Our staff:

• talented and idealistic faculty members who transmit Torah in an authentic and personal way to our students, serving as role models and inspiration.
• spans the halachic and ideological streams in the Torah-observant world.
• have university backgrounds and professional experience in a variety of fields.
• were trained in the world’s leading Yeshivot, including The Mir, Kerem B’Yavneh, Chaim Berlin, Ateret Cohanim, Torah Or, Yeshiva University and Yeshivat Har Etzion, among others.

Presented here are brief biographical sketches of the people to whom our students owe so much of their intellectual and spiritual growth.

Rabbi Yitzchak Hirshfeld

Rabbi Hirshfeld, co-founder of the Darche Noam Institutions, is Rosh HaYeshiva of Yeshivat Darche Noam/David Shapell College. Originally from Chicago, he is a graduate of the Hebrew Theological College in Skokie, Illinois. In 1969, after completing a BA in Mathematics at Roosevelt University, he came to Israel and was privileged to learn under the Roshei Yeshiva at the Mir Yeshiva, Rabbi Chaim Shmulevitz zt”l and Rabbi Nachum Pertzovich zt”l. Before the establishment of the Darche Noam Institutions, he taught at the original Shapell College and at Aish HaTorah. Regarded as father figure of the yeshiva, Rabbi Hirshfeld makes each student feel cherished, working and learning with him rather than simply teaching him.

Read “Reward and Redemption“, an article by Rabbi Hirshfeld

Listen to “A Kiss on the Forehead,” a two minute audio

Rabbi Shaya Karlinsky

Rabbi Karlinsky is co-founder and Dean of the Darche Noam Institutions, Yeshivat Darche Noam/David Shapell College and the Midreshet Rachel v’Chaya College of Jewish Studies for Women. His reputation as an expert educator is a reflection of both his academic training and his motivational personality. Through his direct approach of questioning students and forcing them to question themselves, he has succeeded in awakening inquiring minds for Torah study throughout the years. A Los Angeles native, Rabbi Karlinsky studied at UCLA before going to Israel in 1968, to study at Yeshivat Kerem B’Yavneh and the Mir Yeshiva. After receiving smicha from ITRI, he completed a Master’s degree in educational psychology at Philadelphia’s Temple University and returned to Israel in 1975. His “eye” for connecting with students on their individual levels and his ability to see straight to the core of issues can be partially attributed to skills gained from his work as a widely published photojournalist.

Rabbi Yitzchak Shurin

Rabbi Shurin is the Rosh Midrasha of Midreshet Rachel v’Chaya College of Jewish Studies for Women and a senior faculty member at Yeshivat Darche Noam/David Shapell College. Rabbi Shurin grew up in New York, and learned at Yeshivat Rabbeinu Chaim Berlin under Rav Yitzchak Hutner, zt”l. After receiving an advanced degree in Guidance and Counseling from Nova University, he moved to Israel in 1977, joining the Kollel and staff of the original Shapell College. A grandson of Reb Yaakov Kamenetsky, zt”l, who was one of the spiritual giants of the previous generation, Rabbi Shurin shares memories of his grandfather, providing his students with unique insights and an outstanding role model. He recognizes the unfamiliarity that many have with Torah Judaism and with his sensitivity to their fears and concerns, he provides them with the connection and bond that many feel they are lacking.

Rabbi Yehuda Aaronson

Rabbi Aaronson wears a number of hats at Darche Noam Institutions. His teaching, the opening Halakha class, integrates with his job as the liaison with alumni and Director of Development. He understands Darche Noam inside-out, first studying at Shapell’s from 1986 to 1989, then as an alumnus working in venture capital, and now teaching, fundraising and developing alumni programming and connections. Rabbi Aaronson is a unique role model, so students can see what they can do and where they can go, both in learning and integrating Torah with practical life. Rabbi Aaronson and his wife Annette, a Midreshet Rachel v’Chaya alumna, live with their children in Beit Shemesh.

Rabbi Joel Cohen

Rabbi Cohen leads the Smicha preparation program at the Yeshiva, guiding advanced students as they work out the complexities of halacha and difficult source material.  With a father who worked for the Mossad, he traveled the world as a child, living in France, Switzerland, Ethiopia, Turkey and Italy.  Finally settling in Brooklyn, New York, he spent 18 years in the business world, spending his spare time as an avid golfer and golf instructor. He has been learning at Yeshivat Darche Noam/David Shapell College since 1995 and received smicha from the Israeli Rabbinate.  Rabbi Cohen lives in Jerusalem with his wife Orna and four children.

