Our Speakers - LPITorah

OUR SPEAKERS

R' Yaakov Klein

LPI Founder and Director

R’ Yaakov Klein is an author, musician, and lecturer devoted to sharing the inner light of Torah through his books, music, and lectures. R’ Yaakov is the author of “Sparks from Berditchov” and “Sunlight of Redemption” (Feldheim). His popular classes in a wide range of Chassidic and classical Jewish thought have been played tens of thousands of times by Jews across the globe who appreciate the depth, beauty, optimism, and relevance of the material as well as R’ Yaakov’s honest and engaging style.

In May 2020, R' Yaakov took his passion for Chassidus and penimiyus haTorah to the next level. Ahead of the release of his seminal work on Rebbe Nachman's "The Lost Princess" entitled "The Story of Our Lives", R' Yaakov founded the Lost Princess Initiative, an educational platform based on the primary messages of the book. Through its many projects and programs, this broad initiative seeks to provide a guiding compass to a generation searching for the "Lost Princess" - a Jewish experience bursting with feeling, connection, depth, beauty, expansiveness, and burning relevance.

HaRav Moshe Weinberger

Rabbinical Advisor

Rabbi Moshe Weinberger has served as Mashpia in Yeshiva University since 2013, and is the founding Morah d’Atra of Congregation Aish Kodesh in Woodmere, NY. Rabbi Weinberger is a noted speaker who draws upon a vast array of sources in his shiurim. The diverse currents of the Maharal, Ramchal, Ba’al Shem Tov, Vilna Gaon, Rabbi Tzadok HaKohen, Rebbe Nachman, the Ba’al HaTanya and others merge within him and are transmitted to countless Jews of all backgrounds thirsting for knowledge, inspiration and guidance. Rabbi Weinberger has also been intimately involved in Jewish education and outreach for almost thirty years. He has developed a library of shiurim on Tefillah, Chassidut, Hashkafa, Rabbi Kook’s Orot HaTeshuvah, and the sefarim of the Aish Kodesh, among others, that are listened to by men and women all over the world.

Our Speakers

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Rav Reuven Boshnack

Rabbi Reuven Boshnack is the Co-director of OU-JLIC at Brooklyn College, where he and his wife Shira have served the community of students, alumni and friends for the last 13 years. He received his semicha from the Rabbi Isaac Elchonon Theological Seminary, and holds a Masters in Education from the Azrieli graduate school of Jewish Education, a Masters in Mental Health Counseling from Touro College, and a Bachelors in Psychology from Yeshiva College. A talmid of Rav Moshe Weinberger, he has taught Chassidus, Jewish thought and Jewish Law for the last 20 years in Brooklyn, Boca Raton. His teachings reach a greater population through his weekly emails, articles in various journals and recorded Shiurim.

Rav Mordechai Burg

Prior to joining the Hanhala of Yeshivat Mevaseret, Rav Burg was one its outstanding Talmidim. Upon returning to the states, Rav Burg, a founding member at Lander College for Men, pursued his undergraduate and graduate degrees in Special Education and Judaic Studies. He learned in their Kollel and was a founding member of Kollel Elyon as well. Rav Burg earned his Semicha while learning B’Chavruta with Rav Yehuda Parnes, a world renowned Lamdan and Talmid Chacham. In 2008, Rav Burg made Aliyah. His warmth and innovation to motivate students come across in his deep, engaging and entertaining classes that span all areas of Torah, Tefillah, and Hashkafa along with contemporary Jewish life. He draws inspiration from the classic Rishonim, and includes a range of sources from Rav Samson Rafael Hirsch to the Tanya, Rebbe Nachman of Breslov, and the Lubavitcher Rebbe, as well as modern psychology. Rav Burg is a well sought after international speaker, invited by many affiliations to deliver inspiring and poignant lectures.

Rav Dov Ber Cohen

Rabbi Dov Ber Cohen spent six years living in Asia, immersing himself in local culture and delving deeply into Eastern philosophies. He eventually made his way to Israel, where he discovered the depth, beauty, and wisdom of his own religion. After walking the whole length of Israel in forty days to raise money for orphanages around the world, he made aliyah, got semichah, and is now a senior lecturer at Aish HaTorah World Center in Jerusalem.

