Jewish Study Network


	Rabbi Avromi Apt

Rabbi Apt was raised in Detroit, Michigan and studied in the Philadelphia Yeshiva before moving to Israel to continue his Rabbinic studies. Rabbi Apt met his wife, Rena, while in Israel.

avromi@jsn.info


	Rena Apt

Raised in Pittsburgh, PA, Mrs. Rena Apt graduated from the School of Computer Arts in New York. Among her artistic talents, Rena is also a gifted baker. Before joining the JSN team, Rena managed personnel for Parameds.

rena@jsn.info


	Rabbi Yaacov Benzaquen

A founding member of the JSN team and native on Venezuela, Rabbi Yaacov Benzaquen, received his Rabbinic ordination in Israel after graduating from Columbia University's School of Engineering. Scion of an influential Moroccan family, Rabbi Benzaquen continues the tradition as a Sephardic cantor.

yaacov@jsn.info


	Batsheba Benzaquen

Mrs. Batsheba Benzaquen was born in Gibraltar and studied at the famous women's seminary in Gateshead, England. A talented cook who specializes in Middle Eastern cuisine, Batsheba is involved in developing the kosher infrastructure of the Bay Area and has opened a catering business for small to medium sized events.

batsheva@jsn.info


	Rabbi Gavin Enoch

Rabbi Gavin Enoch was born in Dublin, Ireland and raised in Southern California. He graduated from UC Berkeley with a degree in history and went on to study and teach Talmud in Jerusalem, ultimately receiving his rabbinic ordination from the Mir Yeshiva.

gavin@jsn.info


	Miriam Enoch

Mrs. Miriam Enoch was born in South Africa and raised in Israel. After completing Jewish Studies at Jerusalem's Neve Yerushalayim she went on to earn certification as an architect from the Magen Institute. These days she devotes herself to building her family and community.

miriam@jsn.info


	Rabbi Joey Felsen

Rabbi Joey Felsen, Founder and Executive Director of the JSN, hails from Toronto, Canada. A skilled educator, Rabbi Felsen is a part-time rabbi at Hillel at Stanford. For his work at Kehillah High, Rabbi Felsen received the 2006 Grinspoon-Steinhardt National Award for Excellence in Jewish Education.

joey@jsn.info


	Sarah Felsen

Mrs. Sarah Felsen was born in San Francisco and spent her early childhood years in Berkeley. She has an M.A. from Columbia University in Learning Disabilities. Sarah teaches 1st grade at the South Peninsula Hebrew Day School.

sarah@jsn.info


	Rabbi Avraham Flaks

Rabbi Avraham Flaks hails originally from Moscow, Russia and received a master's degree in physical chemistry from the Moscow Institute of Steel and Alloys before immigrating to Israel to receive an M.A. in the history, philosophy, and sociology of science at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. Avraham trained as a Rabbi at the Midrash Sephardi in Jerusalem and the Amiel Program for Practical Rabbinics. He served as the Chief Rabbi of Krakow, Poland before moving to Palo Alto to head the Russian language division of the JSN.

avraham@jsn.info


	Michal Flaks

Michal was born and raised in Petersburg, Russia and received a bachelor's degree in Russian language and literature at the Gertsen State Pedagogical University. Michal then moved to Israel and pursued Jewish studies at the Michlala College for Women s Studies in Jerusalem. Michal is an artist with training from the School of Art at the Repin Academy of Fine Arts in St. Petersburg, Russia.

michal@jsn.info


	Rabbi Yisroel Gordon

A founding memberof the JSN team, Rabbi Gordon studied Talmud for many years in New York and Jerusalem. Rabbi Gordon is a regular lecturer in Palo Alto and Santa Cruz, and he teaches Jewish text at Kehillah High. He is also the author of the JSN's popular weekly parsha email and the editor of the highly acclaimed Focus journal.

yisroel@jsn.info


	Sandy Gordon

Mrs. Sandy Gordon has coordinated many community events with style and flair, most recently creating Shabbaton weekends for the Santa Cruz Jewish community. She is also sought out as a tutor in Jewish texts for students of all backgrounds. Sandy holds a Masters in Speech Pathology from Columbia University.

sandy@jsn.info


	Mrs. Chana Greenberg

Mrs. Chana Greenberg grew up in Teaneck, NJ and received her BA in Liberal Arts from Thomas Edison College in NJ and a teaching certificate from the Ministry of Education in Israel. She is currently a Judaic Studies teacher at South Peninsula Hebrew Day School and the director of the JSN's women's division.

