Sulam Yaakov engages some of Jerusalem’s best known teachers, each bringing many years of teaching and life experience. Our Rabbis have guided communities for many years, gaining wide experience and practical wisdom from their leadership roles. Without a doubt the excellence of our faculty is the heart of our success, as well as our fantastic growth rate.”
Rabbi Aharon Leibowitz, Dean
Rabbi Aaron Leibowitz has been an innovative Jewish educator in Israel for over two decades. He began as a Program Director at Gesher. After three years as an Educational Officer in the IDF, he received his ordination from the Israeli Rabbinate, from Rabbi Shlomo Riskin and Rabbi Chaim Brovender. He then built a successful business in Experiential Education and Corporate Training, and helped found Yeshivat Derech Etz Chaim. Rav Aaron spent six years as the Rabbi of Kol Rina, the famous Miklat (Bomb Shelter) minyan, bringing a special blend of celebratory joy and profound insight to thousands every year.
It is Rav Aaron’s belief that Torah must be both transcendent and grounded that led him to found Sulam Yaakov, a leadership training Beit Midrash which has ordained over twenty rabbis to date. This unique institution, which gives special attention to the individual’s spiritual process and inner world, expects students to work to support themselves and their families while learning. In 2010, Rav Aaron launched Shirat Devorah a beginners programs for women. These programs are designed for the whole person – they are intellectually and spiritually challenging; promoting an integrated growth process through which the student is empowered to chart his/her own path in Jewish life. 2011 saw the launch of Threshold, an accelerator for Jewish Educational Entrepreneurship. All programs are operated by HaOhel Institutions, the Jerusalem branch of Yad Yaakov, promoting “Open-Tent Judaism” in the Nachlaot neighborhood of Jerusalem.
Rabbi Daniel Kohn
Rav Daniel is a founding member of the village of Bat Ayin, Rabbi of the village, and a sought after facilitator of spiritual growth programming. He is also an accomplished saxophone and clarinet klezmer musician. He is especially drawn to the contemplative works of the Maharal and Chassidut Chabad, and serves as a model for the profound spirituality and continued personal growth that he teaches so well.
Rabbi Don Channon
HaRav Don Channon received Semicha from R’ Azran, z”l, a member of the Beit Din of the Edah Charadis in 1983. In the same year he also received Semicha from the Rabbinate of Yerushalyim. During the following years he went on to receive Semicha from the Chief Rabbis of Israel; R’ Lau, Shlita, and R’ Bakshi Doron, shlita, The Chief Rabbi of Be’er Sheva, Rabbi Deri, shlita, the Chief Rabbi and Av Beit Din of Yerushalyim R’ Messas, shlita and HaGaon Harav R’ Ovadia Yosef, shlita. For the past 17 years he has served as a Moreh Horah for kashrut in his community.
Rav Channen has given shiurim to hundreds of students in Yoreh Deah. Many of them have received semicha from the Rabbinate and other Rabbanim throughout Eretz Yisrael. For many years R’ Channen was a prolific artist and writer authoring books such as Talis Ends which brought to life of the most difficult sugyas in Baba Metzia and Baba Kama.
Rabbi Michael Feuer
Rabbi Mike Feuer has learned Torah in a number of Jerusalem area institutions, including Yeshivat HaMivtar, the Mir Yeshiva and Sulam Yaakov. He received his semicha in Shabbat and Issur v’heter from Sulam Yaakov in conjunction with completing the Israeli Rabbinate issur v’heter certification.
Rav Mike has been active in Jewish education, formal and informal, for many years. Since making aliyah in 2001, he has been Program Director of a post-high school yeshiva, taught history, Jewish thought and Bible in several Jerusalem yeshivot and midrashot and halacha at the Pardes Institute.
Rav Mike’s teaching style is a mix of desire for rigorous analysis and a passionate love of the poetry found in learning. He approaches learning and teaching as a process of mutual self development between teacher and student.
