Lecturers

studied for a B.A. at Michala College Jerusalem jointly with Nishmat.  She is studying for an M.A. in Bible at Haifa University and Matan Jerusalem.

has been a sought after Jewish educator for over thirty years. She was the recipient of the Baumel award as the most outstanding faculty member at Yeshiva University where she earned her doctorate in Jewish Education and Administration. Since making aliyah with her family in 1997 to Nof Ayalon, she has taught in Bar Ilan University, Michlelet Herzog and Matan.

is a lecturer at Bar Ilan University's Multidisciplinary Department of Jewish Studies and a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Jewish Thought at Ben Gurion University. Jonnie's academic forte is medieval kabbalah and he has published two books on the topic (The Kabbalah of Joseph ben Shalom Ashkenazi and Joseph ben Shalom Asheknazi's Commentary on Sefer Yesira: A Critical Edition). Jonnie also orchestrated the publication and translation into English of the Judeo-Arabic literary piece from WWII in Morocco, The Hitler Haggadah (with Adi Schnytzer and Avishai Bar-Asher). Jonnie's debut novel was a Mossad thriller, The Way Back. Forthcoming Jonnie is orchestrating the publication and translation into English of a medieval Ethiopian Jewish Shabbat midrash, Tezaze Sanbat (with Qes Ephraim Lawi).

Dr. Tanya White is an international lecturer, writer and educator with a focus on Tanach and Contemporary Jewish Thought. She is Senior lecturer at Matan Institute for Torah Studies and a guest lecturer at other institutes including Pardes and LSJS. Tanya holds a doctorate in Jewish Philosophy from Bar Ilan University and is the recipient of Schupf Fellowship for outstanding students. A collection of her articles, blogs and published material can be viewed on her blog-page: www.contemplatingtorah.wordpress.com

Elisheva grew up in Rochester, NY and made Aliya to Raanana many years ago. She is a member of the faculty at Midreshet Torathessed where she teaches Tanach and Halakha. As a graduate of Matan's Morot L'Halakha Program, Ellie enjoys teaching kallot and serving as a resource for women in the broader community. In addition, she lectures for various adult education programs.

made Aliya from the U.S. in 1983. She studied at Bar Ilan University. Gina has been involved in adult education since 1988 and for the past 22 years she has been lecturing in Jewish studies at Matan. She is currently giving Torah classes in the Ra'anana and Netanya branches of Matan.

is a graduate of Hilkhata, Matan's Advanced Halakhic Institute and is a certified Meshivat Halakha. In addition she is a Yoetzet Halakha, and a graduate of Matan’s Advanced Talmud Institute.  Rabbanit Krauss teaches Halakha in the Morot L’Halakha program at Matan HaSharon and gives shiurim to the general public, which focus on the interface between Halakha and society, family and welfare.  She is a senior social worker specializing in old age, disability and community.

is in the second cohort of the Kitvuni Fellowship. She is writing a commentary on the first half of Talmud Berakhot. She is a graduate of the Morot L’Halakha Program at Matan HaSharon and a lecturer at Matan. Karen has an MA in Rabbinic Literature from NYU. She is the creator of the #PowerParsha and the founder of Kivun l’Sherut, a pre-army/sherut leumi guidance program for religious girls. Karen is also a podcast host and lectures at a number of women’s Torah institutes.

is the founder, director and a lecturer at Matan HaSharon and creator of Matan’s International Mother-Daughter Bat Mitzvah program. She has a B.A. in Machsevet Yisrael and Hebrew Literature from the Hebrew University and is a graduate of the Matmidot program in Matan Jerusalem.  Rabbanit Koren runs the Gavna choir.

is a distinguished alumna of the Matan Beit Midrash program. She received her M.A. in Tanakh and Talmud from Bar Ilan University and is certified as a Halakhic Advisor. Shani is the Educational Director of Matan’s Bellows Eshkolot Educators Institute for Tanakh and Jewish Studies and of the Morot L’Halakha program in Matan HaSharon and she is the curriculum coordinator for the Bnei Akiva-Matan Program (MTVA). In addition Shani teaches courses at Matan and other advanced women's Torah Institutes in Israel.

