At SFW, our faculty members serve as both intellectual guides and personal role models, completely dedicated to helping you discover your own unique voice in Torah. We believe that profound growth only happens within the context of safe, meaningful relationships. This is why our teachers are an integral part of daily campus life—leading small-group chaburot, hosting students for warm Shabbat meals, and providing a constant source of emotional and spiritual support. Whether in a high-level shiur or a casual evening conversation, our staff is committed to empowering you with the confidence, structural skills, and middot to become a lifelong learner and an independent thinker.
The backbone of SFW is its outstanding faculty. At SFW we are proud of the incredible educational staff we have assembled. Our teachers are not only accomplished scholars in their fields of expertise, but are charismatic, warm and caring individuals whose dedication to their students goes far beyond the four walls of the classroom. Our teachers are always ready and eager to talk with students, listen to their thoughts, provide them with advice and invite them to their homes for Shabbat. It is no surprise that students maintain their connection with their teachers long after their Shana Ba’aretz.
Rav Yammer is a Sha’alvim Hesder alumnus who was appointed Ra”m in 1988. Rav Yammer’s highly engaging shiur is one of the foundational elements of the Yeshiva. For over two decades overseas student’s have benefitted from the methodological tools they acquired in Rav Yammer’s shiur. In addition to being an outstanding talmid Chacham, Rav Yammer’s keen understanding of people has motivated his students to seek out his advice, even long after their stay at Sha’alvim.
Rabbi Gershon Turetsky has been a member of the SFW faculty since the school’s inception. He studied in Yeshivat Sha’alvim following high school and received a B.S. in Accounting from Yeshiva University’s Sy Syms School of business. Subsequently, he learned in Yeshiva University’s Kollel as part of the Semicha program in New York, as well as at the Gruss Institute in Yerushalayim. Additionally, he was a member of the Yeshivat Sha’alvim’s Kollel where he completed his Semicha studies and received ordination from HaRav Zalman Nechemia Goldberg of the Beit Din HaGadol of Yerushalayim. In the summers, Rabbi Turetsky has served as the Director of Camp Morasha’s Girls Beit Medrash Program (BMP), a Rebbe on NCSY’s Summer Kollel, a Senior Educator on NCSY’s TJJ program and a Director of the Summernary learning program. He has lectured on topics of Halacha and Jewish Philosophy in Israel, the US, Canada and the UK. Rabbi Turetsky lives with his wife Nili and their family on Kibbutz Sha’alvim, right near Yeshivat Sha’alvim.
Mrs. Michelle Elmaleh a licensed social worker, received her BA from Stern College and her MSW from the Wurzweiler School of Social Work. Prior to making Aliyah, Michelle gained extensive experience in guidance and teaching in high schools in the U.S. She has spent numerous summers in Camp Simcha, Camp Mesorah, and other informal educational environments, including NCSY Michlelet. Michelle has been at SFW since its inception and lives with her husband and family in Beit Shemesh.
Rabbi Yamin Goldsmith, who is well known and respected for his warm and engaging personality, attended Yeshivat Sha’alvim for two years before serving in the I.D.F with the Yeshivat Shaalvim Hesder Machal program. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Yeshiva University, a master’s degree in public administration from Columbia University, was ordained at the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary of Yeshiva University, and is completing his doctoral dissertation in Curriculum and Teaching at Columbia University’s Teachers College. He has worked in both formal and informal Jewish education in the United States and in Israel for almost 30 years. Rav Yamin lives with his wife, Joy, and their children in Beit Shemesh.
Leora Bednarsh is a graduate of Drisha’s Scholars’ Circle. She holds a B.A. in Psychology and Linguistics from Princeton University. She has taught classes in Drisha’s Continuing Education program, at the MaTaN Summer Program in Jerusalem, as well as at several synagogues in New York and around the country. A recipient of the Harold Grinspoon Award for Excellence in Jewish Education, she taught Talmud and Halacha at the Yeshivah of Flatbush High School, her alma mater, as well as kallah classes in her community. She completed the Keren Ariel program at Nishmat, where was the recipient of
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.
