KBY - Key Persons
Rav Aharon Friedman shlita was born in Yerushalayim in 5735. He studied in the Ma'arava Yeshiva High School. In 5752, he began his studies in the Hesder program at Yeshivat Kerem B'Yavneh. He served in the artillery during his army service, and he presently serves in the reserves as a Battalion Rabbi in the artillery corps. After his marriage, Rav Friedman continued his ...
Rav Ahron Silver was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, to a distinguished family of Rabbonim. He is a graduate of Yeshiva University, and received semicha, Yoreh Yoreh and Yadin Yadin, from Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (RIETS). He is a talmid of Rabbi J.B. Soloveitchik, zt"l, and of Rabbi Hershel Schachter, shlita, and received his derech halimud from them. He made aliya with his family in 1983 to Yeshivat Hesder Kiryat Shemonah, where he served as a Ram and gave shiurim in halacha for six years.
Rav Silver has been teaching in Yeshivat Kerem B'Yavneh since 1989, and has taught both overseas and Israeli students. His shiur emphasizes organization of the different opinions in the sugya, and a conceptual analysis of them based on the various approaches of the rishonim. He also gives halacha shiurim for the overseas students, and is available to the talmidim in the Beit Hamedrash most of the day.
Rav Menachem Mendel Blachman was born in Hamburg, Germany, and came to Chicago as a child. He learned in a Lubavitch High School, and then came to Israel to study in the Hevron ...
Originally from Silver Spring, MD, Rav Zuckerman spent two years learning at Yeshivat Shaalvim. He then learned at Yeshiva University for 11 years as a member of the Yeshiva Masmidim Honors Program, Wexner Semicha Honors Program, Wexner Kollel Elyon and finally as a shoel umeishiv. While there, he earned a B.A. in Philosophy, an M.A. in Jewish Philosophy, and semicha. Rav Zuckerman made aliyah with his family in 2019, joining the staff of Kerem B'Yavneh first as a shoel umeishiv and then as a Ram. He lives on campus and enjoys developing relationships with talmidim both in and out of shiur.
Rav Daniel, a Teaneck, NJ native, attended MTA high school and subsequently studied for two years in Kerem B'Yavneh under the tutelage of Rav Blachman. Rav Apfel continued his Torah studies at Mir Yeshiva in Yerushalayim where he was taught by renowned talmidei chachamim Rav Eitan Yoffen and Rav Asher Arieli. He concurrently completed a BSc in computer science at The Open University of Israel. Having made aliyah, he currently resides in Ramat Beit Shemesh gimmel with his family. Rav Apfel brings a fresh young presence to our night seder as he engages and assists our overseas students in their personal growth and Torah learning. In addition to answering questions and learning one-on-one with the boys, he gives in depth chaburot on sugyot being learned during the afternoon seder limud.
Job Titles:
- Main Staff Member
- Program Director
Rav David Zahtz grew up in Jamaica Estates, NY. After attending MTA for high school, he studied with his rebbe, Rav Menachem Mendel Blachman, at Kerem B'Yavneh for two years. He then returned to Yeshiva University to learn under Rav Mayer Twersky and to finish a degree in Psychology. Immediately upon finishing his BA, Rav Zahtz joined the semicha program at RIETS, learning first in New York and later in the Yerushalayim campus. There, under the guidance of Rabbi Dovid Miller and Rabbi Assaf Bednarsh, Rav Zahtz earned semicha from RIETS; and Rav Zalman Nechemia Goldberg, Av Beis Din in Jerusalem.
Even prior to his formal aliyah, Rav Zahtz maintained an extremely close relationship with KBY. Since the fall of 2008, Rav Zahtz and his family have lived on campus and served on the staff of sganei mashgichim. Rav Zahtz's warm and engaging personality has allowed him to establish close relationships with the overseas students, inside and outside the Beit Midrash. Since his joining the faculty, there has been hardly an aspect of the whole program in which Rav Zahtz has not made a meaningful contribution. His personal responsibilities have included coordinating extra-curricular programming, overseeing chavruta pairings, recruitment, supplemental learning support, and delivering numerous inspirational sichot and enlightening chaburot, just to name a few.
Job Titles:
- Director of the Kollel Yom Shelishi
Rav Aharon Friedman shlita was born in Yerushalayim in 5735. He studied in the Ma'arava Yeshiva High School. In 5752, he began his studies in the Hesder program at Yeshivat Kerem B'Yavneh. He served in the artillery during his army service, and he presently serves in the reserves as a Battalion Rabbi in the artillery corps.
