Yeshiva Faculty
Rabbanit Hanna Godinger (Dreyfuss), Rosh Yeshiva, Gemara be’iyun
Rabbanit Dreyfuss has learned at Migdal Oz, Matan, and Beit Morasha. She holds a BA in Philosophy and Psychology and an MA in Talmud. She served as Rabbanit Beit Sefer at Pelech High School, as Rosh Beit Midrash at Midreshet Lindenbaum, and as head of Metivta, the program in advanced Talmud at Matan.
Rabbanit Yael Shimoni, Assistant Rosh Yeshiva, Gemara be’iyun
Rabbanit Shimoni has learned at Migdal Oz, Matan, and the Susi Bradfield Women’s Institute for Halakhic Leadership at Midreshet Lindenbaum. She holds a BFA from Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design and a BEd in Torah Shebe’al Peh and Jewish Thought from Herzog College. She is currently studying towards an MA in Jewish Thought Education at Herzog College. Rabbanit Shimoni taught gemara and halakha at Pelech High School and served as a ramit for shana bet at Migdal Oz. She directs Meshivat Nefesh, the online responsa program of the rabbaniyot of Beit Hillel. She is also a plastic artist and member of “A Studio of Her Own.”
Mrs. Daphna Nizan, Overseas Program Coordinator
Daphna holds a BA in Tanach, Talmud, and Jewish Art, as well as an MA in Talmud, and teaching certification from Bar Ilan University. She has worked for the Lookstein Center for Jewish Education and taught in MMY, TVA, the Drisha high school summer program, and the Hartman high school for girls, as well as for many summers in Camp Moshava. She has studied in Midreshet Lindenbaum, Matan, and is a graduate of the Advanced Gemara Program in Migdal Oz, in addition to studying in their halacha program for three years. She is currently learning and coordinating the overseas program at the Yeshiva.
Rabbanit Nechama Porat, Ramit – Shiur Alef
Rabbanit Porat has learned at Nishmat, Migdal Oz, and the Susi Bradfield Women’s Institute for Halakhic Leadership at Midreshet Lindenbaum. She holds a BEd in Torah Shebe’al Peh and Jewish Thought and is currently studying towards an MA in Jewish History. Rabbanit Porat served as a ramit at Midreshet Lindenbaum and as the head of Midreshet Zion in Washington, DC. She also teaches Gemara at the “Havruta” beit midrash program at the Hebrew University.
Ms. Talia Sherlow, Ramit – Bekiut
Talia has studied and taught in Beit Morasha and Matan Be’er Sheva, and teaches in the women’s Beit Midrash which she established in Otniel. She is also involved in writing books about the Kabbalah of the Ari, and practices holistic therapy through reflexology and massage. She teaches bekiut Gemara and Chassidut at the Yeshiva.
Rabbanit Shira Marili Mirvis, Ramit – Halacha
Rabbanit Shira is the rabbanit of the Shirat Hatamar Community and head of the religious council in Efrat. She is a graduate of the Susi Bradfield Women’s Institute of Halakhic Leadership at Midreshet Lindenbaum where she was trained in the areas of Shabbat, Niddah, Chuppa v’kiddushin, Brachot, and Issur v’heter. In the past she produced a weekly daf yomi vlog called “Daf Mishela’hen” in partnership with Hadran, and a weekly podcast on parashat hashavua called “Parasha Mishela’hen” in partnership with Makor Rishon. She is a member of Beit Hillel and answers halachic questions on the Meshivat Nefesh website. She is a graduate of the Mandel Leadership Institute and holds a B.A. in Psychology and Information Sciences from Bar Ilan University.
Dr. Tzachi Cohen, Tanakh and Machshava
Dr. Cohen is a lecturer and researches literature, culture, and Judaism at Herzog College and Ono Academic College. His books “סיפורי פסוק לי פסוקך” and “?למה דומה קולנוע” were recently published.
Ms. Tzophia Stepansky, Eim Bayit
After completing her B.A. in psychology and Judaic Studies at Yeshiva University, Tzophia continued her learning there in the advanced Gemara and Halacha program (GPATS) for three years. Over the course of her time in GPATS, she served as a community scholar in multiple shuls. Tzophia has been involved in the Drisha community in various capacities– she has taught in the high school summer program and is the director of the middle school program. She recently made aliyah with her husband from the tri-state area and is excited to join the Drisha Israel community! She loves opening up her home, doing Zumba, and playing Clue!
Orah Wilens, LMSW – Guidance Counselor
Orah is a clinical social worker at Machon Dvir, a DBT center located in Jerusalem and Ranana, where she works in an outpatient program running skills groups while meeting with individual clients. She is also a supervisor for Yeshiva University’s Wurzweiler School of Social Work, where she helps to train and support students through their schooling. Originally from Chicago, Orah made aliyah after studying psychology at Touro Manhattan, and later received her masters from Wurzweiler in conjunction with the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. With a passion for mental health and working with gap year students, Orah is excited to serve as an in-house guidance counselor at the Yeshiva, working with the students from the overseas program by providing emotional guidance and support during their time in the Yeshiva.
Ms. Michal Cohen, Student Support Coordinator
Michal was previously the librarian at the Herzog Academic Library at the Migdal Oz campus. She holds a B.A. in literature and biology. She is responsible for the students’ social and personal well being, and provides emotional guidance for them during their studies at the Yeshiva.
Ms. Faigie Ariel, Office Manager and Operations
Faigie holds a B.A. in education from David Yellin College. She has worked in integration education and remedial teaching in a number of middle and high schools. She managed the Pelech middle school office for ten years.