After graduating from Na’ale High School, Rav Zach joined the Yeshiva as an Israeli Talmid. After his Shana Bet, he served in the IDF’s Hesder Combat Engineering unit. Upon completing his military service, Rav Zach returned to Yeshiva where he continued his Torah learning, while simultaneously completing a BA in education and receiving smicha from Rav Zalman Nechemia Goldberg. Currently, Rav Zach serves as a mashpia, and gives multiple shiurim throughout the week including a daily Tanya Chabura and a shiur on Torat Eretz Yisrael during night Seder. Rav Zach also runs the Yeshiva’s social media and Shiluv Integration program. He and his family live on the Sha’alvim campus.
Rabbi Yisrael Herczeg is the translator or author of several works of Torah scholarship including ArtScroll’s Sapirsetin Edition of Rashi and Patterns in Rashi. He holds a B.A. in history and an M.A. in education from the University of Detroit.
Following High School at the Skokie Yeshiva, Rav Hutt spent two and half years learning in Sha’alvim. Subsequently, he continued to learn under the guidance of Rav Parnes shlit”a while completing a degree in management from Touro’s Lander College For Men. Rav Hutt then made aliyah with his wife in 2008, to Shaalvim. Here he served as a shiur assistant, Mashpia, and is currently a Bekiyus Rebbe for the first year students. His students truly enjoy his unique synthesis of metaphor, example, and articulate explanation which make his classes both thought provoking and memorable. Most recently Rav Hutt founded and manages Hakol Torah, an international organization that promotes and incentivizes learning Torah on Shabbos Kodesh.
Tali Ifrah attended Stern College for Women where she earned a BA in Judaic Studies. She then taught in Ramaz Lower School for a year while pursuing her Masters degree at Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education. Subsequently she made aliya with her family and settled in Jerusalem where she has been teaching tana”ch and machshava in Shaalvim for Women and other seminaries. She was previously the rakezet of the shana bet program in SFW and is currently a mechanechet for shana aleph where she helps her students navigate the challenges and growth opportunities that they encounter in their year in Israel.
Rabbi Ari Katz made Aliya with his parents at the age of 12. After graduating high school fromYeshivat Netiv Meir, Ari studied in Yeshivat Kerem B’Yavneh. He served in the artillery corps and was later appointed a military chaplain. He learned in the Yeshiva for nine years, completing his Smicha, and earning a teaching diploma .Rabbi Katz and family then went on shelichut to Memphis, Tennessee, where he taught in the local Yeshiva High school for five years. Upon his return to KBY,he was appointed assistant Mashgiach Ruchani and delivered a shiur for the overseas students .In 2004, Rabbi Katz moved with his family to Gush Katif, becoming the Rosh Yeshiva at the local boys’ high school. After the Disengagement, Rabbi Katz returned to KBY where he was the Executive Director for eight years. Afterwards, heassumed the position of Program Director and Dean of Overseas Students.
Rabbi Katz also ran the overseas women’s program at Midreshet Yeud in Yeurushalyim.
He currently is the Director of Public Relations at the Yeshivat Hesder in Sderot, and has taught in SFW for the last 2 years
Mrs. Ora Schrier has been teaching Tanach and Jewish thought for the past decade. She served as Ma’ayanot Yeshiva High School’s Director of Religious Programming and 12th Grade Mashpia in addition to teaching in their Limudei Kodesh department. Ora has been involved in adult education through her work as a fellow at Brandeis University for the Orthodox Union’s Seif Jewish Learning Initiative on Campus and as a resident scholar at Congregation Darchei Noam in New Jersey for the past four years. She is also a certified Kallah Teacher through the OU/RCA/Nishmat joint training program for female community educators. During the summers she serves as Assistant Director of Michlelet, NCSY’s Israel learning program for High School girls.
She is an honors graduate of Stern College for Women where she received her degree in Jewish Education and Political Science and holds an M.S. from the Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education. Ora offers a unique blend of high-level learning with a down-to-earth approach, focusing on integrating the learning practically into living a more inspired Torah life. She and her family are looking forward to fulfilling their dream of making Aliyah this Summer.