Rabbi Menachem Farber

Before making aliya in 1970, Rabbi Farber lived in New York, and learned at Yeshivat Rabbeinu Chaim Berlin, and studied Political Science at Brooklyn College. Rabbi Farber was a close Talmid of Rav Yitzchak Hutner, zt”l, and is today a leading expert on Rav Hutner’s monumental work Pachad Yitzchak. Since joining Darche Noam in 1990, he has gained a reputation as one of the pillars of the institution. The first to arrive and the last to leave each day, continually radiating words of Torah, he serves as a worthy role model for his students. His love for his talmidim can be seen through his well-known and enthusiastic participation in the joyous events of the Darche Noam community.

Rabbi Aryeh Feldman

The most advanced Talmud students at Darche Noam/David Shapell College benefit from Rabbi Feldman’s vast experience in “lomdus”, a conceptual approach to Gemara study. After years of learning in the modern Lithuanian Yeshiva world – Brisk, Lakewood, Mir, and Beis Hatalmud, Rabbi Feldman began passing on his approach to learning through classes in Israel and America. His aim in his shiur is to show the students the analytical underpinnings of the line-by-line discussions of the Gemara and Rishonim. Students learn to independently compare and analyze Rishonim and Acharonim.

Rabbi Avraham Fischer

Rabbi Fischer introduces beginning students at Darche Noam/Shapell’s to the fundamentals of Hebrew language and understanding the Biblical text. He has a BA in English Literature from Yeshiva University, Smicha from RIETS, and an MA in English Literature from NYU. After serving as Rabbi and educator at a small congregation in New Jersey, Rabbi Fischer made aliya in 1986. He was Director of Jewish Studies at the WUJS Institute in Arad, and continues to teach there, as well as at a number of other educational and outreach programs, including Midreshet Rachel v’Chaya College for Women.

Rabbi Yakov Haber

Rabbi Yakov Haber is known for the clarity of presentation and dynamic teaching style that he brings to his in-depth gemara shiurim. An enthusiastic educator, he comes to Shapell´s with a decade of expertise in high-level Torah education at Yeshiva University: as a rebbe in YU´s Stone Beit Midrash Program; as coordinator of the practical halacha learning program at RIETS; and as a teacher of Halacha, Jewish thought, and prayer at Stern College for Women. After learning at Israel´s Yeshivat Kerem B´Yavneh and pursuing a master’s degree in Computer Science, he was a fellow at YU´s prestigious and challenging Gruss Kollel Elyon. Rabbi Haber, his wife and children made aliya in 2007 and live in Ramat Beit Shemesh.

Rabbi Meshulam Isaac

Rabbi Meshulam Isaac is a veteran staff member of Yeshivat Darche Noam/David Shapell College. Raised in Detroit, he studied with Rav Pinchas Scheinberg, shlit’a, first in New York and then from 1966 in Torah Or in Jerusalem. “Reb Meshulam”, as he is fondly called, has been teaching the introductory level Gemara shiur from the Yeshiva’s earliest years. A master at communicating the foundations of Talmud study, he has guided hundreds of talmidim in taking their first steps through the Gemara. Through a wealth of Jewish stories, poignant anecdotes, and a remarkable sense of humor, he is renowned for taking even the most complicated sections of the Gemara or Talmudic structures and making them understandable. His class has been compared to a kindergarten – the place where everyone starts, quickly moves on from, yet hates to leave.

Rabbi Dovid Kamenetsky

Rabbi Kamenetsky has been with the Yeshivat Darche Noam/ David Shapell College since 1990. The son of Hagaon Rav Shmuel Kamenetsky, Rosh Yeshiva of the Philadelphia Yeshiva, Reb Dovid moved to Israel in 1982, where he learned at the Mir, Brisk, and Mishkan HaTorah. A contributing editor to the ArtScroll English-language elucidation and commentary on the Talmud, he currently teaches the mid-level Gemara shiur, emphasizing the necessity to understand the text clearly. With the same clarity of expression that he exhibits in his writing for ArtScroll, he provides his students with a conceptual understanding of the questions, positions, and arguments embedded in the text of Gemara.

Rabbi Reuven Kamenetsky

Rabbi Kamenetsky teaches advanced students both Gemara and Hashkafa. Rabbi Kamenetsky grew up in Israel and studied at the Mir Yeshiva and ITRI. He is a professional sofer and has been teaching daily Gemara classes for working married men for the past nine years. The breadth of his knowledge acquired during years of teaching the complete Talmud through “Amud Yomi” serves as an inspiration for the students in his advanced Talmud class.

Rabbi Eliezer Kwass

After receiving smicha from Yeshiva University as well as an MS in Jewish Philosophy, Rabbi Kwass made aliya and learned at Yeshivat Har Etzion. Upon arriving in Israel, he dedicated time to teaching basic Judaism to Russian olim. Now, he teaches Gemara and Chumash, guiding students on their path to feeling at home with Torah sources. Integrating the material with practical life experiences, he provides his students with an understanding of the technical and practical sides of the subject matter. In the process they achieve a deeper knowledge of the themes and values being taught.

