Faculty
Reb Yitz Tendler
Rosh Yeshiva
Reb Yitz's sincerity, understanding, and acceptance make him every student's rebbe and mentor. He is known for his availability to his boys in Yeshiva and his open home for Shabbos meals, barbques, kumzitses and to just shmooze. Reb Yitz learned in Yeshivas Mir, Jerusalem and is a talmid and musmach of Rav Yitzchak Berkovits of the Jerusalem Kollel, from where he received smicha. Reb Yitz is the Rosh Yeshiva, but somehow he finds time to take the boys on their trips, teach them to play basketball and have a personal relationship with each and every one of them.
Rabbi Dovid Charlop
Mashgiach
Rabbi Charlop draws on his vast experience in teaching and influencing teenagers and builds strong and lasting relationships with the boys becoming their Rebbe and friend. Rabbi Charlop tutors both the first and second year boys and helps them make worthwhile choices during this period in their lives. His influence extends even after they have left Lev Zion and he runs a successful alumni program in the Catskills during the summer months. Rabbi Charlop sets up the program for our trips, coordinates the Old City Shabbaton and is the driving force behind our yearly trip to Poland. Rabbi Charlop received smicha from Rabbi Shrya Dublitsky from Bnei Brak. He also holds a B.Sci from Empire State College, NY.
Rabbi Ethan Katz
Menahel - Director of Operations
Rabbi Ethan Katz is originally from Chicago, Illinois. He is the Menahel, working on the development and programming of the Yeshiva, and is a learning Rebbi in the mornings. He received his semicha from R' Yitzchak Berkovits at the Jerusalem Kollel. Rabbi Katz comes with experience working in Jewish outreach and education, including working as campus Rabbi at Emory University in Atlanta, as director of advanced progamming. He enjoys connecting with the students through learning, shmoozing, and trips. Reb Ethan is always down for a good game of basketball or ping pong.
Rabbi Aharon "Ernie" Liberman
Rebbi & Administrative Assistant
Rabbi Ernie is one of Lev Zion's principle rebbeim. His warmth and acceptance enable him to calmly guide students through any struggle or challenge in their lives. Rabbi Liberman received smichah from Rav Zalman Nechemiah Goldberg and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from Yeshiva University. He received kiruv training from Aish Hatorah, is trained as an alcohol and substance abuse professional, and he practices Narrative Therapy. Rabbi Liberman also prepares all of our delicious homemade meals as well as the cakes and snacks in between. He is truly a man of many talents!
Rabbi Dani Zwick
Rebbi
Dr. Jacob Freedman
Psychiatrist & Psychotherapist
Dr. Freedman is proud to have worked with Lev Zion since 2016. A board-certified psychiatrist in both America and Israel, Dr. Freedman trained at Harvard Medical School where he was an award-winning Chief Resident.
Dr. Freedman has published books and numerous academic articles in journals including The American Journal of Psychiatry, The Harvard Review of Psychiatry, and The British Journal of Psychiatry. He has presented research at The American Psychiatric Association's annual meeting, given grand rounds at Harvard Medical School, and is a respected public speaker on topics spanning medicine, ethics, and Jewish thought.
When he’s not with his patients, Dr. Freedman can be found learning Torah with his chavrusa in The Old City or hiking the hills outside of Jerusalem. He can be most easily reached through his website: drjacoblfreedman.com
Rabbi Yonasan Hill
Music Teacher
Rabbi Hill has been teaching music to our students for over two decades. He is an experienced musician, and has played many concerts and events. With grace and patience, Rabbi Hill consistently connects to the students through musical expression over a talented range of instruments, including guitar, bass, and piano. He is a tremendous asset and valuable to our students' process of self-expression.
Rabbi Mati Friedman
Senior Rebbi
Rabbi Mati's warmth and care for the students resonates throughout the walls of the Beis Midrash. As an accomplished Talmid Chochom and Posek, he serves as an invaluable resource to the students and faculty of Lev Zion. He gives daily hashkafa shiurim and spends many hours sitting and shmoozing with students through the ups-and-downs of life. He received his semicha from Rabbi Yitzchak Berkovits shlita, and also currently serves as a Rosh Chaburah for the Jerusalem Kollel.