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Rabbi Yakov Nagen is the head of Ohr Torah Stone’s Blickle Institute for Interfaith Dialogue and Beit Midrash for Judaism and Humanity, as well as the Executive Director of the Ohr Torah Interfaith Center. He holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree from Yeshiva University, rabbinic ordination from RIETS, and a PhD in Jewish Philosophy from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
For 25 years, Rabbi Nagen served as a senior educator at Yeshivat Otniel. A prominent advocate of religion as a means for promoting peace, he has been a leading figure in interfaith dialogue, particularly between Judaism and Islam, for two decades.
Rabbi Nagen is the author of ten books and numerous articles on Jewish spirituality, Talmud, interfaith relations, and other topics. He was also featured in Tablet magazine as one of the ten “Israeli Rabbis You Should Know.”
Rabbi Yakov Nagen is the head of Ohr Torah Stone’s Blickle Institute for Interfaith Dialogue and Beit Midrash for Judaism and Humanity, as well as the Executive Director of the Ohr Torah Interfaith Center. He holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree from Yeshiva University, rabbinic ordination from RIETS, and a PhD in Jewish Philosophy from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
For 25 years, Rabbi Nagen served as a senior educator at Yeshivat Otniel. A prominent advocate of religion as a means for promoting peace, he has been a leading figure in interfaith dialogue, particularly between Judaism and Islam, for two decades.
Rabbi Nagen is the author of ten books and numerous articles on Jewish spirituality, Talmud, interfaith relations, and other topics. He was also featured in Tablet magazine as one of the ten “Israeli Rabbis You Should Know.”
Rabbi Aharon Lavi is the Managing Director of the Ohr Torah Interfaith Center, which works with religious leaders worldwide to make religion part of the solution to global challenges. He is also the founder and co-director of Hakhel, the Jewish Intentional Communities Incubator in the Diaspora (awarded the 2020 Jerusalem Unity Prize), and the founder of the Garin Shuva community on the Gaza border.
Rabbi Lavi holds academic degrees in Economics, Geography (BA), and History and Philosophy of Ideas (MA). He recently completed his PhD dissertation on the migration of ideas between US Jewry and Israeli society. In 2024, he was a post-doctoral fellow at the Harvard Divinity School and wrote on Jewishly inspired community building. He is a published author on Jewish economic and environmental thought, community building, international religious affairs, and more.
Outside of his professional life, Rabbi Lavi is an avid mountain biker. His passion for the sport extends beyond leisure, as he is also a professional racer, trainer, and trail builder.
Rabbi Aharon Lavi is the Managing Director of the Ohr Torah Interfaith Center, which works with religious leaders worldwide to make religion part of the solution to global challenges. He is also the founder and co-director of Hakhel, the Jewish Intentional Communities Incubator in the Diaspora (awarded the 2020 Jerusalem Unity Prize), and the founder of the Garin Shuva community on the Gaza border.
Rabbi Lavi holds academic degrees in Economics, Geography (BA), and History and Philosophy of Ideas (MA). He recently completed his PhD dissertation on the migration of ideas between US Jewry and Israeli society. In 2024, he was a post-doctoral fellow at the Harvard Divinity School and wrote on Jewishly inspired community building. He is a published author on Jewish economic and environmental thought, community building, international religious affairs, and more.
Outside of his professional life, Rabbi Lavi is an avid mountain biker. His passion for the sport extends beyond leisure, as he is also a professional racer, trainer, and trail builder.
Rabbi Dr. Kenneth Brander is President and Rosh HaYeshiva of Ohr Torah Stone, a global network of 32 educational and social initiatives. An accomplished innovator in Jewish education and community building, he previously served as Vice President at Yeshiva University, where he enhanced student life, global service learning, and Israel advocacy. As senior rabbi of the Boca Raton Synagogue, he oversaw its growth from 60 to over 600 families, established Jewish institutions like The Katz Yeshiva High School, and developed the Hahn Judaic Campus. Rabbi Brander holds a Ph.D. in philosophy and comparative literature, has published extensively on Jewish law and thought, and is a sought-after speaker worldwide. Since making Aliya in 2018, he resides in Jerusalem with his wife, Rachel, and their family.
