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 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.

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 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 Alex Israel

Tanach and Machshava

Rav Alex Israel

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

Rav Mordechai Friedman

Gemara and Machshava, Director of College Preparatory Program

Rav Mordechai Friedman

Semicha RIETS, BA, MA Medieval Jewish History, Yeshiva University

Rav Mordy received his BA, MA and semicha from Yeshiva University as well as teacher certification from Machon Herzog. His 4-year experience as the JLIC rabbi at the University of Pennsylvania inspired him to become an expert in preparing students for the college experience. Rav Mordy also specializes in issues of social justice and siddur.

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 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 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.

Moshe Akselrud

Ra"M

Moshe Akselrud

Moshe lives in Jerusalem with his wife on the Machon Lev campus. He is currently studying in Machon Lev towards a B.A in Business Administration.

Binyamin Kupietzky

Av Bayit

Binyamin Kupietzky

Yeshivat Birkat Moshe

Binyamin attended Chorev yeshiva high school before learning in Yeshivat Birkat Moshe, Ma’aleh Adumim. He grew up in an anglo family in Sharei Chessed, Jerusalem. Binyamin drafted into the combat engineer corps and still serves there as a reservist. He is married to Zaria.

Micha’el Shloush

Head Madrich

Micha’el Shloush

Smicha studies in YU/Gruss, Machon Lev

Micha'el is from Manhattan where he attended MTA, spent two years in learning in Kerem B'Yavneh, and is now finishing up his Business degree in Machon Lev. He is also studying in the Gruss Kollel. Micha'el is passionate about Eretz Yisrael and is eager to aid the talmidim of Eretz Hatzvi in both their everyday needs, and in their Avodat Hashem.

Bentzi Gottesman

Ra"m

Bentzi Gottesman

Bentzi was born and raised in Israel, thanks to his dad who made aliyah over 30 years ago and met his mom here in Israel. Last year he was a Madrich at Eretz, and this year he is part of the night seder staff. He had the privilege to learn for over five years in Yeshivot (Yeruham and Otniel) and to serve as a combat soldier in the Paratroopers. Bentzi has a first degree in education and is currently studying towards a Masters in Social Work

GENERAL ADMINISTRATION

Mrs. Shulamith Teitz Ebner

Director of Administration

Mrs. Shulamith Teitz Ebner

BA, Barnard College, JD NYU Law School.

A graduate of Barnard College with a degree in literature and creative writing, Mrs. Ebner proceeded to NYU Law School and worked as house counsel for Time-Warner Inc. She changed course and became executive director of the Elizabeth, NJ Jewish community for 12 years until her aliyah in 1996. Today her energy is devoted to Eretz HaTzvi, Torah studies, reading and entertaining students, family and friends.

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.

Noam Spira

Social Worker and Administrative Assistant

Noam Spira

Psychology and Counseling, CUNY Queens College; Masters; Licensed Social Worker

Noam Spira studied Psychology and Counseling at CUNY Queens College and earned his masters here in Israel where he is a Licensed Social Worker. During his training he worked as a psychotherapist at a Jerusalem Ministry of Health clinic as well as a retirement village right outside the city. For the last 3 years Noam has been working with gap-year and yeshiva students during their very special year of self growth and development.