Rav Yakov Danishefsky

Judaic Studies, Rabbinical Ordination and a Master’s degree in Jewish Philosophy at Yeshiva University. Rabbi Danisehfsky is a teacher at the Ida Crown Jewish Academy and a Clinical Intern at Insideout Living Inc., a private therapy practice in Evanston and Downtown Chicago. As a teacher and therapist, Yakov brings a blend of mind and heart through his warm, relatable, and sincere presence. After completing Rabbinical Ordination and a Master’s degree in Jewish Philosophy at Yeshiva University, Yakov is finishing a Master’s in Social Work. Yakov recently completed the Wexner Graduate Fellowship. Yakov dreams of becoming an Offensive Coordinator in the NFL and is currently the head boys Varsity basketball coach at Ida Crown. Yakov lives in Chicago with his wife, Dana, and three children, Baruch, Shalom, and Leah.

Shlomo Ari Gaisin

Shlomo serves as composer and singer for Zusha (Est. 2014), a band whose founding principle is that songs which emanate from the heart enter the heart. Zusha has released 4 studio albums to-date, weaving words of Torah that transcend beyond time with 21st century creativity and artistry. Shlomo has traveled to synagogues, college campuses, and music venues across the world, intermittently sharing stories and teachings of Tzadikim in order to truly ignite and uplift souls in Jewish song. Shortly after Covid struck, Shlomo decided to illuminate social media with his very first series of classes entitled “Tales of Tzadikim”. Shlomo currently lives in Monsey with his wife Chanalee.

Rav Baruch Gartner

A native of Baltimore, Rabbi Baruch Gartner laid down roots in Israel close to forty years ago and lives in Jerusalem surrounded by his children and many grandchildren.
For many years he was known as a master scribe and devoted his energy to intensive Torah study. By popular demand he founded Yeshivas Derech HaMelech, a place of higher learning geared towards spirituality. Rabbi Gartner currently helps numerous students and clients to strengthen their relationships, transcend self-defeating behaviors, succeed in the pursuit of their life-goals, and deepen their spiritual life. The four major personalities that formed his understanding of Kabbalah and Chassidut were HaRav Elazer Mordechai Kenig from Tzfat, HaRav Shmuel Moshe Kremer, HaRav Tzvi Meir Zilberberg and HaRav Mordechai Menashe Zilber.

Rav Moshe Gersht

Rabbi Moshe Gersht made aliyah from his home in Los Angeles nearly a decade ago, and now lives in Jerusalem with his wife and family. Moshe has spent years studying under Rabbi Beryl Gershenfeld, Rabbi Chaim Ilson, and Rabbi Asher Arieli, and his approach to Jewish thought is heavily influenced by the teachings of the Maharal, the Ramchal and the Chassidic masters. He is the author of "Succos Inspired".

Mrs. Shoshana Judelman

Shoshana Judelman is passionate about teaching Torah and Jewish History. She holds a BA in History from Union College (Schenectady, NY) and an MA in Jewish History from Columbia University (NY, NY). She is very grateful to have made Aliyah with her husband and 6 children to Efrat in 2013. Shoshana is the Women’s Mashpia of The Shlomo Katz Project- teaching Torah and Chassidus in Efrat as well as co-leading inspirational trips to Ukraine and around Eretz Yisroel for women. Shoshana has also been a guide at Yad Vashem since 2014.

Rav Mordechai Kaplan

Rav Mordechai received Semicha from RIETS and a BA in Psychology from Yeshiva University. His own passionate approach to spirituality sets a tone of powerful inspiration during tefilot. In addition, Rav Mordechai is a Tour Operator and runs tours throughout Israel for groups and families. He works with GEERZ mounting biking program and is involved in various programming for youth, both in Israel and abroad. Talmidim are attracted to Rav Mordechai’s sincerity, ruchniut, and warmth.

Rav Shlomo Katz

Rabbi Shlomo Katz is a world renowned musician. He has released seven albums, and has conducted numerous concert tours throughout the world. In the summer of 2006, Shlomo received his rabbinic ordination from Rabbi Chaim Brovender and Rabbi Shlomo Riskin at Yeshivat Hamivtar. While serving as the Rabbi of the ‘Shirat David’ community of Efrat, Shlomo continues to tour, teach and perform throughout the world, and has recently launched the Shlomo Katz Project - www.theshlomokatzproject.com. Shlomo lives in Efrat, with his wife Bina, and their four daughters.

Menachem Poznanski, LCSW

Menachem Poznanski, LCSW is director of The Living Room, a clubhouse for Jewish young adults in recovery from Alcoholism and Addiction. Menachem is co-author of Stepping out of the Abyss: A Jewish guide to the 12 steps (Mosaica, 2017) and the editor of both Consciously and The Light Revealed, two social media initiatives focused on the messages of Jewish recovery and spirituality. Menachem resides in Cedarhurst, NY with his wife Naomi and their children, Zoe and Tani.

