Rav Baruch Wieder

Rav Baruch Weider was born and raised in Netanya and is a graduate of Yeshivat Bnei Akiva Netanya. He later studied in Yeshivat Mercaz HaRav under Rav Zvi Yehuda HaKohen Kook Zt"l.

Rav Weider continued his learning in Yeshivat HaKotel. After completing the Hesder Program and receiving Semicha from the Israeli Chief Rabbinate, he joined the Kollel where he served the Rosh Kollel Rav Yaakov Katz.

He currently serves as both Rosh HaKollel and Rosh HaYeshiva.

Rav Avigdor Nebenzahl

Rav Avigdor Nebenzahl is the former Chief Rabbi of the Old City of Jerusalem and Rabbi of the Ramban Synagogue in the Old City. A prolific author, he has written over ten books on Parashat Hashavua and Chagim.

Rav Nebenzahl is considered by many to be the leading student of Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach as well as his chavruta for over forty years.

Aside from his role as Posek of the Yeshiva, Rav Nebenzahl delivers shiurim in Parshat Hashavua, Hilchot Shabbat and Rambam Yad Hachazakah.

Rav Reuven Taragin

Rav Reuven Taragin, a Wexner Fellow and Musmach of the Israeli Chief Rabbinate completed a B.A. in Science and Philosophy at Yeshiva University and an M.A. in Jewish History and Education at Touro College (Israel). While in America Rav Taragin ran shabbatonim for NCSY and created the YUSSR summer program.

Rav Taragin is responsible for the quality and message of the overall program and the welfare of each of its students. Despite his many responsibilities, Rav Taragin manages to develop a deep kesher with each of the talmidim both while they are in yeshiva and afterwards (he maintains personal contact with each one of the yeshiva's alumni).

He is well-known for his shiurim in Gemara, Tanach and Machshava, his inspiring talks, signature tisches, and the personal advice he offers to talmidim.

Rav Taragin is the Rosh Beit Midrash at Camp Moshava (I.O.), and rav of Kehillat Eretz Chemdah in Katamon and has also taught at Yeshivat Har Etzion and Nishmat and still teaches at Be'er Miriam.

taragin@hakotel.org.il

Rav Shlomo Brody

Rav Shlomo Brody is a graduate of Harvard University, where he studied Jewish history, philosophy, and literature and has received semicha from the Israeli Chief Rabbinate. He is currently pursuing a doctorate in Jewish philosophy at the Hebrew University, focusing on the philosophy of halacha.

Rav Brody's gemara shiur teaches the careful reading of rishonim that allows for critical analysis and conceptual understanding. Rav Brody teaches a number of shiurim relating to Jewish philosophy (Moreh Nevuchim) and contemporary halachic issues. Rav Brody's shiurim uniquely explore both the religious experience and current ideological debates in a manner which is religiously inspiring while intellectually rigorous and honest.

Rav Brody also edits the online version of the prestigious Tradition journal, including its acclaimed blog Text & Texture (text.rcarabbis.org), which features some of Orthodoxy's sharpest writers. His bi-weekly ‘Ask the Rabbi' column for The Jerusalem Post, focusing on questions of halacha, is read by thousands of print and online readers. His writings have also appeared in Jewish Action, First Things, Meorot, and other publications.

brody@hakotel.org.il

Rav Ari Heller

Rav Heller received a degree in Education from Herzog Teacher's College and Semicha from the Israeli Chief Rabbinate. He also holds a Teacher's and Master's Degree in Judaic Studies from Israel's Ministry of Education.

Rav Heller's gemara shiur is unique in that it provides talmidim with solid foundations in both the textual and conceptual aspects of learning. He is also known for learning b'chavruta with each of his talmidim. Rav Heller gives numerous other shiurim in yeshiva including Neviim Rishonim and Chassidut.

He oversees the Machal Program and provides the boys with emotional and practical support and advice throughout the process.

AH@hakotel.org.il

Rav Jesse Horn

Rav Horn earned a B.A. in Judaic Studies and M.A. in Jewish Education from Yeshiva University and is a Musmach of YU/RIETS.

Rav Horn is known for his methodological and Brisker approach to Gemara. In shiur, he teaches Talmidim to rigorously read and dissect texts, to ask major questions on the Sugya, and to develop and analyze the answers and approaches offered by the Rishonim. He helps boys develop their own skills by preparing shiur with them during morning seder.

Being a constant presence in the Beit Medrash, along with having a warm personality and an ability to understand Overseas Talmidim, Rav Horn forges particularly close relationships with his Talmidim.

Rav Horn is a Rebbe at NCSY Kollel and has also taught at Shaalvim for Women, Midreshet HaRova, and Be'er Miriam.

hornjesse@googlemail.com

Rav Ari Cutler

Rav Ari Cutler received Semicha from Yeshiva University and has a Masters in Social Work from Wurzweiler School of Social Work.

As Mashgiach Ruchani, Rav Cutler is known for the close relationships that he develops with talmidim and his passionate sichot. Rav Cutler also teaches Machshavah, Tanach and Iyun Tefillah including a special weekly shiur at the Kotel.

Rav Cutler was an NCSY director and ran the National Council of Young Israel Summer programs. He has also been the Rav and head of Chinuch at Camp Moshava Ennismore.

ravcuts@gmail.com

Rav Dan Katz

Rav Dan Katz earned a BA in psychology from Columbia University, Semicha from Yeshiva University, and an MA in Jewish Education from the Azrieli Graduate School of Education.

