Dean

Dean Rabbi Henoch Morris (rabbimorris@thekollel.org) is the Rosh Kollel (Dean) of the Columbus Community Kollel. Rabbi Morris moved to Columbus in 1995 to help found the Columbus Community Kollel with lay and Rabbinic communal leaders. As Rosh Kollel, he was instrumental in developing the Kollel curriculum and launching "Kollel Evenings", a nightly program designed for interactive study groups and one on one learning. The open study times are Sunday through Thursday, from 8-10 p.m., and cover a wide array of topics and subjects. During his nearly 14 years in Columbus, Rabbi Morris has presented lectures and interactive classes in a number of venues, such as local synagogues and the Jewish National Fund, and has been a featured presenter at a continuing legal education seminar for attorneys. A native of Rochester, New York, Rabbi Morris earned a Masters of Talmudic Law at Ner Israel Rabbinical College in Baltimore, Maryland, and a C.P.A. from the State of Maryland. He currently lives in Columbus with his wife Chaya and their children.

Director of Community Programming

Rabbi Avrohom Nochum Drandoff (rabbidrandoff@thekollel.org), is the Director of Community Programs of the Columbus Community Kollel. He earned a Masters in School Counseling from The Johns Hopkins University and holds a Masters in Talmudic Law from Ner Israel Rabbinical College. He has also taught and counseled in a variety of Jewish educational settings both before and after graduation. During his graduate school internship Rabbi Drandoff was instrumental in developing a program to improve relationships between students, their parents and their teachers. As a staff member at NCSY Camp Sports for 9 years, he served in a number of capacities including Assistant Director, Outreach Consultant and Head of Recruitment. Currently, Rabbi Drandoff teaches a variety of classes to a diverse mix of individuals and groups. He is an instructor for the Kollel Institute, leads study sessions of the Kollel's Maimonides Society, and makes presentations to Wexner Heritage Village residents in Senior Living. He also leads a number of smaller learning groups and studies one on one with many individuals, often while drinking Starbucks coffee. Rabbi Drandoff and his wife Hope are the proud parents of two daughters, Temi and Shulamis.

Coordinator of Outreach

Rabbi Daniel Steinberg(rabbisteinberg@thekollel.org) is the Coordinator of Outreach for the Columbus Community Kollel. Rabbi Steinberg was raised in upstate New York and is a graduate of the Jewish Day School and Yeshiva High School systems. After initially pursuing a career in network TV comedy and major market radio, Rabbi Steinberg spent 7 years studying in Israel, where he earned a Bachelor's of Judaic Studies degree from Tanenbaum College in Jerusalem. Rabbi Steinberg is also a graduate of the Ohr LaGolah Leadership Institute in Jerusalem. Upon returning to the United States in 2005, Rabbi Steinberg moved to sunny California where he served for four years as an educator with the Jewish Study Network of Palo Alto. During his tenure at the JSN, Rabbi Steinberg got on-the-job training in many outreach situations including front-line outreach at Jewish events, one-on-one study sessions, teaching in elementary and high school classrooms, and making presentations to standing room only audiences.

Rabbi Steinberg's four year stay in the heart of Silicon Valley ignited his entrepreneurial spirit. He is currently developing a project called "TorahVision", his plan to create a new library of contemporary educational resources for day school and synagogue programs. TorahVision builds upon his past experiences in the world of comedy and TV production. Through its short, clever animated segments, TorahVision aims to bring to life the mitzvot of Shabbat and Yom Tov.

Rabbi Steinberg's diverse experiences, from comedy club stages in New York City to high level Talmud classes in Jerusalem's top yeshivot, have enabled him to relate to Jews from all walks of life. Rabbi Steinberg currently resides in Columbus with his wife Devorah and their three children.

