Our Faculty & Staff

An ‘all-star’ faculty

We are proud of our all-star faculty: not only learned in Torah, but also in possession of impressive academic credentials and worldly experience. These are seasoned, accomplished Rabbanim who know how to handle sophisticated questions and have wisdom to share from their own journeys. Learn more about them all below:

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION

Rav Yehuda Susman

Rosh HaYeshiva

Rav Yehuda Susman

Semicha Rabanut HaRashit L’Yisrael/RIETS, BA Computer Science, Philosophy, Yeshiva University.

Rav Susman spent the first twelve years of his post high school education studying at Yeshivat Har Etzion, serving in the IDF tank corps, earning a BA in Computer Science and Philosophy from YU and receiving his semicha from both YU and the Rabbanut. He later added an MA in Talmud from Bar Ilan. He was the Rosh Kollel Torah MiTzion in Chicago where he was active in the formation of Beit Midrash programs on the University of Chicago and Northwestern campuses – returning to Israel to devote himself to the establishment of Yeshivat Eretz HaTzvi.

Rav Benny Pflanzer

Educational Director

Rav Benny Pflanzer

BSc, Engineering Michlala L’Minhal Yerushalayim, MA equiv. Education Machon Gavoha Merchavim, Yerushayim.

Born in Yerushalayim, Rav Benny left a management position in one of the city’s largest construction companies to enter Jewish education. He was in the Kollel in Chicago and has taught at Ida Crown Jewish Academy, Yeshivat Reishit Yerushalayim and Yeshivat Bnei Akiva in Yerushalayim. He volunteers with Magen David Adom and was awarded a Medal of Honor as a commander in the IDF.

FACULTY

Rav Yehuda Susman

Rosh HaYeshiva

Rav Yehuda Susman

Semicha Rabanut HaRashit L’Yisrael/RIETS, BA Computer Science, Philosophy, Yeshiva University.

Prof. Aaron Katchen

Jewish History

Prof. Aaron Katchen

B.A., Brooklyn College, Phd Harvard University

Prof. Katchen’s impressive university background attracts our students to his popular course of Major Moments in Post-Biblical Jewish History. His wide-ranging intellectual and academic interests and knowledge enable him to enjoy the culture of Israel more than the average oleh. He takes great pleasure in his children and grandchildren and the thrill of participating in the annual ALYN charity bike-ride.

Rav Alex Israel

Tanach and Machshava

Rav Alex Israel

Semicha Yeshivat Har Etzion, BA Computer Studies and Education, London University

Rav Alex Israel teaches Tanakh at Yeshivat Eretz HaTzvi, Midreshet Lindenbaum and Matan. Born and raised in London, Rav Alex moved to Israel in 1991 and gained rabbinic ordination from the Israeli Chief Rabbinate following several years of study at Yeshivat Har Etzion. Rav Alex holds degrees from London School of Economics, the Institute of Education, London, and Bar Ilan University. His first book “I Kings – Torn in Two” was published in 2013 to great acclaim, and its companion volume “II Kings – In a Whirlwind” in 2019. See his shiurim and his weekly “Parsha Discussion” at www.alexisrael.org. Rav Alex has lectured widely at campuses and communities on five continents.

Hakham Joseph Harari

Halacha, Department Head – Sephardic Studies

Hakham Joseph Harari

Yeshivat Har Etzion

Hakham Harari is the Department Head for Sephardic Studies. His shiurim are attended and loved by both Sephardim and Ashkenazim alike. A graduate of Yeshivat Har Etzion, he has spent much of his life active in various Synagogues and educational projects in the Syrian Jewish communities of Brooklyn and Yerushalayim, including co-founding iLead. He made aliya in 1999, and has been teaching at Eretz Hatzvi since 2005.

Rav David Ebner

Rosh Yeshiva - Emeritus

Rav David Ebner

Semicha RIETS, PhD Yeshiva University.

Rav Ebner is known throughout Israel as one of the most inspiring senior educators. He taught for over twenty years as a Rosh Yeshiva and Mashgiach Ruchani in Yeshivat HaMivtar. He served as an Assistant Professor of Sociology as well as the Assistant Director of the Institute for Jewish life of UJC before his aliya in 1982. He was one of the founders of ATID and served as one of its Senior Mentors. He is the author of three collections of poetry: The Library of Everything, Perhaps This Poem and Dance Words.

Rav Benny Pflanzer

Educational Director

Rav Benny Pflanzer

BSc, Engineering Michlala L’Minhal Yerushalayim, MA equiv. Education Machon Gavoha Merchavim, Yerushayim.