After his marriage, Rav Friedman continued his studies in the Yeshiva, completing his rabbinic ordination and continuing to study in the Kollel Dayanut. In 5768, he was appointed as a Ra"m in the Yeshiva.
Rav Friedman has served has the director of the Kollel Yom Shelishi program, with over 80 participants who come to the Yeshiva to study every week. In addition to his daily shiur, Rav Friedman delivers shiurim in Tanach to students. He also gives shiurim in nearby towns and in other programs.
In addition to his studies in the Yeshiva, Rav Friedman studied for six years under Rav Yitzchak Shlomo Zylberman zt"l, and he has studied Tanach with Rav Yaakov Medan, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivat Har Etzion, for over 15 years. Rav Friedman authored the sefarim BeHar Hashem Yera'eh (essays and derashot on Rosh Hashana) and Elef HaMagen (a commentary on the tefillot of the Ramchal), and he has published numerous articles in Yeshiva publications.
Rav Gavriel Saraf shlita was born in Be'er Sheva in 5733. He studied in Yeshivat Ohel Shlomo in Be'er Sheva. In 5752, he began his studies in the Hesder program at Yeshivat Kerem B'Yavneh and performed his army serves in the Golani Brigade. In 5756, he joined the Yeshiva's Kollel, completing the ordination programs for Rabbanut Shechuna, Rabbanut Ir, and Dayanut. After completing his studies in Dayanut, Rav Saraf served for two years as the halachic advisor of the Chief Rabbi of Israel. In 5768, Rav Saraf was appointed as a Ra"m in the Yeshiva, and he also serves as a member of the monetary Beit Din located on the Yeshiva's campus. In 5777, Rav Saraf was appointed to be Rosh HaYeshiva along side Rav Aharon Friedman.
Rosh HaYeshiva, Rav Mordechai Greenberg, shlita, came to Yeshivat Kerem B'Yavneh in 1960, after graduating from the "Yishuv Hechadash" Yeshiva High School in Tel Aviv. He was recognized as one of the Yeshiva's outstanding talmidim, and became a close talmid of the founding Rosh Hayeshiva, Maran Rav Chayim Yaakov Goldvicht, zt"l. As a Hesder student, Rav Greenberg served in the tank corps of the Israel Defense Force, and he fought in the Six Day War.
After completing the Hesder program in Kerem B'Yavneh, Rav Greenberg served for a short time as a Ram in Yeshivat Or Etzion, as well as in Yeshivat Hakibbutz Hadati there. After marrying Bilha Zuckerman, daughter of Rav Avraham Zuckerman, shlita, Rosh Yeshivot Bnei Akiva, he returned to Kerem B'Yavneh to join the Kollel, and emerged as one of its outstanding avreichim. During this period he traveled with his contemporaries to hear weekly shiurim from Rav Zvi Yehuda Hakohen Kook, zt"l, and became very close with him as well.
Upon completion of the Kollel program, Rav Greenberg was appointed a Ram in the Yeshiva, and taught both Israeli and overseas talmidim. He was later appointed Rosh Kollel L'horaah, and, during a sabbatical, served for two years as Rosh Kollel at Yeshivat Ma'aleh Adumim. In 1988, he returned to Kerem B'Yavneh, and held the position of Rosh Kollel L'Dayanut for six years until he was appointed Rosh Hayeshiva in 1994.
Rav Greenberg is well known for his erudition in the field of Halacha, and for his command of Jewish thought (Machshevet Yisrael), particularly in the teachings of Rav Kook, zt"l. He is the author of Birkat Eliyahu, an explanation of the Be'ur HaGra (the Vilna Gaon's commentary to the Shulchan Aruch) on hilchot shabbat, and has published numerous articles in various Torah journals. He is a well-liked public speaker, and is often sought after for his excellent shiurim in gemara and halacha and lectures in Machshava.
Rav Greenberg is known in the Yeshiva for his diligent dedication to learning. He can be found in the Beit Midrash before shacharit reviewing the Daf Yomi, and maintains regular chavrutot with young talmidim during seder hours. He deals with the talmidim, Israeli and overseas alike, in a warm and open manner, inviting them for shabbat meals and oneg-shabbat tishes, and giving special shiurim and chugim to various groups. In his sichot, Rav Greenberg stresses the importance of learning Torah together with growth in middot (personal character), and on a meticulous observance of derech eretz as a prerequisite to Torah. Torat Yisrael is woven in with the importance of Am Yisrael and Eretz Yisrael to form a single, cohesive unit.