Rabbi Yitzchak Lerner

Rabbi Lerner, a Darche Noam/Shapell’s student who returned to teach here, shares his learning, good humor and outgoing personality with the new generation of students. After completing his BA in International Relations from Concordia University, he left his native Canada to begin his studies at Darche Noam/David Shapell College in 1992. After three years of studying here, he went on to learn at Medrash Shmuel and received smicha from Rav Zalman Nechemia Goldberg shlit”a. Rabbi Lerner continues to pursue high level Talmud study, and devotes the rest of his time and energy to education, outreach and his family. In addition to his popular classes on the fundamentals of Judaism, Halacha, and Mishna, he is Darche Noam/Shapell’s night Seder Rebbe. He also teaches at Midreshet Rachel v’Chaya College and other seminaries in Jerusalem. He lives with his wife, Michelle, and family in Beitar Illit.

Rabbi Yaakov Lynn

Rabbi Yaakov Lynn completed a BA in English Literature and Rhetoric before becoming a journalist for a New Jersey newspaper and later a Hillel director for four years in Baltimore. After being a student at Shapell’s for two years, he began learning at Midrash Shmuel, where he continues to teach Gemara. Rabbi Lynn’s warm and energetic personality has made him a favorite on Pathways Israel experience for college students. He teaches Chumash with commentaries at Shapell’s, and lives in Har Nof with his wife and children.

Rabbi Yehoshua Seidenfeld

Rabbi Yehoshua Seidenfeld, as director of Shapell’s, is often the first person students meet. Although dedicating most of his time to the smooth and efficient running of the yeshiva, his first love is giving classes in Halacha and the teachings of Rav J.B. Soloveitchik zt”l. Rav Yehoshua practiced as a corporate lawyer in Canada for a few years before establishing a number of successful entrepreneurial ventures including an independent newspaper, a headhunting firm and a private college. After making aliyah in 1994, Rabbi Seidenfeld spent 6 years studying Halacha and teaching Gemara before receiving smicha from Rav Zalman Nechemia Goldberg shlit”a. Rav Yehoshua lives the Deracheha Darche Noam philosophy, moving comfortably between the Dati Leumi, Charedi Leumi and Charedi communities. He lives in Efrat with his wife, Rachel and six children.

Rabbi Gidon Shoshan

In addition to teaching daily classes in Gemara and Jewish Philosophy, Rabbi Gidon Shoshan serves as mashgiach ruchani. In this capacity, he meets regularly with students, ensuring that their experiences in yeshiva are comfortable and productive. A product of both Yeshivat Hakotel and Mir Yeshiva, Rabbi Shoshan later received semicha and completed a Master’s in Secondary Education from Yeshiva University. He also holds a BS in Business Management from Touro College. Before joining the Darche Noam staff, Rabbi Shoshan served as the founding Outreach Director of the LINK Kollel in Los Angeles and lectured extensively in a wide variety of venues. Rabbi Shoshan continues to lecture widely and travels to meet students and alumni on university campuses and in Jewish communities around the United States.

Rabbi Fyvel Shuster

Rabbi Fyvel Shuster serves as Menahel Ruchani – a combination of rebbe, guidance counselor, friend, and mentor – of Yeshivat Darche Noam / Shapell’s. His varied educational and vocational background – learning at Yeshivat Hakotel, Yeshivas Haim Berlin, and with the Talner Rebbe, shlita, working in high-tech, teaching at the Skokie Yeshiva and, for the last 11 years, in Machon Lev’s program for adult beginners – makes him uniquely suited to help guide Shapell’s students in their spiritual growth. His Monday afternoon shmuze – a masterful weave of divrei Torah, good advice, mussar, anecdotes, and humor – has already become a special treat in our Beit Midrash. Through one-on-one discussions, his mussar talks and hashkafa shiurim, he is helping our students connect to Torah and the world of Torah. Rav Shuster, his wife Leah, and their 5 children live in Har Nof, Jerusalem.

Rabbi Elie Silverberg

Rabbi Silverberg came to learn at Yeshivat Darche Noam/David Shapell College at the age of 27, and, after six years of intensive yeshiva study, is the first alumnus to join the full-time faculty. He is an inspiration to the students, as well as a reminder that it is never too late to start learning. Born and raised in Toronto in a religious-Zionist household, he has a BS in Electrical Engineering from the University of Toronto. He worked for an electric corporation in Canada before coming to learn in Israel in 1984. His teaching combines knowledge of the Gemara with philosophies gleaned from engineering and mathematics. His unique approach to teaching encourages his students’ independence and self-sufficiency, promoting productivity through lively discussion and debate.

Most photos by Jared Bernstein