Faculty
Rabbi Shmuel Silber
Dean
Rabbi Shmuel Silber has served as the Rav of Suburban Orthodox Congregation since 2003. His passion for on-going, advanced adult learning led to the inception of the Institute for Jewish Continuity, an in person and online learning center, dedicated to providing inspiring and intellectually invigorating Torah learning to all levels of learners. The Institute currently offers Torah learning opportunities to participants across the globe. Rabbi Silber has served as an adjunct professor for John’s Hopkins University and has delivered classes and lectured for several local institutions. He has served as a Scholar in Residence in the United States, Israel, Canada, and South Africa.
Prior to joining Suburban Orthodox, Rabbi Silber was the Assistant Rabbi of Congregation Shomrei Torah, in Fair Lawn, NJ. Rabbi Silber received Semicha from Yeshiva University and a Masters degree in Secondary Jewish Education from Azrieli Graduate School. Rabbi Silber and his wife Aviva B’H have six children.
Rabbi Uri Grosberg
Menahel
Rabbi Grosberg obtained both his BA and Semicha from Yeshiva University. He received Semicha while in Gruss Kollel, the Israeli arm of Yeshiva University’s Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (RIETS). He also received Semicha from Rav Zalman Nechemia Goldberg, ZT”L, while studying in Jerusalem.
Rabbi Grosberg began his classroom education career teaching in Yavneh Academy, while residing in Dallas Texas. After moving back to the East Coast, Rabbi Grosberg assumed the position of Director of Judaic studies at HHNE, Hebrew High School of New England in West Hartford CT. He supervised the Judaic staff, taught and implemented programs for the students and developed curriculum. Most recently, Rabbi Grosberg was the Principal of General Studies at the Mesivta of Waterbury, where he worked hard ensuring the success of every student.
Mrs. Rivki Fialkoff
Executive Administrator
Over the past 20, years, Mrs. Rivki Fialkoff has been involved in Jewish education in a variety of capacities. She taught both Judaic and secular studies in school on the East and West Coasts, at the elementary, as well as, high school levels. For the past several years, Mrs. Fialkoff worked in an administrative role at Bais Yaakov with a focus on IT in education.
Mrs. Allison Kronthal
Office and Operations Manager
Science Teacher
Science Teacher
Born a Baltimorean, Mrs. Allison Kronthal lived all over Maryland before finally settling down in her hometown. A James Madison University alum, Mrs. Kronthal graduated with her bachelor’s in Biology. It wasn’t until her final year at JMU that she decided she wanted to teach. After receiving her Masters for teaching, Mrs. Kronthal joined Walt Whitman High School, located in Bethesda, Maryland, where she taught Biology, Forensics, and Physics, and was the Advisor for the Robotics Club. After spending several years in Bethesda, Mrs. Kronthal decided to move back home to Baltimore, where she joined YMC as an administrator and a teacher. She’s excited to see how the school will grow and what accomplishments the school will gain in the years to come.
Rabbi Tzvi Atkin
Director of Student Life
Judaic Studies Teacher
Originally from Edison, New Jersey, Rabbi Atkin came to Baltimore to study in Yeshivas Ner Yisrael. While there, he received a Masters in Talmudic Law. Additionally, he earned a Masters degree in Education from Johns Hopkins University. Aside from teaching in YMC, Rabbi Atkin also teaches Judaic classes to the middle school of Ohr Chadash Academy. During the summer, he serves as Assistant Director of Camp Sports Kollel, a program combining Torah learning and sports for Yeshiva students returning from Yeshiva in Israel.
Rabbi Shimon Barkin
Judaic Studies Teacher
Rabbi Barkin was born in Cleveland, Ohio where he attended grade school. He then spent some years in Yeshiva of Passaic followed by some years of learning in Yeshiva in Israel and eventually earned his Rabbinic ordination. The diverse group of yeshivos helped Rabbi Barkin develop a love of Torah knowledge and a strong sense of wanting to share that with klal yisroel. This drive is what led him to his career of teaching high school boys in Talmudical Academy 19 years ago. He loves to give back and continues to sustain connections with many former students.
Rabbi Jake Chames
Judaic Studies Teacher
Rabbi Jake Chames has a background in working with boys at Ahavas Chaim, as well as having experience as a social worker.
Rabbi Eli Cohen
Judaic Studies Teacher Math Teacher
Rabbi Eli Cohen
Mr. Stuart Cohen
Science TeacherMath Teacher
Mr. Stuart Cohen had a long career with the FBI before becoming a teacher. Receiving his Masters in Teaching, Mr. Cohen is excited to be teaching at YMC.
Mr. Yitzi Dear
English Teacher
History Teacher
Mr. Yitzi Dear comes to us from Yeshivas Kesser Torah where he has been overseeing the Learning Center.
