Faculty

The backbone of any educational institution is its faculty. At SFW we are particularly proud of the outstanding educational staff that we have assembled, not only because of their teaching abilities, but because of their warmth and individualized attention. Teachers are always ready and eager to talk with students, listen to their thoughts, invite them to their homes for Shabbat and develop a lasting student-teacher relationship.

Below you will find a partial listing of our distinguished faculty:

Leora Bednarsh holds degrees in Psychology and Linguistics from Princeton University . She has lectured at MaTaN in Talmud, Tanach and Halacha and has served as a scholar-in-residence at numerous locations in the United States . A recipient of awards for Jewish Education and academic achievement, Mrs. Bednarsh completed the Keren Ariel program for Yoatzot Halacha at Nishmat.and has taught Jewish studies at Yeshiva of Flatbush and is involved with Teacher training programs in North America.

 
Dina Blank , holds a degree in Political Science from Columbia University and a Master's in Jewish History from YU's Bernard Revel Graduate School. Prior to her aliyah Mrs. Blank taught Judaic studies in New York-area schools. Upon moving to Israel, she has been affiliated with a prestigious Jerusalem think tank where she has conducted and coordinated research projects. A graduate of Michlala's overseas program, Mrs. Blank has received numerous academic awards.

 
Toby Einhorn is returning to Israel after stints in South Africa and Hong Kong where she taught Jewish studies and served in multiple capacities for the Jewish communities. She holds a master's degree in Bible from YU's Bernard Revel Graduate School and a Bachelor's in Philosophy from Stern College.

Hudi Elsant studied at Stern College for Women and at the Azrieli Graduate School for Jewish Education. She has previously taught at Ateret Seminary in Queens College and in Project Identity for Adult Education. In addition to SFW, she is also on the faculty of Michlelet Mevaseret Yerushalayim. Hudi resides in Yerushalayim with her husband and baby.

Mindy Hilewitz studied Limudei Kodesh at Michlala and Stern College. She graduated Barnard College earning Phi Beta Kappa honors with a Bachelor's degree in Jewish History. Mrs. Hilewitz also holds a master's in Jewish Education from YU's Azrieli School of Education and is completing another Master's in English Education at Teacher's College, Columbia University. Mrs. Hilewitz has taught at Manhattan High School and has served on the Editorial Staff at Jewish Action magazine and Judaica Press.

 
Rabbi Jason Knapel was ordained at RIETS and also received his BA from Yeshiva College and a MS from the Bernard Revel Graduate School. He worked in Hillel Yeshiva High School in Deal, New Jersey for many years as a teacher, Director of Informal Education, Director of Judaic  Studies and as Assistant Principal. He is currently the Mashgiach Ruchani of Yeshivat Shvilei HaTorah.

Rav Noam Koenigsberg studied in at Yeshivat Shaalvim and went on to receive a BA from Yeshiva University in Jewish Studies and an MA in Jewish Philosophy from the Bernard Revel Graduate School. He then returned to the Shaalvim Kollel and subsequently served as a Ra"M in Yeshivat Torat Hachaim in Gush Katif and in Gush Katif's Midrasha for women. Later, after first serving as the Av Bayit at Sha'arei Mevaseret Zion, Rav Noam returned to Shaalvim, serving for the past two years as a Ra"m in the Hesder Program. Through it all, he has been a stalwart staff member of the NCSY Kollel.

Rav Yonatan Kohn has been involved with SFW since its first year.  After high school, he learned at Yeshivat Shaalvim and the Hebrew Theological College in Skokie, IL.  Later, he completed semikhah at the YU/RIETS Israel Kollel before moving to Yeshivat Kerem BYavneh, where he currently serves as a Sgan Mashgiach for the yeshiva's overseas program.  Rav Kohn also spent time in Philadelphia and Boston, earning a bachelor's degree from the University of Pennsylvania in Jewish History and teaching middle and high school at the Maimonides School in Brookline, Mass.  Still, there's no place like the Homeland: he currently resides in Yeshivat Kerem B’Yavneh with his wife and children.

Rabbi Eliezer Schenkolewsky studied at Yeshivat Shaalvim's Hesder and Keter Yehoshua Kollel programs before receiving ordination from Israel's Chief Rabbinate. Rabbi Schenkolewsky serves on several rabbinical courts and has published numerous articles. A highly versatile educator who has taught the full range of Jewish subjects, Rabbi Schenkolewsky is best known as one of Israel's leading Tanach scholars. He also serves as the Assistant Principal of Shaalvim's David and Golda Lander College of Education and holds the rank of captain (res.) in the Israel Defense Forces. Rabbi Schenkolewsky is currently the Rabbi of Nofei Aviv - an Anglo-Saxon community in Beit Shemesh.

Rav Ezra Shapiro learned in Yeshivat Sha'alvim from 1988-1990 at which point he joined Tzahal in the framework of the Machal program. He completed a B.S. in computer science and returned to Israel, learning at Yeshiva University Gruss kollel and receiving Semichah from Rav Zalman Nechemia Goldberg Shlit"a. In 1996 Rav Ezra was appointed mashgiach of the second year students at Yeshivat Sha'alvim and through his wisdom, warmth and devotion he has helped so many of SFW students maximize their potential while effectively preparing for life after seminary.

Nili Turetsky attended Michlalah Jerusalem College for Women following high school.  Nili is a graduate of Stern College for Women where she received her BA in Judaic studies and English Literature and her Masters in Modern Jewish History at Bernard Revel Graduate School. Most of her summers have been spent in Camp Morasha where she was a member of the counseling staff, education staff and headed the Machon CIT program. Before coming to Israel, she taught in the S.A.R. School in Riverdale, NY.

Rabbi Michoel Yammer, a mainstay of Yeshivat Shaalvim's Men's division, st udied in Shaalvim's Keter Yehoshua Kollel after graduating from the Yeshiva's Hesder program. He received rabbinical ordination from Israel's chief rabbinate and has taught Jewish studies in the Yeshivat Shaalvim overseas and Israeli programs. At SFW, Rav Yammer’s courses focus on a wide range of talmudical, philosophical and halachic issues through the ages and in the modern world.