Rabbi David Weiss received Semichah from RIETS (YU) and a Masters in Jewish Education and Administration at Yeshiva University’s Azrieli Graduate School. Rabbi Weiss earned a B.S. in Accounting and was named Valedictorian of YU’s Sy Syms School of Business. Following Semichah, Rabbi Weiss was a member of the Wexner Kollel Elyon at Yeshiva University, during which time he served as a Night Seder Rebbe in YU. Rabbi Weiss has worked in North Shore Hebrew Academy High School for the past 7 years and currently serves as Chair of the Talmud Department, Rosh Beit Medrash, and faculty advisor of the Boys Torah Bowl Team. In the summers, he is a Maggid Shiur and Coordinator of the Post- 12th Grade Program in Camp Morasha Kollel.
Rabbi Weiss is excited for the opportunity to teach Gemara on a semichah level to the NSHA Kollel fellows while providing them pedagogical training and support in their transition from the Beit Medrash to the classroom. Rabbi Weiss is especially looking forward to working with the inaugural cohort of Kollel fellows, each of whom is a rising star in the world of Jewish Education. The Kollel fellows combine Torah scholarship with energetic and relatable personalities, enabling each fellow to teach, inspire and connect with all types of students.
Mrs. Moriah (Rosensweig) Weiss is a professor of Tanach and Jewish History in Stern College for Women. A graduate of Stern College, Mrs. Weiss earned a Masters in Jewish Education and Administration from Azrieli Graduate School and a Masters in Jewish History from Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies. She is currently pursuing a PhD at Bernard Revel Graduate School and writing her doctoral dissertation on the interface between Ashkenazic and Sephardic thought and values within the context of Jewish Medieval Intellectual History. While primarily teaching in college for the last 13 years, Mrs. Weiss has also taught honors Tanach classes in Shalhevet High School (North Woodmere) and Yeshiva University High School for Girls (Central).
Mrs. Weiss has already experienced the unique North Shore ruach through her attendance at countless Shabbatons and school events with her husband and five children. She is now excited to formally join the North Shore family in her role as Rosh Midrasha. Mrs. Weiss is looking forward to teaching Tanach on a graduate level and working with the Midrasha fellows to hone their pedagogical skills. Mrs. Weiss shared, “This unmatched cohort of Midrasha fellows are deeply passionate about transforming Jewish education and connecting with students on a personal level. It is my privilege to help them maximize their individual potentials in their journey to becoming Jewish educators”.
Already a familiar presence at NSHA, Chana Acobas has served as an intern at the high school, and led tefila and coordinated interactive parasha learning for middle school students. Chana attended Michlelet Mevaseret Yerushalayim (MMY) Seminary and the S. Daniel Abraham Honors Program at Yeshiva University’s Stern College for Women, where she recently graduated with a degree in psychology.
Motivated by the value of self-growth, Chana looks forward to further developing her own Torah learning skills and imparting that knowledge to students as an NSHA Midrasha Fellow. She will also be pursuing a master’s in Jewish education through the Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration where she hopes her background in psychology will enhance her pedagogy. Chana said, “There’s a lot of overlap between psychology and teaching. I not only want to teach Torah, but also help people and make connections with them. Both fields involve giving of yourself to others and building relationships.”
Aaron Brooks’ first impression of NSHA students was positive. As a high school student, he faced off against NSHA at the Cooper Invitational basketball tournament, and he remembers how kind the NSHA students were both on and off the court. Now, years later, he’s returning as an NSHA Kollel Fellow, eager to share the Torah skills and lessons he’s learned in the batei midrash at Yeshivat Har Etzion and Yeshiva University, where he earned a degree in math and economics and is currently a RIETS semicha student.
Aaron’s multifaceted work experiences include interning at a fintech startup, mentoring on the NCSY Kollel, and serving as a shiur assistant for YU Rosh Yeshiva Rabbi Michael Rosensweig. He looks forward to studying with Rosh Kollel Rabbi David Weiss, whose teaching style he first admired while at the Camp Morasha Kollel. As an educator, Aaron is inspired by Moshe Rabeinu who “took the Torah, Hashem’s words and essence, and transferred them and their lessons to the Jewish people.”
Sam Frank’s passion for education has been enriched through experiences both in the classroom and beyond. He spent five summers at Camp Stone in various leadership and education roles, served as an NCSY advisor, and holds the position of education director at a Bnei Akiva day camp in his hometown of Cleveland, Ohio.
Sam attended the Yeshivat Sha’alvim Hesder program for five years, where he studied in the beit midrash and served in an IDF paratroopers unit. With a degree in liberal arts from Excelsior University, he is now pursuing semicha through RIETS and a master’s in education at the Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration. Sam draws inspiration from the story of Moshe Rabeinu, who, “because of his diverse experiences and unique background, was able to attain a position of leadership and become the founding teacher of the Jewish people.”
Kayla Kreinik is a proud K-12 NSHA alum. Now, she’s thrilled to return as an NSHA Midrasha Fellow after two years at the Shaalvim for Women seminary and with a degree in Jewish education from Yeshiva University’s Stern College for Women. She is currently pursuing a master’s in Jewish education from the Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration.
With significant education experience — from teaching at-risk olah teens in Israel and serving as an advisor on the NCSY Michlelet summer program to substituting teaching Tanach at NSHA — Kayla is passionate about becoming a “master teacher.” Kayla shared, “As an NSHA graduate, I understand these students and what they are looking for in the future. I hope to meet them where they are and help them get there.”
After studying for two years at Yeshivat HaKotel, Yoni Laub attended Yeshiva University where he received a degree in psychology with a minor degree in business. With professional goals of pursuing Jewish education and the rabbinate, Yoni is studying for semicha through RIETS while serving as a rabbinic intern at Young Israel of Hillcrest.
Yoni believes that his studies in psychology complement his Torah teaching. “I’m passionate about acquiring a thorough knowledge of Torah, as well as an understanding and appreciation for people’s many layers. I believe that each student is a great kid with incredible potential,” Yoni said. This year, Yoni is excited to kickstart his formal teaching experience as an NSHA Kollel Fellow, where he hopes to continue his own learning and make a positive impact on students through Torah.
Steven Lieber, an alumnus of Yeshivat Har Etzion and Yeshiva University where he earned a degree in math, is currently pursuing semicha through RIETS. Steven has been a counselor at Morasha Kollel for three consecutive summers — soon to be fourth, and enjoys giving shiurim while visiting family in other Jewish communities. He also serves as a program coordinator at his hometown shul of Congregation Anshei Shalom in West Hempstead, Long Island, where he plans activities, shabbatons, and social events.
Steven cites NSHA Rosh Kollel Rabbi David Weiss as a role model and is eager to receive his guidance as an NSHA Kollel Fellow. Steven said, “I love the Fellowship schedule: being able to learn in a structured environment, prepare on my own, and then bring that material into the classroom.”
Sara has long been passionate about teaching, with experience that includes serving as a teaching fellow at Seattle Hebrew Academy, Northwest Yeshiva High School, and Rae Kushner Yeshiva High School through the MafTEACH School Community Fellowship; working in special education; and starting a Zoom school for preschoolers during Covid. Sara recently graduated from Macaulay Honors College at Queens College with a degree in history, a concentration in Jewish history, and minors in psychology, Jewish studies, and Hebrew.
Now, Sara is pursuing a master’s in Jewish education at Touro Graduate School and is excited to learn with students as an NSHA Midrasha Fellow: “I think Torah is one of the strongest ways to connect, and I hope it will help students move forward with purpose, pass that knowledge onto their families, and become future leaders,” she said.
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