Our Spiritual Leadership
Rabbi Adam Frank
Rabbi Adam Frank was born and raised in a Zionist, non-observant household in Atlanta, GA. Profoundly, his parents gave Adam and his brothers (Joshua, Aaron and Isaac) biblical names, and a weekend with Rabbi Yitz Greenberg inspired his parents to send their children to Jewish day school. While he was in second grade, Adam's parents decided to keep a kosher home and Friday night Shabbat dinners became the norm. Upon entering public high school, Shabbat dinners gave way to Adam's participation in football, basketball and baseball games for the Raiders of Riverwood High. The choice of Emory University allowed Adam to stay in Atlanta to attend the wrestling matches and golf tournaments of his brothers. While at Emory, Adam was elected captain of the school's varsity basketball team. Post-college, Adam worked in his father's chemical and equipment manufacturing firm for 4 years. Adam traveled to Israel several times during his early adult years and in 1993 he left his family's company for the WUJS year program in Israel. Upon return to the U.S., Adam pursued a master's degree in Jewish education at the University of Judaism (now AJU) in Los Angeles. Eventually, he entered the institution's Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies and was part of the school's first ordination class in 1999. Adam's first work after seminary was as director of Ramah Darom's year-round Jewish retreat center. In the summer of 2001, Adam came to Israel in response to the increased terrorist activity against the country. Rabbi Frank is married to Lynne Weinstein and they are blessed with children Nadav (Oct. '03), Ella (Apr. '05) and Tamar (Aug. '08). Since 2005, Rabbi Frank has been engaged as the third rabbi in the history of Congregation Moreshet Yisrael.
Rabbi Frank can be reached at:haravbk@netvision.net.il
Rabbi Frank's weblog: click here
Rabbi Frank can be reached at:haravbk@netvision.net.il
Rabbi Frank's weblog: click here
Shlichat Tzibbur Ahuva Batz
I was born in Israel and completed army service in 1981. In 1986 I completed my degree in acting at Beit Tzvi, School for Theatre Arts and worked in the theatre for a number of years before moving into the field of psychodrama and work as a therapist. I studied Torah and Gemara at various b'tei midrash for women, including JGS and Kolot and learned with Zalman Schachter for several years while living in Boulder, Colorado. After two years of studies at Tal Torah, I joined Tal Torah’s staff in 2005 and teach cantillation in the Bat Mitzvah Program. I lead services at Tal Torah and at Moreshet Yisrael Beit Knesset, in Jerusalem. I have three children and I live in Jerusalem.
Ahuva can be reached at:ahuva.batz@gmail.com
Ahuva can be reached at:ahuva.batz@gmail.com
Rabbi Hillel Lavery-Yisraeli
Rabbi Hillel Ḥayyim Lavery-Yisraeli grew up in Vancouver, BC (Canada).
He attended yeshiva and college in Skokie, Illinois (USA) before making
aliyah in 1996 and enrolling in Yeshivat Mercaz Harav in Jerusalem. A
year later, he received semikhah (ordination) from a representative of
the Jerusalem Rabbinate Bet Din. He continued learning at Mercaz Harav
and at a kollel in the Old City of Jerusalem, and studied Jewish
Philosophy at Bar Ilan University. Though he attended Orthodox
yeshivot, through continued research and investigation Reb Hillel
realized that a Masorti approach was more faithful to classical
Judaism. He felt that values such as egalitarianism, pluralism, and
lifestyle diversity were essential for a Torah-true society. He began
teaching at the Conservative Yeshiva in Jerusalem, and became the rabbi
of Masorti congregations in Netanya. In 2011 he left Netanya to become a
full-time Talmud teacher at the Conservative Yeshiva, and accepted
various roles at our synagogue. He runs our weekday morning minyan and
our Shabbat afternoon Se'udah Shelishit program.
Reb Hillel is married to Yonah, an artist (www.TalmudComics.net), and has three small children: Merḥavyah, Yeshayahu and Shelomoh.
Reb Hillel can be reached at rabbi@jewishwisdom.co.il
Reb Hillel is married to Yonah, an artist (www.TalmudComics.net), and has three small children: Merḥavyah, Yeshayahu and Shelomoh.
Reb Hillel can be reached at rabbi@jewishwisdom.co.il
Rabbi Shlomo Zacharow
If you walk down Agron Street on a weekday morning at 6:45am, rain or shine, you can usually find Rabbi Shlomo Zacharow opening up the building for the synagogue's daily minyan. Leading prayers, reading torah, delivering d'rashot (brief words of Torah) and greeting regulars and visitors are all part of the daily ritual. Following services, he can be found next door, where he teaches at the Conservative Yeshiva.
Rabbi Zacharow received his MA and Rabbinic ordination from the Schechter Institute of Jewish Studies. He grew up in Trumbull, Connecticut, where he was President of his USY chapter. After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania, he made aliyah to Israel in 1991 and served in the IDF. He lives in Jerusalem with his lovely wife, Dafniella Atzil and their son Hananel.
Rabbi Shlomo Zacharow can be reached at:stevenz@netvision.net.il
Rabbi Zacharow received his MA and Rabbinic ordination from the Schechter Institute of Jewish Studies. He grew up in Trumbull, Connecticut, where he was President of his USY chapter. After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania, he made aliyah to Israel in 1991 and served in the IDF. He lives in Jerusalem with his lovely wife, Dafniella Atzil and their son Hananel.
Rabbi Shlomo Zacharow can be reached at:stevenz@netvision.net.il