Rav Moishe Schecter

Rabbi Moishe Schecter was born in Montreal, Canada and learned in South Fallsburg, New York, Brisk in Eretz Yisroel and Lakewood, where he received his smicha. Rabbi Schecter moved to Chicago in 1998 to do outreach, and has been a Rebbi in the Skokie Yeshiva since 2000. In 1999, along with 8 baalei batim, he founded Beis Medrash Mikor Hachaim in Chicago as a night seder program for college students and young professionals. Since then, the Beis Medrash has grown to a full service makom torah with minyanim and shiurim throughout the day and over 100 member families.

Rav Elchonon Shoff

Rabbi Elchanan Shoff is Rabbi of Beis Knesses of Los Angeles, also known as BKLA.
Rabbi Shoff also teaches at YULA Boys High School, and YULA Girls High School, and is a Professor of Jewish Philosophy and Judaic Studies at Touro College of Los Angeles. In the past, he was a Rebbe in Rabbi Shmuel Brazil’s Yeshivas Zeev Hatorah, Director of Educational Programming and a Senior Lecturer for Hineni International Programs (H.I.P), a Lecturer for Aish Hatorah, all in Jerusalem. He was ordained by Rabbi Noah Weinberg of Aish Hatorah, and by Rabbi Zalman Nehemia Goldberg, Chief Justice of the Supreme Rabbinical Court of Jerusalem. He was trained in Yeshiva Ateres Shmuel of Waterbury CT, under Rabbi Aharon Kaufman, and Rabbi Yitzchak Meir Fishman. He is the author of Vaani Bahashem Atzapeh (Jerusalem 2010) in Hebrew on Tehillim, Birchasa Vishirasa (Jerusalem 2012) in Hebrew on Meseches Brachos of the Babylonian Talmud, and Paradise: Breathtaking Strolls Through the Length and Breadth of Torah (Jerusalem 2012).

Rebbetzin Rochel Silber

Rebbetzin Rochel Silber has been teaching and counseling worldwide for more than 30 years. Born and educated in New York, she holds a BA in Mathematics from Queens College, City University of New York and a BA in Education from Esther Schonfeld Teachers Seminary, as well as being a certified reflexologist (Laura Norman School of Reflexology) and has completed her studies with Dr Brain Weiss in Past Life Regression Therapy, and has studied holistic nutrition, counseling and aromatherapy for the past 25 years. Rebbetzin Silber taught in the first Kiruv High School in America, Ezra Academy of Queens for 25 years before making Aliyah to Israel in 2001. Since then, she is a teacher at Neve Yerushalayim, Midreshet Tehilla Seminary, Yeshiva Simchat Shlomo and a host of other schools and seminary programs in Yerushalayim and Bait Shemesh. Rebbetzin Silber strives to help her students find their unique gifts in Torah learning and serving Hashem. She draws from the wellsprings of Chassidut in addition to all classical Torah sources. For many years, Rebbetzin Silber wrote a weekly article on the Parsha Portion of the week. These have evolved into weekly audio and video shiurim, available on WhatsApp and a private YouTube channel. She is available for private counseling sessions and can be reached at KolRena@gmail.com

Rav Dovid'l Weinberg

Rabbi Dovid'l Weinberg is a senior Ra"m for second year students at Yeshivat Orayta in Yerushalayim's Old City. Rav Dovid'l is a frequent guest lecturer at various yeshivos and seminaries in the greater Jerusalem area. He is the author of "Birth of the Spoken Word: Personal Prayer as the Goal of Creation" (tiny.cc/birth-of-the-spoken-word) and his original music can be heard at www.soundcloud.com/dovidl-weinberg. Rav Dovid'l and his wife Rina made aliyah 9 years ago and live in Ramot Bet with their three children: Noa, Akiva and Yonatan.

Rav Moshe Tzvi Weinberg

Rabbi Moshe Tzvi Weinberg currently teaches in Yeshiva University’s Irving I. Stone Beit Midrash Program (SBMP), where he also he serves as Mashgiach Ruchani. A graduate of Yeshiva University, Rabbi Weinberg received his semicha from Rabbi Zalman Nechemia Goldberg of Jerusalem and has also been certified by the Center for Integrated Teacher Education. Rabbi Weinberg has worked as Jewish educator for the past 16 years, and has previously taught at Torah Academy of Bergen County and the Moriah School of Englewood, before joining the Yeshiva University faculty eight years ago. He has served as a guest speaker and scholar in residence in Jewish communities and college campuses across the country. Most recently, he was appointed to the position of Mashpia at Congregation Beth Abraham, a 450 member shul in Bergenfield (NJ) where he lives with his family. Over 1,900 of his recorded shiurim appear on yutorah.org.