Educators

Rabbi Meir Aronowitz (rabbiaronowitz@thekollel.org) was born in Englewood, New Jersey and spent most of his childhood in nearby Teaneck. After attending the local Solomon Schechter Day School from kindergarten through high school, Rabbi Aronowitz earned a Bachelor of Arts in English with a minor in Psychology at Rutgers University. After graduating from Rutgers, he decided to pursue Talmudic studies at Yeshivas Midrash Shmuel in Jerusalem, Israel. A lover of music and the arts, he spent most of his childhood summers at the Interlochen Arts Camp in Michigan honing his skills in piano, guitar, percussion and visual arts. He has worked part time as a book keeper and as a camp counselor in New Jersey as well as a Gemara tutor. Rabbi Aronowitz and his wife, Devorah, moved to Columbus in Fall 2009 and are raising two sons, Dovid Shmuel and Eliyahu.

Rabbi Dovid Chavkin (rabbichavkin@thekollel.org) moved to Columbus in Fall 2009 with his wife Chana Rivka, and their son Chaim Shmuel. Prior to their move, Rabbi Chavkin pursued his Talmudic studies in Jerusalem at Ohr Somayach Tanenbaum College and Yeshivas Mir. He also dedicated time to studying Talmud with beginners and developed a system for strengthening their skill of textual analysis. Rabbi Chavkin earned a certificate of education in the areas of Talmud and Chumash from the Torah Educators' Institute in Jerusalem. In addition, he holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business Communication from Northeastern University in Boston. While in Boston, he successfully completed the Boston Marathon. Rabbi Chavkin currently leads Bagels N More, an interactive discussion of Jewish philosophy and contemporary issues, and teaches classes dealing with a variety of topics. He resides with his family in Berwick.

Rabbi Yosef Katzman (rabbikatzman@thekollel.org) brings a midwestern taste to the Kollel. As a child and teen in Omaha, Nebraska, Rabbi Katzman became highly active in Jewish youth groups and learning programs, which motivated him to seek a level of Jewish education unavailable in Nebraska. After graduating high school, he enrolled at Ohr Somayach Tanenbaum College in Jerusalem and earned a Bachelors of Judaic studies in three and a half years. Next stop was Baltimore, Maryland. There he concurrently earned a Bachelors of Talmudic Law from Ner Israel Rabbinical College and a BA from University of Maryland, Baltimore County, where he majored in math with an actuarial science specialty and minored in economics. Summers were spent as an actuarial intern. Rabbi Katzman enjoys his role as a multi-faceted Kollel member with the opportunity to teach a wide range of Jewish topics to adults, young adults, and children. He draws on his wide range of experiences from communities as different as Omaha and Jerusalem, and is enthusiastic about sharing the wisdom he has acquired in the communities where he has lived. Rabbi Katzman lives in Eastmoor with his wife Shanny and their children Rena Bracha, Kochava Meira and Moshe.

Rabbi Benyomin Weinschneider (rabbiweinschneider@thekollel.org), one of the Kollel's newest members, hails from Chicago, Illionois. He pursued Talmudic studies at Ner Israel Rabbinical College for five years and earned a Masters in Talmudic Law. He also holds a Masters in Education and Administration from Loyola University (Chicago) as well as a Certificate in Jewish Education from the Jewish Educational Leadership Institute. Upon graduation, Rabbi Weinschneider joined the staff of the Baltimore Community Kollel. As a member of the Baltimore Kollel, Rabbi Weinschneider taught and inspired individuals of all ages, taking a special interest in teaching and mentoring teens at risk. He has also served on the staff ofSinai Retreats, a summer outreach center for college students in Warrensberg, NY., and Mesorah D.C., a program in the Washington, D.C. area that brings young adults together for a warm Shabbos experience and weekly study sessions. Rabbi Weinschneider uses other talents to reach out as well. His keen sense of humor and exceptional knack for storytelling inspire young and old. And when he is not teaching or telling stories, Rabbi Weinschneider is usually singing. A professionally trained vocalist, he has led High Holiday services in synagogues for the past five years. Rabbi Weinschneider lives in Columbus with his wife Ahuva and their two adorable children, Aryeh and Aliza Esther.