Rav Todd (Tuvia) Berman

Machshava and Halacha, Director of Institutional Advancement

Rav Todd (Tuvia) Berman

Semicha Yeshivat HaMivtar, Yeshivat Har Etzion, B.S. Computer Science Columbia University, Graduate Studies Jewish History, Harvard University.

Rav Berman has held numerous posts in education from the high school level through adult education. He founded the Jewish Learning Initiative (JLI) at Brandeis University and served as rabbinic advisor to the Orthodox community there for several years. Previously, he was a RaM at Midreshet Lindenbaum where he also served as the Rav of the dormitory.

Rav Aviad Tabory

Gemara, Department Head Halacha

Rav Aviad Tabory

Semicha Chief Rabbinate of Israel, Har Etzion, Or Etzion, Herzog College

Rav Tabory studied in Yeshivat Or Etzion and Har Etzion. He served as Rav Shaliach for Bnei Akiva in the UK and was the founding rabbi of Kehillat Alei Tzion in London. He was one of the founders and Director of Moshava’s Mach Hach Hesder program. He has written and edited several books. He has been Rosh Beit Midrash at Camp Stone, Rav on Machal, TVI, and Moshava IO. Rav Aviad served in IDF Tank Corps.

Rav Simon Levy

Gemara, Tanach, and Director of Recruitment

Rav Simon Levy

MA Jewish Education, University of London; Semikha under the auspices of Rabbi Brovender

As well as teaching in both the mornings and afternoons, Rav Simon directs recruitment of students to the yeshiva. He has extensive experience in informal education in the UK and Israel, having served as Mazkir (National Head) of Bnei Akiva UK, an educational consultant at the National Library of Israel, and an Educational Programme Director at the Shabbat Project. He has edited various educational publications, writes, and regularly teaches in various forums. Since making Aliya in 2012, Rav Simon lives with his wife Lauren and children in Modiin, where they co-founded a new community, Darchei Tzion, which now numbers 150 families. He has semikha from Rav Hayim Brovender, and is obsessed with the 2nd Temple era.

Rav Aryeh Sklar

Ra"m

Rav Aryeh Sklar

RIETS semicha, BA, MA in Jewish Philosophy, Yeshiva University

Rav Aryeh is from New York and spent three years studying at Yeshivat Yesodei HaTorah in Moshav Zanoach, with a focus on skills-based Jewish education. He continued to Yeshiva University, where he received a BA in English Literature and an MA in Jewish Philosophy from the Bernard Revel School for Jewish Studies, and semicha from Yeshiva University's RIETS. He lives in Katamon, Jerusalem, with his wife Michal and their two cute boys, Avichai and Itai.

Rav Alex Israel

Tanach and Machshava

Rav Alex Israel

Semicha Yeshivat Har Etzion, BA Computer Studies and Education, London University

Hakham Joseph Harari

Halacha, Department Head – Sephardic Studies

Hakham Joseph Harari

Yeshivat Har Etzion

Prof. Aaron Katchen

Jewish History

Prof. Aaron Katchen

B.A., Brooklyn College, Phd Harvard University

Rav Noam Hayman

Ra"M

Rav Noam Hayman

Originally from Sydney, Australia, Rav Noam’s yeshiva journey began with two incredible years at Yeshivat Har Etzion (Gush) as part of the MTA program. Upon return to Sydney, he became deeply involved in the local Jewish community, contributing to Bnei Akiva, Mizrachi Synagogue, and Mount Sinai College over many years. After making aliyah, leaving education, and getting married, it’s a privilege for him to return to the world of chinuch with Yeshivat Eretz Hatzvi, where Rav Noam is excited to help prepare the next generation of community leaders — hopefully with a few bad puns along the way. He is part of the night seder tzevet where he aims to create strong bonds with the talmidim and guide them for life after yeshiva.

Rav Adin Rayman

Ra"m

Rav Adin Rayman

RIETS semicha, BA, MA Yeshiva University

Rav Adin Rayman is originally from Teaneck New Jersey. His first Yeshiva experience was at Yeshivat Har Etzion (Gush), after which he attended Yeshiva University for his undergraduate degree in English Literature, graduate studies in Medieval Jewish History, and ordination from RIETS. He lived in Riverdale, New York for 10 years, during which time he taught Tanakh and Gemara at SAR High School and oversaw the youth and teen programming at multiple Batei Knesset. He has spent his summers recently teaching Torah and leading the Morim Tzevet at Bnei Akiva's Camp Moshava IO. Rav Adin and his family made Aliyah in August 2024, and he lives with his wife Chaya and three children in Modiin.