Rav Greenberg has initiated a number of programs to enhance the Yeshiva and its contributions to the community at large. Among his initiatives are: a program of Bekiut tests on a broad range of subjects (gemara, halacha, mishna, parsha, navi) to complement the in-depth iyun learning; a mechina program for motivated, academically qualified students with weaker Talmudic backgrounds; increased involvement of the Kollel with the students through a "bayit cham" program and their learning alongside the talmidim in the main Beit Midrash; Kollel Programs in development towns such as Lod and Mazkeret Batya. His integrity, and the straightforward and modest manner in which he leads the Yeshiva, promote a general atmosphere of independence throughout the Yeshiva.
Rav Moshe Stav was born in Yerushalayim. He learned in Yeshivat Kol Torah under Hagaon Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach, zt"l, and in Yeshivat Knesset Chizkiyahu (Kfar Chasidim) under Rav Mishkovski, zt"l. He continued his learning in Kollel Untermann under Hagaon Rav Zalman Nechemya Goldberg, shlita, and afterwards in Yeroham, a development town in southern Israel, where he also taught Torah to the community. He taught as a Ram in Yeshivat Mekor Chayim of Rav Adin Steinsaltz, shlita, for three years.
Rav Stav came to Yeshivat Kerem B'Yavneh in 1990. He served for four years as the "Nosei venotein", and students still approach him frequently in order to benefit from his broad, clear knowledge of Torah. In his shiur, he fosters his talmidim's ability for independent learning, and provides them with a derech of clarifying concepts through carefully analyzing the language of the rishonim and comparing their opinions. In addition, he delivers a number of chugim in Jewish thought and lomdus (such as Maharal, Kuzari, Sefer Hamitzvot and Shev Shmaata), often presenting an original, unique approach. Although he lives in Yerushalayim, he spends most nights during the week in the Yeshiva, and his presence and attentive ear form a warm, lasting relationship with the students who receive guidance from him. Beyond the Yeshiva, Rav Stav gives lectures and shiurim in seminaries for baalot teshuva.
Rav Omri Israel Kraus was born in 5744 and grew up in the Yad Eliyahu neighborhood of Tel Aviv. He studied at the Bar Ilan scientific yeshiva high school in Tel Aviv. In 5762 he began his studies at Yeshivat Kerem B'Yavneh as a hesder student and performed his IDF service as a combat soldier in the Givati regiment.
After his marriage he continued his studying at the Yeshiva for semicha and dayanut. He also completed a degree in education at Orot College in Rehovot.
Over several years he wrote halachic booklets for Machon Tzurba M'Rabbanan. He gives a weekly shiur in halacha at the Garin Torani of Ashdod.
Rabbi Rosner invested two full years in Israel after high school, learning in Yeshivat Shaalvim. Until his Aliyah in August 2008, Rav Rosner was a popular Maggid Shiur at Yeshiva University's Stone Beis Medrash Program and the Rabbi of Congregation Bais Ephraim Yitzchok - the "Island Shul" - for six years.
Rabbi Rosner was the visionary of the Nofei Hashemesh community where he is currently the Rabbi. During the summers, he is Camp Rabbi and Educational Director at Camp Kaylie. Rabbi Rosner is married to Dr. Rabanit Tamar Rosner, a pediatrician, and has 7 children.
A graduate of Yeshiva University, Rabbi Rosner earned a BA in Economics and a Masters in Jewish Education and Administration from Azrieli. A Musmach of RIETS, Rav Rosner was a member of the Beren Kollel Elyon and a Kupietsky Kodshim Fellow.
Rav Sharon Yust was born in 5732 and grew up in Haifa, where he studied in the Yavneh High School. He began his studies in the Hesder program at Yeshivat Kerem B'Yavneh in 5751. He served in the Golani Brigade and Combat Engineering Corps of the IDF during his army service
After completing Hesder, Rav Yust studied in the Rabbanut and Dayanut kollelim and the Teachers Institute at Kerem B'Yavneh. In 5771, he began serving as Sgan Mashgiach in the Yeshiva. Among other activities, Rav Yust delivers shiurim on mussar, emuna, and halacha to all Yeshiva students in both Hebrew and English, and he learns be-chavruta with students as well. He delivers shiurim to participants in the Kollel Yom Shelishi program.
