Our Team
​Our team is composed of dedicated professionals with diverse skills and a shared commitment to excellence. Together, we work collaboratively to deliver innovative solutions and outstanding education to all of our students.
Our Administration
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Desi Yishay, Principal
Born in South Africa and educated by the impeccable ideals of Bnei Akiva and the South African Jewish community, Desi has been intensely involved in the education of Jews of all ages worldwide for over 20 years. She now lives in Efrat with her husband and 5 children. At the helm of YTA, Desi has curated an atmosphere of unconditional support while maintaining high academic and professional standards.
Rabbi Elan Adler,
Rav Beit Sefer
Rabbi Elan Adler was born in Israel and returned 16 years ago, after a rabbinic career in Stamford, Connecticut and Baltimore, Maryland. Besides teaching our teenage girls, he gives classes on various Jewish topics to retirees and golden agers in Efrat. Educated at Yeshiva University, he has taught at YTA for over a decade, where his innovative classes, peppered with gentle humor, are appreciated by students and staff. He simply loves our girls and invests in their spiritual and moral growth, and the students look forward to his class every week.
Dora Richter, Yoetzet
Dora Richter was born and raised in the USA, and made Aliya almost 50 years ago . She has a master's degree in educational counseling from Tel Aviv University. For over thirty years she has been working as a guidance counselor in the Israeli school system, primarily with high school girls with learning difficulties and with new olim. She resides in Jerusalem with her husband and has children and grandchildren throughout Israel. Dora's years of experience are an invaluable asset to parents and students navigating the Israeli education system.
Our Mechanchot
Gitty Cikk
Mechanechet Grade 9, Tanach
Gitty Cikk has been involved in education, and particularly Jewish education, in various different programs for different ages and levels for over thirty years. She has taught a variety of subjects, with Tanach as her main focus and passion. Her passion for teaching is a combination of love for her students and for the subjects she teaches. She will always go the extra mile for a student, and her love for her students and her subject is palpabale.
Adele Nemirov, Mechanechet Grade 10,
Toshba & Math
Originally from Upstate New York, Adele loves inspiring young Jews through formal and informal education. She holds Master's degree in Jewish Education from Yeshiva University and is a qualified Kallah teacher. In her free time, she hosts lone soldiers for Shabbat meals and plays tennis and netball. She lives in Ramat Beit Shemesh with her family, and can always be counted on for a deep conversation about anything and everything.
Yaffa Chaya Ben-Rachamim, Mechanechet Grade 11, Math
Yaffa Chaya Ben-Rachamim, "Mrs. B," beloved math teacher and Mechanechet, has been teaching at YTA for over 15 yrs. She grew up in New Jersey and made Aliyah after two amazing years at Harova, and studied education and math at the Michlala in Jerusalem. Always with a smile and a joke, her fun and relaxed style brings even the most reluctant learners to enjoy and succeed at math.
Batya Jacobs, Mechanechet Grade 12, History & Ezrachut
Rabbanit Batya Jacobs has been teaching at YTA since its inception and specializes in Olim education and advocacy since her service in the Education Corps of the IDF. She has designed, developed and produced curriculum and educational programs for the Division of Torah Culture of the Ministry of Education, Jewish schools and museums worldwide. She started our flagship Bet Midrash U’ Moreshet program, which you can read about in our Tuesday Programs highlight! She is notorious for her high academic expectations and standards, and her students consistently earn extremely high scores on very challenging exams.
Our Teachers
Idit Kovan, Ulpan
More about Idit coming soon!
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Shoshana Bormaster, Lashon
Originally from Memphis Tennessee, Shana made Aliya with her family at the age of 4. She grew up in Beit El where she enjoyed hanging with her Bnei Akiva friends and working in her father’s famous bakery, Herby’s Bake Shop. As a teenager she spent several summers in Pennsylvania as a counselor at Camp Stone. In addition to being the Lashon Teacher at YTA where she gets to share her infectious love for Hebrew with all of her students, Shana is also an Ulpan teacher and runs a small translation business for the last 15 years. Shana lives B’Simcha with her husband and Children in Beit Shemesh.
Adira Steinman, English
Adira Steinman is an English teacher at YTA, holding a BA in English Literature and Jewish Studies from Bar-Ilan University. Originally from Australia, she made Aliyah seven years ago after a formative year at Midreshet Harova on the MTA program. She is passionate about fostering a love of language, literature, and learning, and strives to create an engaging and supportive environment where students feel encouraged to think deeply, nurture curiosity and express themselves with confidence.
Jodi Davis, Math & Student Support
Jodi Davis is a passionate and approachable educator with 30 years of teaching experience. Originally from South Africa, she made Aliyah 2.5 years ago and is proud to call Israel home. Jodi specializes in teaching Math and English, with a deep expertise in remedial education. She knows that every student learns differently, which is why she focuses on providing personalized, individual academic support. Whether a student needs to close learning gaps, build confidence, or master new skills, Jodi is always available for dedicated one-on-one sessions tailored entirely to their unique needs.
Raizel O'Brien, Health
Raizel Direnfeld-O’Brien is a mental health education specialist with nearly a decade of experience working with individuals of all ages in the classroom and professional settings. She is a PSU graduate with a degree in Public Health focused on education and is also a certified psychotherapist. Raizel is deeply passionate about health education and believes it is one of the most powerful tools for preventive healthcare. Raizel's relatability and knowledge are an invaulable resource to the students in YTA.
Leba Gershon, Art
More about Leba coming soon!
Our Social Workers
Nechama Glanz, MSW
Head Social Worker
Nechama Glanz grew up in New Jersey and made Aliyah to Israel, where she now lives in Beit Shemesh with her husband and two daughters. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Yeshiva University and her Master’s in Social Work from the Wurzweiler School of Social Work.
Nechama is passionate about creating a warm, supportive space where people feel heard and understood. She values authentic connection, is always available for a good shmooze, and believes that understanding, compassion, and a bit of joy can go a long way.
Ruthie Feinberg
Social Work Intern
Rebecca Laskin
Social Work Intern
Jordan Flamholtz
Social Work Intern