chana@jsn.info


	Rabbi Zev Jacobs

Rabbi Zev Jacobs, raised in Israel and Canada, holds a BA in Judaic Studies from Hebrew Theological College in Skokie, Illinois, and studied at Jerusalem's Mir Yeshiva. Since joining the JSN in 2005, Rabbi Jacobs has lead the Cupertino Torah Study Group, and teachs in San Jose and South Peninsula Hebrew Day School.

zev@jsn.info


	Batsheva Jacobs

Originally from Chicago, Batsheva holds a BA in psychology and was trained as a teacher at Machon Sara Schneirer in Jerusalem. Batsheva is currently teaching Judaics studies at the South Peninsula Hebrew Day School, along with practical classes for women in the community.

zev@jsn.info


	Rabbi Avi Lebowitz

Rabbi Avi Lebowitz received his ordination from Ner Israel Rabbinical College in Baltimore and a Masters in Education from Johns Hopkins University. An expert in the realm of Halacha (Jewish law), Rabbi Lebowitz recently published a comprehensive and scholarly work on the Mikvah (ritual bath), which includes an innovative commentary on the related Mishnaic tractate.

avi@jsn.info


	Fia Lebowitz

Mrs. Fia Lebowitz graduated from Johns Hopkins University with a Masters in Special Education and practices in the Bay Area. She organizes community building events in San Jose for women and enjoys teaching teens supplementary Jewish education. The Lebowitz’s have five children.

fia@jsn.info


	Rabbi Menachem Levine

Originally from Miami Beach, Rabbi Levine graduated from Yeshiva University with honors, and then studied for many years in the Talmudic academies of Mir, Shaar HaTorah and Lakewood, leading to his rabbinic ordination. Rabbi Levine graduated University of Pennsylvania's Law School, and worked as a summer associate at DLA Piper. A dynamic speaker and community-minded leader, Rabbi Levine is the rabbi of Congregation Am Echad in San Jose.

rabbilevine@jsn.info


	Rebbetzin Rachelli Levine

Born and bred in Brooklyn, NY, Rachelli graduated at the top of her class from Bnos Chava Teachers Seminary and received her BA from Thomas Edison State College. Rachelli taught Chumash and Computer Graphics to high school students in Lakewood and Philadelphia, and is a lecturer for the women's division of JSN. In addition to her responsibilities as Rebbetzin of the San Jose community, Rachelli is currently working towards a Masters Degree in Education. The Levines have three daughters.

rachelli@jsn.info


	Rabbi Yosef Richards

Rabbi Yosef Richards has always had a passion for Jewish education. A skilled teacher, he has been working with Jewish students since he was a youth leader in England at age sixteen. He has spent the last several years learning in Yeshivas in Jerusalem and received his rabbinical ordination at the Jerusalem Kollel. Rabbi Richards has demonstrated his Jewish communal leadership as a program coordinator for many Jewish outreach programs.

yosef@jsn.info


	Temima Richards

Temima, originally from Toronto, loves to fill their Shabbas table with "homestyle" Jewish cooking and many guests. She spent several years studying Jewish texts, philosophy, and law at Neve Yerushalayim. She is currently pursuing a career as a graphic designer and in her spare time loves to share her enthusiasm for Torah and Judaism with various Jewish students and tourists around Jerusalem.

temima@jsn.info


	Rabbi Daniel Steinberg

Rabbi Daniel Steinberg was raised in upstate New York and is a graduate of the Jewish Day Schools. After initially pursuing a career in network TV comedy and major market radio, he spent the past 7 years studying in Israel . Rabbi Steinberg’s diversified experiences, from comedy club stages in New York City to high level Talmud classes in Jerusalem ’s top Yeshivot, have enabled him to relate to Jews from all walks of life.

daniel@jsn.info


	Devorah Steinberg

Devorah Steinberg spent the first 16 years of her life in eclectic Venice Beach , California , before moving to the Fairfax area of Los Angeles . Devorah graduated from the Bais Yaakov of Los Angeles and attended BYA seminary in Jerusalem . She has taught high school in Los Angeles and post high school studies in Jerusalem . The Steinberg’s have two boys.

devorah@jsn.info


	Rabbi Motty Weinstock

Rabbi Motty Weinstock was raised in Brooklyn, New York and studied Rabbinics in the famous Gateshead Yeshiva in England before moving to Jerusalem to continue his studies. Rabbi Weinstock has joined the JSN's new San Francisco branch and is currently teaching teens and adults.

motty@jsn.info


	Sarili Weinstock

Sarili Weinstock was born and raised in Vienna, Austria. She worked in Jerusalem as an early childhood educator with a focus on Jewish studies. Sarili brings her European flair to JSN programs and is active in developing the San Francisco branch of the JSN. She is the mother of two children.

sarili@jsn.info