Faculty
Administration
Shira Melamed
Director
After making aliya at a young age, Shira completed her National Service and then continued on to Bar Ilan University where she received her degree in Social Work. Shira’s expertise in mental health has proven essential to our students’ personal development throughout their year at MTC. Her focus on individual growth allows for an environment of warmth and acceptance in which our students are able to thrive. Her passion for chessed and learning is contagious both in and outside the classroom.
Alexis Levy
Assistant Director
Alexis is originally from Manchester, England. She studied for her first degree in Michlala Jerusalem where she received a B. Ed. with excellence in Tanach and Toshba and the education department’s prize of distinction. Alexis also has a Masters in Jewish Philosophy from Herzog College, where she received the department’s scholarship for academic excellence. She has many years of experience in both formal and informal education in a number of seminaries in Israel and that makes students gravitate towards her warmth and unconditional love.
Lauren Friedman
Eim Bayit
Lauren grew up in Miami, Florida and made aliya after attending Midreshet Torat Chessed Shana Alef & Bet! Lauren acts as a guide to our girls, whilst also being someone they can speak to and rely on during their seminary year. Her dedication knows no bounds. Lauren currently lives in Netanya with her husband, Josh, and adorable children, next to the girls’ houses.
Rabbi Michael Sunshine
Rosh Beit Midrash
Rav Sunshine grew up in Phoenix, Arizona. After graduating University of Pennsylvania, he studied at Yeshiva University and at Yeshivat Hamivtar, under Rabbi Chaim Brovender and Rabbi Shlomo Riskin. Rav Sunshine and his wife Ariella made Aliyah with their children from Denver, Colorado where he was the Director of Jewish Student Connection. Previously, Rav Sunshine taught in the Torah Learning Center Kollel and worked as the Assistant Rabbi of Congregation Rodfei Sholom, both in San Antonio, Texas. He is dedicated to helping all of his students deepen their connection with Am Yisrael, Torat Yisrael, and Eretz Yisrael.
Sophie Felberg
Office Manager
Sophie grew up in Hendon, London. After completing further studies in Art and Design she came to Israel and spent time at a number of Jerusalem’s leading seminaries. Sophie and her husband made Aliyah in 2016 and she found her new home as Office Manager of MTC. Sophie regularly hosts girls for Shabbat in her home in Harish, where she is the Rabbanit of Kehillat Derech Eretz. She is also a certified Kallah teacher and a mother to her three gorgeous children.
Faculty
Ellie Ausubel
Ellie Ausubel made aliya several years ago from Manhattan to Ra’anana with her husband and children. She has been teaching at MTC since its doors first opened and lectures at various adult education programs. Ellie holds a BA from Stern college and is a graduate of Matan’s Morot L’Halacha program where she trained as a yoetzet halacha. Teaching is Ellie’s first passion but when she’s not in the classroom or Beit Midrash, she enjoys hiking, jogging and tasting the wonderful delights of this country.
Rav Dr. Avram Block
In the summer of 2021 Rabbi Block made aliyah with his family from Stamford, CT. Prior to joining the MTC faculty, he served for several years in Jewish education and the congregational rabbinate. Most recently, he served as Mashgiach Ruchani and a member of the Judaic studies faculty at the BiCultural Hebrew Academy in Stamford, CT. Rabbi Block completed his Semicha from the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary after which he completed Masters and Doctoral degrees in psychology from St. John’s University. In addition to his rabbinic work, Rabbi Block works as a practising psychologist specialising in treatment for anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder in adolescents and adults. Rabbi Block resides with his wife Dena and their four children in Ra’anana.
Rabbi Boruch Boudilovsky
Formerly a community Rabbi in Britain, Rabbi Boudilovsky moved back to Israel with his family in the summer of 2016 where he serves as Rabbi of Young Israel of North Netanya and Rosh Yeshiva of Pe’er HaTorah.
Esther Farkovits
Esther is originally from New York. She attended Touro College and Revel YU, majoring in Judaic Studies. In 2010, she made aliya with her family, and she now lives in Ra’anana with her husband and five sons. Esther has a deep love for Torah and for teaching, while constantly expressing how much she learns from her amazing students.
Rav Yehoshua Felberg
Rav Yehoshua was born and raised in south-west London, England. He studied Theology at Oxford and then Princeton University, before spending a number of years studying in Yeshivot in Israel and Kollel in London. He holds a certificate attesting to his halachic expertise in Orach Chaim and Yoreh Deah. Yehoshua has a love of chassidic stories and is always available to discuss any halachic questions that the girls may have. Rabbi Yehoshua is the Rabbi of Kehillat Derech Eretz in Harish, where he resides with his wife and children.
Rav Yonaton Hirschhorn
Rav Yonaton was born and raised in Neve Daniel, Israel. After high school he joined the Hesder Army program, and studied at Yeshivat Otniel and Yeshivat Bat Ayin. Rav Yonaton has experience teaching in many Yeshivot and seminaries, and known to be an extremely popular and inspiring teacher. Most recently, Rav Yonaton worked as the OU-JLIC Rabbi at the University of Maryland for 4 years, alongside his wife, Avital. His inspiring and exciting methods of teaching leave our students eager to learn more.
Rav Dr. Effie Kleinberg
Rav Effie serves as Educational Director at Forum for Jewish Leadership and Program Director at Jewish Futures, organizations focused on cultivating and training the next generation of ambitious Jewish leaders around the globe. Rabbi Kleinberg completed his Semicha, Masters, and Doctorate in EdTech at Yeshiva University. Prior to his aliya, Rav Effie worked as an educator in North America for close to 10 years. He currently resides with his wife and children in Ra’anana.
Estee Lightstone
Estee moved to Israel 5 years ago with her family. Estee has been in Jewish education for the last 15 years in both formal and informal education. She moved from NY with her family originally to serve an important role in the US Embassy in Jerusalem, and they chose to stay to live in Israel. She is very passionate about Jewish education and Jewish leadership. She loves to tour Israel and organize Tanach trips.
Lani Margolias
Lani was born in South Africa and came on aliya with her family when she was 7 years old. It was during this time that she learned to speak Hebrew and gained a love for Eretz Yisrael. After 3 years, the family returned to South Africa but kept up a close connection with Israel. After matriculating she spent a year in Israel at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. She has a BA degree in Hebrew and an Honours Degree in Clinical Psychology. Lani made aliya with her husband and family in 2003. She lives in Ra’anana and is blessed with 6 children. She is passionate about teaching.
Rav Aharon Ross
Rav Aharon Ross, and his wife Anna made Aliyah from the UK and now live with their four children in Bet Shemesh. A passionate Torah educator, who received semicha from the Sulam Yaakov Bet Midrash in Nahlaot. Rav Aharon loves bringing the stories and wisdom of Tanach to life for his students. He was previously a campus rabbi with Aish UK at Leeds University and continues to teach English and kodesh at a Yeshiva High School in Jerusalem. Over the years he has also contributed as a journalist for several platforms, most recently the website Aish.com.
Tzivia Itzkowitz - Chessed Coordinator
Originally from New York, Tzivia attended MTC for Shana Aleph and Bet, where she strengthened her journey of religious growth. While experiencing what it was like to live the Torah she learned, she discovered her true and inherent passion for helping others. She is so excited to be one of the Chessed Coordinators at MTC so she can inspire others to be true givers. Tzivia’s warmth and positive energy is contagious and our MTC students are blessed to have such a wonderful role model in their lives.
What our students are saying