has a B.A. in History and Education from Hebrew University and she studied education at Machon Kerem. She has a joint M.A. in Bible from Haifa University and Matan Jerusalem.  She teaches at Matan HaSharon and Hashmonaim and is a facilitator in the Matan Bat Mitzvah program.

is a graduate of the Yeshivat Hesder in Maalot.  He is one of the leaders of the nonprofit El Ami which enhances and strengthens Jewish identity in Israeli society.  Rav Cohen teaches Tanakh and Jewish Thought in a number of frameworks and is a Rav in Ramat HaShavim.

is a graduate of Yeshivat Ein Tsurim and has rabbinical ordination. He is active in Tzohar and answers Halakhic questions as part of Beit Hahoraah Shaarei Halakha UMishpat. He has explored all facets of Halakha including Kashrut, personal status, marriage and the development of Halakha. He has also taught Jewish thought and Parshat HaShavua. Rav Chen has been giving a series of popular classes at Yakar on Halakha for the last five years. He is a fantastic guide and mentor, and helps his students find clarity in the complex and amazing world of Halakha.

is the head of Meizam 929 – Tanakh and a research fellow at the Israel Democracy Institute.

is the Rabbi of Kehillat Shivtei Yisrael. Rav Ben David served in several rabbinic posts including in Lincoln Square Synagogue, the Yeshiva of Cape Town, SAR High School, and West Side Sephardic Synagogue.

is the Rav of Kvutzat Yavneh.  He is a graduate of Yeshivat Kibbutz HaDati in Maaleh Gilboa and of the Beit Midrash in Beit Morasha.  He has Semicha from the Rabbanut HaRashit of Israel.  Rav Ofran is a psychologist, and has a degree in Talmud from Bar Ilan University.  He is a teacher in Tzahali and at the Yaakov Herzog College.

is a graduate of Yeshivat Mercaz HaRav and has a degree in Law from Bar Ilan University. He is the head of the Keter Institute for Torah Economics and is the Rav of East Raanana.

is the Rav of Kehillat Kinor David in Raanana and the Rav of the Amit Rananim School.  He teaches at Matan and at Midreshet Lindenbaum.  Rav Koren graduated from the Hesder Yeshiva at Shalavim, from Yeshivat Har Etzion and Beit Morasha.  He has a B.A. in Humanities from the Open University, is a member of Beit Hillel and a former member of the board of directors and head of the Beit Midrash Raayoni.  Rav Koren is a founder of Yeshivat Amit Nachson in Beit Shemesh.

Tammy Levy holds a masters degree in Occupational Therpay form the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. Her passion, however is in Jewish Education. She served as the coordinator of enrichment activities at the Yeshiva College Girls' High School and ran the Beit Midrash track in Tanach for many years before making Aliyah with her husband and 4 children in 2020. Tammy is part of the faculty of the Academy for Jewish Thought and Jewish Learning in South Africa where she teaches Tanach classes in adult Jewish education. Tammy is a certified Madrichat kalla through Yeshiva University's Gruss Kollel and the Eden Centre. Tammy joined the staff of Matan HaSharon in 2021 in the area of project development and started the Beit Midrash Erev, where she studies the Nevi'im Rishonim with her students.

has her Master’s degree in Judaic Studies from Columbia University. Prior to making Aliyah, Yael taught Tanakh at the Upper School of Ramaz, and then went on to join the Judaic Studies faculty at Yeshiva University’s Stern College for Women where she taught advanced Bible courses. She has taught Continuing Education courses at Drisha Institute for Jewish Education and served as Resident Scholar at the Jewish Center of Manhattan. She is currently teaching at Matan Women’s Institute for Torah Learning and is a frequent lecturer in North America and Europe. Yael has a book forthcoming on Ezra-Nehemiah through Koren Press, in collaboration with the Matan Kitvuni fellowship. For more of Yael’s writing visit: yaelleibowitz.com