Rabbi Dr. Kenneth Brander is President and Rosh HaYeshiva of Ohr Torah Stone, a global network of 32 educational and social initiatives. An accomplished innovator in Jewish education and community building, he previously served as Vice President at Yeshiva University, where he enhanced student life, global service learning, and Israel advocacy. As senior rabbi of the Boca Raton Synagogue, he oversaw its growth from 60 to over 600 families, established Jewish institutions like The Katz Yeshiva High School, and developed the Hahn Judaic Campus. Rabbi Brander holds a Ph.D. in philosophy and comparative literature, has published extensively on Jewish law and thought, and is a sought-after speaker worldwide. Since making Aliya in 2018, he resides in Jerusalem with his wife, Rachel, and their family.
Rabbi Sarel Rosenblatt serves as the Rosh Yeshiva of the Ohr Torah Stone Robert M. Beren Machanaim Hesder Yeshiva and is the head of the Ohr Torah Stone Joseph and Gwendolyn Straus Rabbinical Seminary. In addition, he is a co-founder and senior research fellow at the Ohr Torah Interfaith Center. Rabbi Rosenblatt has been deeply involved in interfaith dialogue, having both participated in and later facilitated the Culture, Religion, and Conflict Resolution (CRCR) seminar at Drew University in New Jersey. He was also a participant in the Search for Common Ground’s leaders’ interfaith group and has taken part in numerous international interfaith initiatives.
Rabbi Rosenblatt holds a B.Ed. with a focus on Jewish Thought from Herzog College and a Master’s in Jewish Philosophy from Ben Gurion University. He lives in Efrat with his wife, Tzurit, and their five children, where they are actively involved in community life.
Rabbi Sarel Rosenblatt serves as the Rosh Yeshiva of the Ohr Torah Stone Robert M. Beren Machanaim Hesder Yeshiva and is the head of the Ohr Torah Stone Joseph and Gwendolyn Straus Rabbinical Seminary. In addition, he is a co-founder and senior research fellow at the Ohr Torah Interfaith Center. Rabbi Rosenblatt has been deeply involved in interfaith dialogue, having both participated in and later facilitated the Culture, Religion, and Conflict Resolution (CRCR) seminar at Drew University in New Jersey. He was also a participant in the Search for Common Ground’s leaders’ interfaith group and has taken part in numerous international interfaith initiatives.
Rabbi Rosenblatt holds a B.Ed. with a focus on Jewish Thought from Herzog College and a Master’s in Jewish Philosophy from Ben Gurion University. He lives in Efrat with his wife, Tzurit, and their five children, where they are actively involved in community life.
Dr. Assaf Malach is a distinguished political scholar and the current head of the College of Politics at the Shalem Academic Center. Widely regarded for his deep expertise in nationalism, nation-states, and political philosophy, Dr. Malach has made substantial contributions to these fields and stands as a leading public intellectual in Israel. Between 2015 and 2022, he chaired the Citizenship Subject Committee for the Israeli Ministry of Education, influencing policy on national identity and civic education. In 2019, he published his critically acclaimed book From the Bible to the State of the Jews, a work hailed for its insight into the intersection of Jewish history and political thought, published by Yediot Books. Dr. Malach’s scholarly achievements have been recognized through numerous prestigious awards, including the Jabotinsky Prize, the Begin Prize, and the coveted President’s Research Scholarship.
Dr. Assaf Malach is a distinguished political scholar and the current head of the College of Politics at the Shalem Academic Center. Widely regarded for his deep expertise in nationalism, nation-states, and political philosophy, Dr. Malach has made substantial contributions to these fields and stands as a leading public intellectual in Israel. Between 2015 and 2022, he chaired the Citizenship Subject Committee for the Israeli Ministry of Education, influencing policy on national identity and civic education. In 2019, he published his critically acclaimed book From the Bible to the State of the Jews, a work hailed for its insight into the intersection of Jewish history and political thought, published by Yediot Books. Dr. Malach’s scholarly achievements have been recognized through numerous prestigious awards, including the Jabotinsky Prize, the Begin Prize, and the coveted President’s Research Scholarship.