Rabbi Menachem Goldberger
Judaic Studies Teacher
Rabbi Menachem Golberger
Rabbi Shraga Goldenhersh
Judaic Studies Teacher
After studying in Yeshivat Kerem B’Yavneh, Rabbi Shraga Goldenhersh received his Bachelors of Science from Yeshiva University’s Sy Syms School of Business and Semicha from Yeshiva University’s Rabbi Isaac Elchonon Theological Seminary. He attended the Ner Israel Rabbinical College while earning his law degree at the University of Maryland.
Mrs. Yaffa Hill
English Teacher
Born and raised in Baltimore, Mrs. Yaffa Hill first decided she wanted to become a teacher when she was in sixth grade. After high school, Mrs. Hill attended Bais Yaakov Machon Raaya seminary in Israel, during which time she trained for and earned a degree in teaching Judaic studies. Upon her return to Baltimore, she enrolled in Towson University, where she majored in both English and Secondary Education and earned a Bachelor of Science degree and a Maryland Teaching Credential. She taught in a variety of schools — including public school, Yeshiva of Greater Washington, and Bais Yaakov High School — before transitioning to YMC for its first year. She works diligently to create innovative and engaging lesson plans that will help her students develop both academic and personal skills for higher education and the future.
Mrs. Rivka Kern
English Teacher
History Teacher
Originally from Connecticut, Mrs. Rivka Kern moved to Baltimore in 2018. She received her Bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Michigan and her Master’s in Teaching from UMGC. She is currently certified to teach at the secondary level. Over the past ten years, Mrs. Kern has taught English, Math, and Social Studies at the elementary, middle, and high school levels both in Baltimore and abroad, and she is very excited to teach American Literature at YMC.
Rabbi Yossi Kohen
Judaic Studies Teacher
Athletic Coach
ykohen@yeshivasmekorchaim.org
Rabbi Yossi Kohen is a Baltimore native who currently runs the popular Camp Yedidim for boys. He attended Yeshivas Aderes Hatorah for seven years and holds an MBA from University of Baltimore. Rabbi Kohen is passionate about providing constructive scholastic and extracurricular activities for Orthodox youth, and has experience working for NCSY and coordinating the local Jewish football league (JFL). Rabbi Kohen is looking forward to continuing working with the students and the YMC faculty to build and strengthen a positive learning environment and strong sense of teamwork at YMC.
Rabbi Eli Meyer
Math Teacher
Rabbi Eli Meyer spent a number of years living, learning, and teaching in Eretz Yisroel.
Rabbi Uri Rabinowitz
Judaic Studies Teacher
urabinowitz@yeshivasmekorchaim.org
Rabbi Uri Rabinowitz, originally from Baltimore, learned under the world-renowned staff at Yeshivas Toras Moshe in Yerushalayim. Returning home, he completed his Bachelors in Liberal Arts at Excelsior College while teaching at Ohr Chadash Academy. He taught at Yeshivas Mekor Chaim, while training in structured literacy for Lashon Hakodesh and English under the auspices of Binyan Yisroel and Jemicy School. He is certified in the Yesodos Kriah Program and Structured Literacy and Basics of Orton-Gillingham for elementary, middle, and high school. After years as a Rebbi and Kriah specialist at Binyan Yisroel, Rabbi Rabinowitz is excited to rejoin the team at Yeshivas Mekor Chaim!
Mr. Lev Avraham Rosenstock
Art Club Teacher
Lev Avraham Rosenstock was born and raised in Baltimore and attended the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) as a photography major from 1988-1992. After MICA, he worked as a Baltimore freelance photographer for over 20 years, specializing in editorial, marketing and public relations, and design and publications photography. During a stint as a freelance photographer for the Baltimore Jewish Times, Lev Avraham was introduced to the Baltimore frum community, and at age 40, was inspired to become shomer Shabbos and moved from his Charles Village home of 15 years to the Park Heights community. Mr. Rosenstock combines his art background with his life experience of becoming a baal teshuva to conjoin principles of art with principles of the Torah. Lev Avraham and family are devoted shul members of Congregation Tiferes Yisroel. The goal for the class is to inspire each boy to allow his inner-artist to shine through, with the hopes that through self-expression, he will be better able to create the greatest masterpiece of all- himself!
Mr. Steven Sandler
Math Teacher
Steve Sandler has bachelor’s degrees in business administration and electrical engineering from Towson University and Johns Hopkins respectively. In addition to doing a lot of private tutoring, Mr. Sandler has a fun part-time job that he has done for many years. He is a statistician for a number of different television and radio outlets at professional and college sporting events such as the Baltimore Orioles and Ravens. Mr. Sandler is excited to teach at YMC. He has taught math (from pre-algebra through calculus) for a number of years, both in middle school and high school. His last school was Mesivta Kesser Torah. Mr. Sandler is looking forward to doing everything he can to help YMC grow and flourish. For him, it will start with giving his students the best math education possible.
Rabbi Emanuel Shoob
Judaic Studies Teacher
Rabbi Emanuel Shoob is a Baltimore native and has been working as a dynamic, beloved Rebbe at Yeshivas Toras Simcha.