Rav Eli Weinberger

Ra"M Director of Night Seder

Rav Eli Weinberger

Rav Eli lives in Givat Mordecai. He is married to Rena and father of Bnaya. He is head of the night Seder program, as well as teaching during the day at Pelech high school for boys. He enjoys hiking, and making music on a number of exotic instruments.

Rav Akiva Green

Ra"m

Rav Akiva Green

Yeshivat Hesder Efrat, Eretz Hemda Yadin Yadin,

Rav Akiva grew up in Raanana, where his parents settled after making Aliyah from Canada. He pursued his Torah studies at the Hesder Yeshiva in Efrat and continued at Eretz Hemda, where he received Yadin Yadin Semicha. Currently, Rav Akiva is a PhD student specializing in experimental nuclear astrophysics. He lives in Har Homa, Jerusalem, with his wife Vered, an occupational therapist, and their six children.

Rav Kalman Flaks

Lecturer, Tiyulim, and Ruach

Rav Kalman Flaks

Rav Kalman comes from Brooklyn, New York, and made Aliyah 19 years ago! He lives in Rechavia with his wife and 2 children. His passions include dancing at the kotel, teaching torah, leading inspiring tours, hosting huge shabbos meals and partaking in intense games of ultimate frisbee. He can't wait to meet you!

Rav Eli Steier

Night Seder

Rav Eli Steier

B.A. and M.A.T. from SUNY Stony Brook, Semikha Machon Smicha

Rabbi Steier was born and raised in Queens, New York. With thanks to Hashem, in 2023, he and the beautiful family Hashem blessed him with made aliyah from the city that doesn't sleep to the city that does (on Shabbos)- the holy city of Jerusalem! Prior to making aliyah, Rabbi Steier worked at SAR High School, where he learned so much from his students. Rabbi Steier is the founder of Whole Heart Torah and is passionate about Hashem, Torah, and Jewish Meditation. Additionally, he is a big fan of singing, ultimate frisbee, and corny jokes. Rabbi Steier is excited to be part of the night seder team!

Rav Rafi Davis

Night Seder

Rav Rafi Davis

B.A. University of Leeds

Rav Rafi grew up in London, attending Yeshivat Hakotel in 5781 after finishing studying at Hasmonean High School. Alongside his studies in Philosophy, Politics & Economics at the University of Leeds, Rafi has been heavily involved in informal education through Bnei Akiva, Mizrachi UK's Yehudi programme, and madrich roles on Israel and Poland trips. Having spent 5785 as Bnei Akiva UK's Chinuch Director, Rafi recently made aliyah in August 2025 to continue to share his passion for Torah. In his spare time, Rafi enjoys sampling Yerushalayim's finest sefarim stores and bakeries, as well as cooking and running.

GENERAL ADMINISTRATION

Mrs. Karen Perets

Office Administrator

Mrs. Karen Perets

Karen holds a degree in Journalism from Rhodes University in South Africa. She brings years of experience in communications, content creation, and program coordination, having worked with educational and community-focused organizations. Karen is excited to be part of Eretz HaTzvi, where she combines her professional skills with her passion for Jewish education and community life.

Avichayil Dayag

Program Director

Avichayil Dayag

Yeshivat Hesder Meir Harel Modiin, Hesder, Talpiot college B.Ed., Bar Ilan University MBA (finance specialty)

Avichayil grew up in the community of Givat Ze’ev to an English-speaking family (his father is from Australia and his mother from England). He is married to Eliana and father of Emanuel and Re’i. Avichayil served in Golani brigade where he became an officer and serves in the reserves until today. He has worked and coordinated many non-formal education programs such as Birthright, IST and TJJ and worked for the finance ministry. Avichayil is always looking forward to going on another tiyul with the guys and enjoying the amazing scenery of our beautiful country.

Rav Avraham Bronstein

Director of Development

Rav Avraham Bronstein

Semicha, RIETS BA Computer Science, Yeshiva University

Rav Avraham Bronstein served as Associate Rabbi of The Hampton Synagogue in Westhampton Beach, NY from 2006-2011, and then as Rabbi from 2017-2025, where he played an leading role in the community's growth as well as the synagogue's programming and administration. Notably, he coordinated the development of the synagogue's cable television productions on JBS-Jewish Broadcasting Service, including an annual Author Discussion Series that he hosted and moderated. His op-ed writings on the intersection of Jewish thought and contemporary politics have been featured in the Forward, Jerusalem Post, JTA, Haaretz, and Times of Israel. Rabbi Bronstein and his wife, Dani, made aliyah in 2025 and currently reside in Modiin.