Rabbi Matanya Yadid (b. 1979) is the founder and director of the Sifra Center for Education, Identity, and Community Leadership, which serves the religious Zionist community in Israel. The Center collaborates closely with the Ministry of Education’s religious Zionist sector and works with influential religious Zionist rabbis and many of the current MKs in the new Israeli governing coalition. Rabbi Yadid also serves as a senior rabbi at Bar-Ilan University’s Institute for Advanced Torah Studies, where he supervises the doctoral students’ program, and as a lecturer at Orot Israel College, overseeing the Educators’ track. He holds a BA and MA in Jewish Education from Herzog Teacher’s College and is currently a doctoral student in Education at Cordova University in Spain. He received rabbinic ordination after years of study at Yeshivat Merkaz HaRav, the flagship institution of Religious Zionism.
Rabbi Yadid is known for his extensive and trusted relationships with leading religious Zionist figures, MKs, and senior Israeli government officials. Through these connections, he plays a pivotal role in fostering dialogue between Jewish and Muslim political and religious leaders across the Middle East, Europe, and the United States, particularly in the context of the Abraham Accords. His efforts aim to build mutual understanding and establish direct lines of communication, enabling more informed decision-making and effective problem-solving. Rabbi Yadid lives in Maale Michmash with his wife and seven children.
Rabbi Matanya Yadid (b. 1979) is the founder and director of the Sifra Center for Education, Identity, and Community Leadership, which serves the religious Zionist community in Israel. The Center collaborates closely with the Ministry of Education’s religious Zionist sector and works with influential religious Zionist rabbis and many of the current MKs in the new Israeli governing coalition. Rabbi Yadid also serves as a senior rabbi at Bar-Ilan University’s Institute for Advanced Torah Studies, where he supervises the doctoral students’ program, and as a lecturer at Orot Israel College, overseeing the Educators’ track. He holds a BA and MA in Jewish Education from Herzog Teacher’s College and is currently a doctoral student in Education at Cordova University in Spain. He received rabbinic ordination after years of study at Yeshivat Merkaz HaRav, the flagship institution of Religious Zionism.
Rabbi Yadid is known for his extensive and trusted relationships with leading religious Zionist figures, MKs, and senior Israeli government officials. Through these connections, he plays a pivotal role in fostering dialogue between Jewish and Muslim political and religious leaders across the Middle East, Europe, and the United States, particularly in the context of the Abraham Accords. His efforts aim to build mutual understanding and establish direct lines of communication, enabling more informed decision-making and effective problem-solving. Rabbi Yadid lives in Maale Michmash with his wife and seven children.
Mordechai Bar-Or is the founder and director of KOLOT, a study center (Beit Midrash) dedicated to developing Israeli leadership rooted in Jewish ethical values and creating a renewed mission for the State of Israel. Mordechai served as a personal adviser and Rabbi to President Shimon Peres and taught key political and financial leaders in Israel.
From 1983 to 1989, he directed “Gesher” seminars in Safed and later headed the Jewish studies program at the Pelech High School for Girls in Jerusalem. Mordechai co-founded Elul, the first joint study center for religious and secular Israelis, and served as its co-director until 1996, earning the prestigious AVI CHAI prize for his work. His leadership journey also includes authoring the book V’heye B’racha (published in June 2022) and working on “Blessings of the Descendants of Abraham,” a new vision and methodology for addressing the Jewish-Muslim conflict.
Mordechai’s career has spanned decades of service in educational, leadership, and interfaith initiatives, contributing to the Jewish community’s role in modern Israeli society.
Mordechai Bar-Or is the founder and director of KOLOT, a study center (Beit Midrash) dedicated to developing Israeli leadership rooted in Jewish ethical values and creating a renewed mission for the State of Israel. Mordechai served as a personal adviser and Rabbi to President Shimon Peres and taught key political and financial leaders in Israel.
From 1983 to 1989, he directed “Gesher” seminars in Safed and later headed the Jewish studies program at the Pelech High School for Girls in Jerusalem. Mordechai co-founded Elul, the first joint study center for religious and secular Israelis, and served as its co-director until 1996, earning the prestigious AVI CHAI prize for his work. His leadership journey also includes authoring the book V’heye B’racha (published in June 2022) and working on “Blessings of the Descendants of Abraham,” a new vision and methodology for addressing the Jewish-Muslim conflict.
