She'arim Staff
One of the most notable aspects of She’arim is its close-knit, comfortable and familial environment. The staff and students at She’arim form a close and supportive community which continues even after students leave She’arim and become alumnae.
She’arim Staff
She’arim’s faculty is comprised of a broad range of experienced educators with diverse backgrounds. Their knowledge of Torah combined with their caring attitude allow students to learn and grow in a warm and supportive environment.
Rebbetzin Holly Pavlov is an outstanding Jewish educator with over 30 years of experience in the field. She has an international reputation as a lecturer on Midrash, Jewish Philosophy and Ethics, and a keen expertise in teaching textual skills.
In 1994, Rebbetzin Pavlov founded She'arim College of Jewish Studies for Women. Recognizing the need of today's women to learn in an intimate environment that challenges them intellectually and fosters spiritual growth, she assembled a group of dedicated rabbis and teachers who shared her vision. Her wholehearted dedication to her students creates the special atmosphere for which She'arim is famous.
Rebbetzin Malka Kaganoff, originally from Long Island, NY graduated from Queens College of the City of New York with a BA in Biology Education in 1975. After receiving an MA in Science Education in 1976, she began teaching Jewish Studies in the US. She published Dear Kallah, a handbook on marital harmony for brides, in 1993. After making aliyah from Baltimore in 1997, Rebbetzin Kaganoff began teaching Chumash, Parshat HaShavua, Prophets, and philosophy of Rambam at She'arim. In 2000, she became the Educational Director of She’arim. She is a much sought after lecturer and a columnist for Horizons Magazine.
Rebbetzin Gitty Appell, originally from New York, moved to Israel in 1979. She graduated from Touro College in NY with a BA in Jewish Studies. She also received her morah lebichira (advanced certification) from Michlalah College for Women in Jerusalem. She has been teaching Chumash, Prayer and Maharal at She'arim since its inception. She has been a housemother at Neve College in Jerusalem since 1990.
Rebbetzin Rivi Brussel, originally from Elizabeth, NJ, received her BA in Psychology from Barnard College, NY in 1980 and a Masters degree in Jewish History from Touro College, NY in 1984. She has been doing pre-marital counseling since she and her husband made aliyah in 1985. Rebbetzin Brussel has been teaching classes in Interpersonal Relationships and Shalom Bayit at She'arim since its founding in 1994. In 2001, she founded the Chen Institute, a multi-faceted resource project that offers newly married women from overseas the resources, skills and connections needed to build a strong, healthy Jewish home in Israel.
Rabbi Alexander Cohen, originally from Montreal, Canada came to Israel in 1994. Rabbi Cohen learned at Yeshivas Netivos Oylom with Rav Brook in Bnei Brak, and also Yeshivas Orayaso with Rav Moshe Dissler. He continued with Ohel Naftali Rabbinical college with Rav Shaul Waysman in Bnei Brak. Rabbi Cohen teaches our Sephardic Halacha classes.
Rabbi Yosef Cowen holds a BA in History and an Honors degree in Law from the University of Queensland in Australia. After working for a couple of years, Rabbi Cowen decided to give up his promising career in law and attend yeshiva instead. After 3 years in Yeshivat Ohr Somayach, Rabbi Cowen moved to kollel and has now been learning in various kollels for over 20 years. Rabbi Cowen has learned from such luminaries as Rav Moshe Aharon Shtern and HaGaon Rav Shimshon Pincus. Taught in Meor Bais Yaakov, Tomer Devorah and Yeshivat Torat Chaim and now a level head at Neve Yerushalayim. Rabbi Cowen teaches Parshat HaShavua, Jewish History and Tefilla at She’arim.
Mrs. Sandie Freishtat, originally from Wilkes Barre, Pa., earned her B.A. in history from Stern College for Women. After spending a year learning in Israel in 1978, she married and teamed up with her musician husband to write and produce a series of popular children's CDs. The "Let's Sing" series, beginning with "Let's Sing the Aleph Bais", and including the Chanuka disk "It's a Miracle" were produced in New York, and the holiday albums "Let's Sing the Seder" and "Let's Sing in the Succah" were produced in Israel after the Freishtats made Aliya in 1985. Sandie has been the dorm coordinator and level 2 tutor at She'arim for 9 years.
