Rebbetzin Chaya (Holly) Pavlov

Rebbetzin Chaya (Holly) Pavlov,

an outstanding Jewish educator with over 35 years of experience. 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 Pavlov published works include Mirrors of Our Lives: Reflections of Women in Tanach, which discusses the lessons a modern woman can learn from the personalities, life experiences and struggles of our matriarchs.  In Water From the Well, Reflections on Being Jewish at the End of History   Rebbetzin Pavlov explores the experiences, struggles and triumphs of our forefathers and the inspiration we can gain for living our lives as Jews today.

Rebbetzin Malka Kaganoff

Rebbetzin Malka Kaganoff,

originally from Long Island, NY, graduated from Queens College N.Y. in 1975 with a BA in Biology Education. After receiving an MA in Science Education in 1976, she began teaching Jewish Studies in the US. In 1993 she published Dear Kallah, a handbook on marital harmony for brides. After making aliyah from Baltimore in 1997, Rebbetzin Kaganoff began teaching Chumash, Parshat HaShavua, Prophets, and philosophy of Rambam at She'arim. She teaches a class entitled "New Hats, New Roles".to our newly married students  In 2000, she became the Educational Director of She’arim. She is a much sought after lecturer and columnist .

Rabbi Yirmiyohu Kaganoff

Rabbi Yirmiyohu Kaganoff

Born in Washington, D.C., and raised in New York City, Rabbi Yirmiyohu Kaganoff attended Ner Israel Rabbinical College in Baltimore, MD, from where he received a Bachelor’s degree in 1976, Semicha in 1977 and a Doctorate in Talmudic Law in 1981.

In August of ’82 he assumed the rabbinate of the Young Israel of Greater Buffalo, a position he held until ’86. He also was the founding Rabbinic Administrator of the Vaad HaKashrus of Buffalo, a community organization that maintains the highest standards of kashrus.

In August of ’86 Rabbi Kaganoff and his family returned to Baltimore where he became the Rabbi of Congregation Darchei Tzedek and also served as a dayan (rabbinic judge) on the Beis Din of Baltimore.

The Kaganoffs made aliyah in 1997, where they live in the Neve Yaakov neighborhood of Jerusalem. Rabbi Kaganoff has written eight books, and he is the author of hundreds of articles on Rabbinic scholarship, both in English and Hebrew. He also writes a weekly email on halachic issues pertinent to the parasha. Rabbi Kaganoff is married and the father of nine children and has many grandchildren.

Rebbetzin Gitty Appell

Rebbetzin Gitty Appell,

originally from New York, graduated from Touro College in NY with a BA in Jewish Studies. In 1979 she moved to Israel where she received her advanced educational certification from Michlalah College for Women in Jerusalem. She has been teaching Chumash, Prayer and Maharal at She'arim since its inception.

Mrs. Lynn Finson

Mrs. Lynn Finson,

served as the Educational Director of Midreshet Rachel from 1995 - 2013. In that capacity she guided both the educational curriculum and the spiritual and personal growth of the student body. She completed a Master's of Science in Counseling at Hunter College in New York. Her early work as a guidance counselor and teacher at Yeshiva University High School and college guidance counselor at Bruriah High School in Elizabeth, NJ, allowed her to combine innovative educational programming with counseling strategies to enable every student's personal growth.  Mrs. Finson was greatly influenced by the philosophy of HaGaon Rav Yisroel Ze'ev Gustman, zt"l, with whom she formed a talmida relationship during an early visit to Israel in 1979.  R. Gustman's message of drawing students in with closeness and acceptance has been the guiding force in her teaching and counseling.

Mrs. Sandie Freishtat

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.  Mrs. Freishtat began learning at She’arim when the school opened and became a tutor and dorm coordinator a few years later. Now she is She'arim's Director of Admissions. Mrs. Freishtat is a certified life coach and is available to She'arim alumnae via phone, email or even better in person!  She is the proud mother of 8 and grandmother of many.

Rebbetzin Barbara Friedman

Rebbetzin Barbara Friedman 

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. She finished her education with graduate work in Jewish Studies at Bernard Revel Graduate School for Jewish Studies of Yeshiva University. Rebbetzin Friedman has taught at Midreshet Lindenbaum, Neve and Bnos Chava. At She'arim she teaches Chumash, Prayer and Jewish Thought. 

Rebbetzin Diane Liff

Rebbetzin Diane Liff,

studied in Michlala College for Women in Jerusalem. She worked as a graphic artist for Targum Press for 18 years. During that time, she pursued her passion for learning Torah under the tutelage of Rav Nachman Bulman, zt”l, and Rebbetzin Esther Kitov. Originally from Burlington, Vermont, she has lived in Israel for the past 38 years. After working many years as a graphic artist, she turned her passion into another career, and began teaching young women in seminary. She has been a loved and respected member of the She’arim staff ever since.

Rabbi Avraham Priel

Rabbi Avraham Priel,

was born in Jerusalem and ordained as a rabbi here. He graduated from Yeshivat Kerem B’Yavneh, a hesder yeshiva with a rabbinical and military program. He has a Master’s Degree in Jewish studies from Moreshet Yaakov College.Rabbi Priel has served in both Israel and the US in various rabbinical positions. He has also served as a cantor in Ashkenazi, Sefardi and Yeminite communities. Rabbi Priel is a member of the Sefardic Rabbinical Council of America in Brooklyn. In his last position in the US, Rabbi Priel served as a pulpit Rabbi at the Sefardic Synagogue of Fifth Avenue in New York City for over ten years. He was the founder, Rabbi and Director of Midrash Yosef Shalom located in Park East Synagogue in New York City. The Beit Midrash was established in loving memory of his late father, Rabbi Yosef Shalom ZT”L. For more information see www.mymidrash.org  Now, back in Israel with his family, Rabbi Priel is teaching Sefardi halacha and other classes at She’arim and is teaching in a number of other synagogues and communities throughout Israel.

Rebbetzin Shoshana Raff

Rebbetzin Shoshana Raff,

made aliyah from New York with her family while still a small child. She has a degree in  special education and Tanach from Michlalah College for Women in Jerusalem. Rebbetzin Raff has been teaching Prophets and Chumash at She’arim since 1994 and serves as a mentor and liaison to shadchaniot for our students who seek shidduchim.

Mrs. Nathalia Rottman

Rebbetzin Riva Sperling

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

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 Brovender's (Midreshet Lindenbaum). Rebbetzin Tavin has been teaching Women in Tanach, Megillot, Mussar, Hashkafa and Bein Adam L'Chavero at She'arim since 1995. She is the Student Adviser for the Taste of Torah program at She'arim. Rebbetzin Tavin has taught in a training course for Jewish Diaspora Outreach professionals at Ner L'Elef. She is often invited to lecture to various groups in Jerusalem.

Rabbi Moishe Yoselevitz

Rabbi Moishe Yoselevitz,

originally from Mexico City, came to Jerusalem over twenty years ago. After learning at the Mir Yeshiva for many years, he continued his studies, specializing in Halacha (Jewish Law) in depth for over nine years. He received Rabbinical Ordination from various leading Jerusalem Rabbis. Rabbi Yoselevitz has been teaching for ten 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). Rabbi Yoselevitz teaches Halacha at She'arim.