Following Rav Rivlin's retirement in 5776, Rav Yust officially began serving as the Mashgiach of the Yeshiva.
Rav Shlomo Friedman was born and raised in Queens, N.Y, and attended Yeshivat Kerem B'Yanveh in 1978-1980. He is a graduate of Yeshiva University, and received semicha from Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary, where he studied under Rabbi Mordechai Willig, shlita, and Rabbi Hershel Schachter, shlita. He also holds an M.A. in computer science.
After completing semicha, Rav Friedman returned to Kerem B'Yanveh in 1985 to learn for Elul zman. He was asked by Rav Chaim Yaakov Goldvicht zt"l to stay as a Ram for the overseas students, and has been teaching since then. In addition to providing an analysis of the gemara and rishonim, he aims to develop in the talmidim a sensitivity to recognize independently the issues and apparent difficulties in the sugya that need to be addressed. He takes a caring, personal interest in his talmidim, discussing with them issues of Avodat Hashem and middot, and reviews each one's learning schedule periodically. Rav Friedman lives on campus, and often invites talmidim for shabbat meals and Friday night "tishes".
A great-grandson of the famed Mashgiach Rabbi Elyah Lapian, R' Yehuda was born in 1978 and raised in the Yerushalayim neighborhood of Sha'arei Chesed. He studied in the Yishuv HaChadash yeshiva, and in 1995 he began 11 years of study at Yeshivat Kerem B'Yavneh. During that time, he performed his army service in the tank corps and received semicha ordination from the Chief Rabbinate. R' Lapian also has a BA in Talmud and Education from Moreshet Yaakov. In 2001, he married Shoshi, and they have four children.
In 2006, R' Lapian and his family moved to the Washington, D.C. area, where he served as a Rosh Kollel of Torah MiTziyon Kollel of Greater Washington and taught at Berman Hebrew Academy. They returned to Israel in 2010, at which point he taught in the Yeshiva High School in Ramat Gan.
During the time R' Lapian was on shelichut in the US, he maintained his connection to his Rabbeim. Every time he visited Israel, he made sure to visit the yeshiva as well. Since his return, he has maintained a weekly chavruta with Rav Rubinstein shlita. He also delivered shiurim to his former students from Ramat Gan who were currently studying in Kerem B'Yavneh.
R' Lapian is excited to return to the Yeshiva as Menahel of the overseas program and join the rest of the current administrative team.
Rav Davidson has been learning in the Yeshiva since 1999. After getting married and joining the Kollel in 2004, Rav Davidson has been very involved with the overseas students, giving chaburot in Alei Shor, Mesilas Yesharim and many other sefarim about avodas Hashem, as well as having students in his home and schmoozing with them about their spiritual and personal growth. Rav Davidson finished his semicha of the Rabbanut in 2011 and began giving a mechina shiur. Rav Davidson, from London, has become well known in the Yeshiva for his passion and love for Torah and Klal Yisroel.
Rav Menachem Mendel Blachman was born in Hamburg, Germany, and came to Chicago as a child. He learned in a Lubavitch High School, and then came to Israel to study in the Hevron Yeshiva. He became intimately close with then Rosh Yeshiva, Hagaon Rav Simcha Zissel Brodie, zt"l, and learned b'chavruta with him for over twelve years. He later studied at Kollel Pachad Yitzchak, where he became a talmid muvhak of Hagaon Rav Yitzchak Hutner, zt"l.
Rav Blachman has been teaching in Yeshivat Kerem B'Yavneh since 1979, and follows the derech espoused by Rav Chaim Halevi Soloveichik of Brisk, zt"l. In shiur and seder he challenges his students with a conceptual analysis of the sugya and its major themes based on textual analysis of the gemara and rishonim, emphasizing the broad scope of the ideas in the local and parallel sugyot. In addition, he inspires talmidim with chugim in Nefesh Hachayim and Chassidic thought, and is known for his profound talks at tishes in the Yeshiva and seudot at his house on Hoshana Rabbah, Chanuka and Purim. A caring and dedicated Rebbe, he is concerned about the growth of each of his talmidim, and actively engages them in discussions on general, as well as religious issues, forming a lasting relationship with many of them.
In the summer zman of 5774, Rav Blachman was appointed to be the Associate Rosh Yeshiva to Rav Greenberg, shlita.