Rebbetzin Barbara Friedman was raised in New York and studied at Yeshiva University (Stern College For Women), where she received a degree in Jewish Studies, History and Political Science. At She'arim she teaches Chumash, Meaning of Prayer and Jewish Thought.
Rebbetzin Rachel Hershberg, from Palo Alto, California, received a BA in Religion from Columbia University in 1992. After making aliyah in 1995 she studied at Midreshet Rachel and Nishmat, and was a Fellow at Midreshet Moriah's Bogrot program. Mrs. Hershberg teaches in She'arim's Taste of Torah program and is a tutor for various levels. She teaches Jewish Calendar, Chumash and medieval philosophy.
Rabbi Chaim Levy has learned at the Lakewood Yeshiva, the Mirr Yeshiva in Jerusalem, as well as in the Bet Din Kollel of Rav David Yosef and Rav Ovadiah Yosef. He teaches the Sephardic text shiur to the Sephardic students of She'arim. With an Egyptian lineage, Rabbi Levy's education crosses cultural borders and gives him the added depth to help students find where they wish to go.
Rabbi Dov Nossel was born and raised in South Africa, where he graduated with a B.Sc. and M.D. After his medical internship he left one city of gold, Johannesburg, for another city of gold - Jerusalem. He spent 9 years at the Mirr and other renowned yeshivot, realizing his dream of full-time Torah study. Dov joined She'arim in 2002 where he began teaching Torah for the inspiration and beauty of a true Jewish life. Dov lives with his South African born wife and children in Mattersdorf, Jerusalem.
Rebbetzin Shoshana Raff, made aliyah from New York with her family while still a small child. She studied special education and Tanach at Michlalah College for Women in Jerusalem. Rebbetzin Raff has been teaching Prophets and Parshat HaShavu’a at She’arim from 1994 until the present. She also offers private pre-marital counseling.
Rabbi Yaniv Regev was born in Israel and lived there until the age of fifteen when his family moved to Montreal, Canada. Rabbi Regev, enrolled at nineteen into the Telshe Yeshiva in Cleveland, Ohio and became a close talmid of Rabbi Yisroel Brog, son-in-law of Rav Boruch Sorotzkin A"H. In July of 2006, Rabbi Regev followed his dream of returning to Israel with his wife and children where he continued to learn in Kollel. In the Fall of 2007 he began teaching at She'arim.
Rebbetzin Riva Sperling made aliyah in 1987 after completing her degree in Linguistics from Sydney University, Australia. In 1990, she received a teaching diploma from Michlalah College for Women in Jerusalem. She taught and coordinated student activities at Nishmat for eight years. Rebbetzin Sperling has been teaching Prophets, Chumash and Women in Tanach at She'arim since 1999.
Rebbetzin Chaya Tavin, originally from New Jersey, made aliyah in 1983 after receiving her BA in International Relations from John Hopkins University. From 1983-84, she studied at Brovenders (Bruria College for Women). Rebbetzin Tavin has been teaching Women in Tanach, Megillot, Mussar, Hashkafa and Bein Adam L'Chavero at She'arim since 1995. She has been the Coordinator of the Taste of Torah program since 1998. From 1999 until the present, Rebbetzin Tavin has been teaching a training course for Jewish Diaspora Outreach professionals at Ner L'Elef. She has been invited to lecture to various groups in Jerusalem.
Rabbi Moishe Yoselevitz teaches Halacha at She'arim. Rabbi Yoselevitz originally from Mexico City, came to Yerushalayim over 20 years ago. An alumni of the Mirr Yeshiva, he then went on to specialize in Halacha, which he has been studying in depth for over 9 years. He has Semicha from various leading Jerusalem Rabbis. Rabbi Yoselevitz has been teaching for 10 years in many places including Ohr Somayach's Spanish Speaking Program, Yeshivas Ner Chaim, Ayelet HaShachar Girls' Seminary, Centro Jerusalem Girls' Seminary, and Portenol (Spanish speaking women's organization).