Mordechai’s career has spanned decades of service in educational, leadership, and interfaith initiatives, contributing to the Jewish community’s role in modern Israeli society.
Dr. Nesya Rubinstein-Shemer is a senior lecturer in the Department of Middle Eastern Studies at Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel. She earned her Ph.D. in Islamic law, focusing on the Islamic law of prayer. Dr. Shemer specializes in Islamic law, the relations between Judaism and Islam, and political Islamic movements, including Hamas and the Islamic movement in Israel.
Her book, Hamas and Ideology: Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi on the Jews, Judaism, and Israel, was published by Routledge. Dr. Shemer regularly publishes scholarly articles in her field, and her work can be accessed on her Academia page.
Dr. Nesya Rubinstein-Shemer is a senior lecturer in the Department of Middle Eastern Studies at Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel. She earned her Ph.D. in Islamic law, focusing on the Islamic law of prayer. Dr. Shemer specializes in Islamic law, the relations between Judaism and Islam, and political Islamic movements, including Hamas and the Islamic movement in Israel.
Her book, Hamas and Ideology: Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi on the Jews, Judaism, and Israel, was published by Routledge. Dr. Shemer regularly publishes scholarly articles in her field, and her work can be accessed on her Academia page.
Rabbanit Avital Cohen Brenner, an educator and leader, serves as the director of the Ein Zurim Military Preparatory School, a pre-military program designed for religious girls preparing to enlist in the Israeli army. She is a graduate of the prestigious halachic program led by Rebbetzin Dr. Michal Tikoczinsky at the Beit Midrash in Migdal Az.
Currently a doctoral student at the Hebrew University, Rabbi [Name] is also a researcher at the Hartman Institute, where she contributes to the field of Jewish thought.
She is married to Itamar and is the proud mother of six daughters, balancing her professional and personal commitments with dedication and passion.
Rabbanit Avital Cohen Brenner, an educator and leader, serves as the director of the Ein Zurim Military Preparatory School, a pre-military program designed for religious girls preparing to enlist in the Israeli army. She is a graduate of the prestigious halachic program led by Rebbetzin Dr. Michal Tikoczinsky at the Beit Midrash in Migdal Az.
Currently a doctoral student at the Hebrew University, Rabbi [Name] is also a researcher at the Hartman Institute, where she contributes to the field of Jewish thought.
She is married to Itamar and is the proud mother of six daughters, balancing her professional and personal commitments with dedication and passion.
Jordan Kastrinsky is a marketing strategist and media expert with over a decade of experience in interfaith engagement, digital communications, and event coordination. As Head of Marketing and Media at Ohr Torah Interfaith Center (OTIC), he leads strategic messaging, digital campaigns, and media management, fostering meaningful dialogue among religious leaders and policymakers. With degrees in Linguistics and Middle Eastern Studies from Dartmouth College, an advanced command of the Arabic language, and years as an active soldier and reservist in the IDF Arabic and Farsi Spokesperson unit, Jordan brings leadership, operational know-how, and a mission-driven approach to his work while also being equipped with deep insights that shape OTIC’s global outreach. His expertise in visual storytelling, community engagement, and public relations positions OTIC as a leader in interfaith collaboration. He also runs the international marketing firm Global Upscale and the is the Israel Director of the Colorado-Israel Chamber of Commerce.
Jordan Kastrinsky is a marketing strategist and media expert with over a decade of experience in interfaith engagement, digital communications, and event coordination. As Head of Marketing and Media at Ohr Torah Interfaith Center (OTIC), he leads strategic messaging, digital campaigns, and media management, fostering meaningful dialogue among religious leaders and policymakers. With degrees in Linguistics and Middle Eastern Studies from Dartmouth College, an advanced command of the Arabic language, and years as an active soldier and reservist in the IDF Arabic and Farsi Spokesperson unit, Jordan brings leadership, operational know-how, and a mission-driven approach to his work while also being equipped with deep insights that shape OTIC’s global outreach. His expertise in visual storytelling, community engagement, and public relations positions OTIC as a leader in interfaith collaboration. He also runs the international marketing firm Global Upscale and the is the Israel Director of the Colorado-Israel Chamber of Commerce.
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