Before his Aliyah in 2005, he led a number of informal educational organizations, including being Director of Bnei Akiva of NY, and Program Coordinator for Eimatai Leadership Seminars (YU's high school leadership program).

Rav Dan coordinates the shana bet program and alumni affairs. The various responsibilities allow him to interact with talmidim and alumni in different settings and contexts. His down to earth demeanor makes him very approachable. He also gives a number of shiurim on the topics of: Halacha, Parshat Hashavua and Religious-Zionism.

Rav Dan has been Assistant Head Counselor at Camp Moshava (I.O.), and ran Camp TVI for numerous summers.

He is the Director of Camp Moshava's Mach Hach Summer Program.

danielbkatz@gmail.com

Rav Gedalia Peterseil

Rav Gedalia Peterseil has a BA in Psychology and Education and received semicha from Rav Shlomo Riskin. He served as a paratrooper in a hesder unit.

Rav Peterseil has many years experience in both the Chinuch and administrative fields including four years of Shlichut in the United States. These years gave him an understanding and appreciation of the need to be mechanech talmidim based on their background and ideals.

Upon his return to Eretz Yisrael Rav Peterseil taught and ran a course through the Amiel Institute geared to train Rabbis and educators to assume leadership roles throughout Israel.

Rav Peterseil is currently the Rabbi of Kehillat Shorashim in Katamon, Jerusalem where he lives with his wife and 7 children. He is also the author of the "Tell it From the Torah" series on the Parsha.

gedalia@hakotel.org.il

Dr. Carl Hochhauser

Dr. Hochhauser received his doctorate in psychology from Yeshiva University and worked for several years in the United States as a clinical and health/pediatric psychologist.

During Elul, Dr. Hochhauser meets with each Talmid individually and is then available to speak with them further regarding matters large and small. In addition, he gives a weekly shiur on "Halachic Issues in the Workplace" as well as a series of shiurim on "Psychology and Judaism". He also organizes a special series that helps talmidim deal with the psychological pressures of the year in Israel and a special shana bet seminar on "Dating and Marriage".

Pedspsychisrael@gmail.com

Rav Dovi Fischer

Rav Dovi, a Musmach of YU/RIETS, is a close student and former Shiur Assistant of Rav Zvi Sobolofsky and previously worked as a rabbinic intern of Cong. Anshe Chesed in Boynton Beach, Florida where he honed his unique public speaking ability.

Rav Dovi serves as Head of Night Seder, a Shoel U'Maishiv, and coordinates Supplementary Shiurim and Y'mei Iyun. He organizes the Chaburot Initiative enabling all talmidim to prepare and deliver their own chaburot throughout the year. In addition to his weekly Iyun Chaburah, he gives a popular shiur in Practical Halacha and teaches a "Niggun Of The Week". His enthusiasm for learning and life is felt by all of our talmidim.

During the summer, Rav Dovi is a member of the Chinuch Staff at Camp Morasha.

dovi.fischer@gmail.com

R' Elan Mazer

After learning two years at Hakotel, Elan Mazer served in the Combat Engineering Corps of the Israel Army. After his service he returned to his Yeshiva studies and later joined our staff. While working towards his Rabbanut Semicha, Elan helps talmidim prepare for morning shiur.

In addition to a number of other very popular shiurim, Elan and his wife host talmidim throughout the week (and particularly Shabbat) in their home in the yeshiva's Kolllel building.

In addition to the high level of his shiurim, talmidim gain from R' Elan's unique dedication, energy and passion.

elan.mazer@gmail.com

R' Michael Brandwein

Rav Shlomo Tubul

Rav Yoel Rozenberg

Don Kates

Director of Development

Don grew up in Chicago, was active in Bnei Akiva, and served as Mazkir, Bnei Akiva of Chicago 1967-69, and Rosh Moshava in Wild Rose, Wisconsin in 1973-74. A graduate of ICJA, he studied at the HTC in Skokie and received his MSW in Social Group Work in 1974 from the University of Illinois in Chicago.

He has 35 years of Jewish Communal experience, including 24 years in public relations and development, including four years as Director, Community Relations at Yeshivat Sha'alvim (1988-92), and Mercaz Yeshivot Bnei Akiva (2005-2008), before coming to HaKotel.

Don and his wife Susan live in Raanana.  They have five children and eight grandchildren.

don@hakotel.org.il

Rav Chanoch Teller

Rav Chanoch Teller is an award-winning author and producer and internationally renowned lecturer. His scholarship on Holocaust related material has made him the premier docent in Yad Vashem for religious, English-speaking groups. He is also a senior lecturer in numerous seminaries in Jerusalem.

Rav Teller delivers a weekly, popular lecture about Gedolei Yisrael. In addition he is the perennial guide for the yeshivah's visits to Bnei Brak and Meah Shearim.

A graduate of Yeshiva University he also has a BHL from ITRI and has been learning in the Mirrer Yeshiva in Jerusalem for over three decades. He is invited to Jewish communities across the world to serve as a Scholar -In-Residence earning him the title of the Globe Trotting Maggid.

hanoch@hanochteller.com

Rav David Milston

Rav Milston earned Semicha from the Israeli Rabbinate and a B.A. in Judaic Studies from Jews College in London. In addition to serving as Director of the Overseas Program at Midreshet HaRova, Rav Milston gives popular shiurim at Hakotel in Mesilat Yesharim and Parashat Hashavua.

Rav Motty Berger

Rav Berger completed Semicha at Ner Yisrael and a B.A. at Loyola University. He is a world famous teacher of Contemporary Jewish Philosophy and Jewish Principles. He gives very popular weekly shiurim at Hakotel.