MTA is thrilled to welcome the following new faculty members for the upcoming 2020-2021 school year, including all-star alumni:
Rabbi Yisrael Apfel (‘08) as a maggid shiur. Rabbi Apfel has been the 12th grade bekius rebbe for the past three years and is excited to begin his new role as a maggid shiur. Rabbi Apfel is known as a warm and caring rebbe, who can be found in the beis medrash learning with countless talmidim throughout the day. He has also generously opened his home and hosted many MTA Queens events. An MTA alumnus as well as a graduate of Yeshiva University, Rabbi Apfel served as shiur assistant to Rabbi Yaakov Neuburger while learning at YU and continued to learn in the prestigious Wexner Kollel Elyon after receiving semicha from RIETS. He also earned a certificate in mental health counseling from Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology. Rabbi Apfel lives in Queens with his wife, Shayna, and their three children, Aryeh, Atara and Temima.
Rabbi Sam Dratch (‘12) as a Tanach rebbe. Rabbi Dratch is excited to return to his roots at MTA to teach, learn and grow with the talmidim. He also serves as the teen program director at the Young Israel of West Hempstead, where he runs a weekly minyan and develops regular programming for the local teens. Rabbi Dratch received Semicha from RIETS and earned a degree in psychology from Yeshiva University. He also spent time learning at YU’s Gruss Kollel in Jerusalem. Rabbi Dratch lives in West Hempstead with his wife, Sari, and their three children.
Rabbi Yehonatan Drory as a Tanach rebbe. Rabbi Drory is thrilled to join the MTA team and contribute to the spiritual growth of the talmidim. Rabbi Drory attended Yeshivat Kerem B’Yavneh and received his undergraduate degree from Yeshiva University and semicha from RIETS. He is entering his third year as a fellow in the prestigious Wexner Kollel Elyon at RIETS. While in the semicha program, Rabbi Drory spent time at MTA, leading chaburas for the night seder program. He also served as a shoel u’meishiv for YU college students. Rabbi Drory lives in Washington Heights with his wife, Sarah, and their two children.
Rabbi Ben Zion Feld (‘13) as a Tanach rebbe. Rabbi Feld can’t wait to return to the Lions’ den and teach alongside the rebbeim who made a tremendous impact on his life. After graduating from MTA, Rabbi Feld learned in Yeshivat Kerem B’Yavneh for two years and continued on to Yeshiva University, where he was part of the Masmidim Honors Program and attended the Sy Syms School of Business. He is currently completing his last year in the Bella and Harry Wexner Semicha Honors Program at RIETS. Rabbi Feld lives in Kew Garden Hills with his wife and son.
Rabbi Shai Kaminetzky (’13) as a Bekius rebbe. Rabbi Kaminetzky is proud to return to his MTA roots, where he spent four amazing years learning and playing basketball. After graduating from MTA, Rabbi Kaminetzky learned in Yeshivat Kerem B’Yavneh for two years, followed by attending Yeshiva University, where he majored in psychology and minored in business and political science. During his time at YU, Rabbi Kaminetzky also spent time at MTA, as a mishmar madrich and night seder coordinator. After graduating from YU, he spent two years living in Israel, where he learned in the YU Gruss Kollel and served as a night seder rebbe at Yeshivat Reishit. Rabbi Kaminetzky also spent numerous summers at NCSY Kollel, including one as head madrich. In addition to teaching at MTA, Rabbi Kaminetzky will serve as a rabbinic intern at the Beis Haknesses of North Woodmere, under the guidance of YU Rosh Yeshiva Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz. He is also entering his fourth year in the Bella and Harry Wexner Semicha Honors Program at RIETS. Rabbi Kaminetzky lives in Washington Heights with his wife, Tamar, and daughter, Basya.
Rabbi Yehoshua Katz, as a bekius rebbe in the Julius Wrubel Beis Medrash Katan program. Rabbi Katz is excited to bring his passion for chinuch to MTA, where he will work alongside Rabbi Tanchum Cohen in the prestigious Julius Wrubel Beis Medrash Katan program, which provides qualified seniors with an exceptionally intensive learning experience, thereby transitioning them into the world of beis medrash learning in which they will continue to thrive in Eretz Yisrael, at Yeshiva University and other mekomos ha-Torah thereafter. Currently a member of the Wexner Kollel Elyon at RIETS and maggid shiur at Yeshiva CHB (Chabad on Bowery), Rabbi Katz previously served as rabbinic intern at Mount Sinai Jewish Center and continues to deliver shiurim at a variety of shuls in the metropolitan area and other communities. He received his semicha from RIETS, a bachelor’s in philosophy from Yeshiva University and a master’s in Jewish philosophy from the Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies. Rabbi Katz lives in Washington Heights with his wife, Bracha, and their son, Effy.
