Rabbi Yonason Martin, MED
 Founder & Executive Director

 Rabbi Martin founded Hakshiva in 2004 in response to needs of the Ramat Beit  Shemesh community. A native of Far Rockaway, NY Rabbi Martin began his mentoring  career at the age of 13, and worked as a teacher and counselor in Camp Avraham  Chaim Heller for a number of years. He learned in Yeshiva of Far Rockaway and later excelled in the Mirrer Yeshiva in Yerushalayim. While in the Mirrer, Rabbi Martin developed an extremely close relationship with Rav Asher Arieli. In 2002 Rabbi Martin founded the Gra Kollel in Ramat Beit Shemesh under the leadership of Harav Elimelech Kornfeld. Rabbi Martin has an MA in Educational Leadership from Bellevue University of Nebraska.

 Eliav Friedman, MSW
 Clinical Director of Group Mentoring Programs

 Eliav Friedman grew up in Woodmere, New York. He has worked with teens in various  capacities, including as camp division head, an NCSY advisor, and as a mentor in the  Hemshech Program. Eliav was one of the pioneering students of the Lander College for  Men/Beis Medrash L’Talmud in Queens, NY where he served as Student Council President and spent three years learning under Rav Yehuda Parnes. He received a BA in psychology from Lander College and then earned his MSW from the Wurzweiler School of Social Work at Yeshiva University. Prior to coming on Aliyah, Eliav worked for the JASA Adult Protective Services Program, where he dealt with members of every strata of society.

 Adi Kahn, LMSW
 Director of Family Support Services

 Adi Kahn grew up in Brooklyn, NY where she attended Yeshivah of Flatbush. While she  excelled both academically and socially, Adi was most known for her genuine desire to  lend a helping hand. Adi spent five summers as a counselor/lifeguard at Camp HASC  (Hebrew Academy for Special Children). After a year of study in Michlelet Mevaseret Yerushalayim, Adi went on to receive a BA in Psychology & Jewish Studies from Queens College. She began her career as a teacher of Limudei Kodesh at the RAMAZ school in NYC. While Adi left her mark as an educator, she felt her passion lie more in helping children outside of the classroom. Adi went on to receive her MSW from the Wurzweiler School of Social Work at Yeshivah University. Prior to making aliyah, Adi worked with adolescents as a school social worker at YBH of Passaic. When Adi leaves the office, she is usually found walking the streets of Ramat Beit Shemesh with her four boys at her side, a smile always on her face.

 Rabbi Avi Perlowitz, MSW
 Director of Individual Mentoring Program 

 Rabbi Avi Perlowitz received his Semicha from Yeshivas Ohr Hachaim in Queens and his  MSW from the Wurzweiler School of Social Work at Yeshiva University. Rabbi Perlowitz  has extensive experience working with adolescents having been a rebbe and assistant  principal in two yeshiva high schools in New York. He spent numerous summers as Men’s  Head Counselor at Camp HASC as well. Rabbi Perlowitz brings experience in the mentoring field as well, having worked with children and their families at Kav L’Noar in Yerushalayim. In addition to his work at Hakshiva, Rabbi Perlowitz is an afternoon and night rebbe at Yeshivat Reishit Yerushalayim in Beit Shemesh.

 Rabbi Nachum Wasosky

 Director of Group Mentoring Programs

 Rabbi Nachum Wasosky studied accounting at Sy Syms School of Business in New  York  City. He then spent the next seven years learning in Yeshivat Aish HaTorah in  Jerusalem,  where he received a Bachelor degree in Jewish Philosophy and Law as  well as a Masters  in Rabbinical Leadership & Rabbinical Ordination. Rabbi Wasosky  moved to Denver in the summer of 2002 because he was committed to strengthening the Jewish family. Apart from serving as Aish Denver's Youth Director for six years, Rabbi Wasosky founded and directed the Jewish Family Institute (JFI). The JFI created and hosted hundreds of programs, lectures, and seminars geared towards strenthening the entire Jewish family unit. JFI was also home to Denver's first citywide Jewish Teen Center, which served thousands of Denver's Jewish youth.

 Rabbi Shalom Iskowitz
 Educational Coordinator

 Rabbi Shalom Iskowitz studied in The Kerem B'Yavneh Kollel, Michlala Jerusalem College, and Moreshet Yaakov Teacher's College. He has served as a commander in the Israeli army and was a Torah MeTzion shaliach in Memphis, Tennessee. He is the Educational Director of Kidum Noar Chaereidi (an alternative school for teens out of the regular school system) in Beit Shemesh, which is attended by a number of teens in Hakshiva's Anglo Teen Program. Rabbi Iskowitz has taught at Sha'arei Mevaseret Tzion, Aish HaTorah and Machon Gold and currently teaches in MMY.  

Amy Gitlin
 Administrative Directory, Director of Girls Teen Program

 Amy Gitlin grew up in Manhattan, and graduated with honors from Brooklyn Law School in 1985. After working as a litigator for seven years, she made aliyah with her family, and worked as the Administrative Director of a midrasha for Baalot Teshuvot for ten years. While there she discovered a passion for working with women who need a little extra help, guidance and nurturing.  She loves teenagers, having some of her own. She is currently in the midst of earning a post-graduate degree in counseling and family therapy.