hani lives in Israel with her husband and five energetic boys.

Internship Coordinator and Logistics Manager

Atira is originally from Riverdale, NY and went to SAR High School, followed by a gap year at Nishmat. She then attended Stern College where she double majored in Psychology and Judaic Studies. After graduating Stern College, Atira made Aliyah to Jerusalem and spent a year working as a madricha at Midreshet TVA. Atira is very passionate about informal education, and she has been involved in Bnei Akiva both during the school year as well as over the summer. Atira is excited about continuing to pursue this passion by joining the JLIC Summer Programs team!