Rav Binyamin Weinrib

As a young community rav in America, experienced teacher, mentor and mashpia. Rabbi Weinrib has shared his passion and vision for Yiddishkeit with hundreds in America and Israel. A founder of the growing Kehilla Kedosha of Ramat Eshkol, his organizational skills and dynamism, together with shiurim for talmidim and baalei batim alike have been enthusiastically received.

Rabbi Weinrib is a talmid of Yeshiva of Philadelphia, Mir Yerushalayim and a musmach of Rav Yitzchok Berkowitz of Jerusalem Kollel.

Rav Shalom Yona Weiss

Rabbi Shalom Yona Weis is a dynamic, inspirational, humorous and engaging speaker that has spoken all around the world. Presently, Rabbis Weis lives with his wife and 4 children in Woodmere, NY and is an active, long standing member of Congregation Aish Kodesh as well as being involved in other community organizations such as serving on the board of Madraigos and Tsedek. He spent 4 years as an Outreach Director for college campuses in Queens and Long Island for Aish HaTorah, NY. Combining his life experiences, chassidic philosophy and human psychology, Rabbi Weiss' guidance has helped thousands find meaning, pleasure and beauty in their Jewish identities. He can be reached at sethweis123@gmail.com or 516-661-7401.

Rav Tal Moshe Zwecker

Formerly of Oceanside Long Island in New York, Rabbi Tal Moshe Zwecker is chassid and student of the Clevelander Rebbe of Ra'anana, Israel. After studying in Yeshiva and Kollel he received rabbinic ordination of Yore Yore from Rav Channen, a neighbor, Rebbe and close friend with whom he studied one on one. He has published a translation of the Noam Elimelech into English, a collection of essays on Jewish Meditation and hopes to publish the Kedushas Levi, a collection of essays on Pirkei Avos with a chassidic commentary and many more projects soon.

He currently resides in Ramat Bet Shemesh, Israel with his wife and children. A volunteer speaker and Maggid shiur in local RBS Shuls, he teaches classes and does guest speaking engagements on a variety of topics from Shabbos Drashos, Shalosh Seudos Torah, Chassidus, Mussar, Jewish Meditation and Topics in modern and contemporary Halacha.

Chaya Rivka Zwolinski

Chaya Rivka Zwolinski “discovered” Rebbe Nachman decades ago and credits his profound wisdom with helping her develop her life path. She loves sharing Breslov teachings with women in her classes and workshops so they too can benefit from these exciting, life-changing ideas. Chaya Rivka has written several books (Therapy Revolution-HCI, The Parent-Child Dance-Feldheim, and others) writes articles for Breslov.org, BreslovWoman.org, PsychCentral.com, HealthyJewishCooking.com, and numerous other publications; is a consultant to Breslov Research Institute and director of BRI Women it's women's program; and is the director of curriculum and program marketing at BreslovCampus.org. She leads tours for women to Uman with the BRI Uman Experience, and speaks in a variety of venues. Chaya Rivka lives in Brooklyn, NY.

Rabbi Kalman Worch

Rabbi Kalman Worch was born in Manchester, England and grew up in Brooklyn, New York. He studied in Yeshivos in the United States and Israel. In 2015 Rabbi Worch along with members of the Skokie community founded the Illinois Center for Jewish Studies. Besides teaching many different classes, Rabbi Worch is also working on multiple projects to benefit the Jewish People. This includes an English rendering of the B’nei Yissoschor, a classic Chassidic text. Rabbi Worch and his wife Sara live in Skokie, Illinois with their five children. Renowned as a community resource, Rabbi Worch is available to address your particular questions on Torah, Judaism, or life in general.

Rav Psachya Futterman

Rav Psachya studied at Yeshivas Beis Yisroel and the Mir yeshiva. He received his rabbinic ordination from Rabbi Yitzchak Berkowitz at The Jerusalem Kollel where he currently continues his studies. Born into a Carlebach and Breslov home, Rabbi Psachya bridges the mainstream yeshiva world with the soul and joy of chassidus. Rav Psachya loves connecting every Jew to an inspiring learning experience and facilitating their relationship to Hashem and His Torah.