About Shapell's

David Shapell College of Jewish Studies / Yeshiva Darché Noam is the premier institution in Jerusalem dedicated to helping college graduates and young professionals grow in their Jewish life and learning. With a talented faculty of rabbis from varied backgrounds and perspectives, we’ve been helping English-speaking young men from around the world nurture their souls and develop their Torah learning skills in Gemara, Chumash, Halacha, and Hashkafa since 1978.

Our Vision

Shapell’s/Darché Noam prepares men in their 20’s and 30’s for a rich and multi-faceted Torah-centered life. Our educational programs facilitate direct encounters with classic, traditional sources, coupled with a focus on character refinement and spiritual growth, cultivating a lifetime love of Hashem, with the study and practice of His Torah. We inspire honor and appreciation of the range of Torah communities, guiding students to discover the fitting environment for them to raise their families and make their unique contribution to the Jewish people.

Our Mission

Shapell’s/Darché Noam, in both its David Shapell College of Jewish Studies/Yeshiva Darché Noam for Men and Midreshet Rachel v’Chaya College of Jewish Studies for Women, offers a variety of long-term (6 months or more), medium-term (3-6 months), and short-term (1-3 months) Torah studies programs. Our student body is composed of English-speaking college students and young professionals who are committed to making Torah Judaism the center of their lives.  We seek to make our education available to all interested students, regardless of economic ability.

Our academic program focuses on giving all students access to the world of classical Torah study, emphasizing the skills that lead to facility and fluency in traditional sources. This empowers students by giving them the ability to learn Torah directly from the sources and to enjoy learning, ensuring that they will continue to learn in the years to come.  They understand that it is not for them alone; but also for their families, their communities, and for generations, as they become strong links in the chain of our sacred tradition. We educate students to understand that high ethical character, continual spiritual growth, and fidelity to our sacred tradition are integral parts of serving Hashem.  We provide opportunities that strengthen our students’ love of the Jewish People, commitment to community service, and their ties to Israel.

We are driven by “דרכיה דרכי נועם וכל נתיבותיה שלום” – “The Torah’s ways are pleasant and all its paths are peace,” striving to create a communal environment that inspires our students to respect and value the many paths in the Torah world.

We help our students change their lives, affecting their future families and thus the face of the Jewish People.

Our Staff

The Hanhala

Rabbi Shaya Karlinsky

Rosh Yeshiva
Rabbi Karlinsky is co-founder and dean of both Shapell’s/Darché Noam and our sister seminary for women, Midreshet Rachel v’Chaya. A Los Angeles native, Rabbi Karlinsky studied at UCLA before going to Israel in 1968, to study at Yeshivat Kerem B’Yavneh and the Mir Yeshiva. After receiving smicha from ITRI, he completed a Master’s degree in educational psychology at Philadelphia’s Temple University and returned to Israel in 1975.

Rabbi Yitzchak Hirshfeld

Rosh Yeshiva Emeritus
Originally from Chicago, Rabbi Hirshfeld is a graduate of the Hebrew Theological College (“Skokie Yeshiva”). In 1969, after completing a BA in Mathematics at Roosevelt University, he came to Israel to learn at Mir Yeshiva from Roshei Yeshiva, Rabbi Chaim Shmulevitz zt”l and Rabbi Nachum Pertzovich zt”l. Before co-founding Yeshiva Darché Noam in 1978, Rabbi Hirshfeld taught at the original Shapell College and at Aish HaTorah. For 39 years, Rabbi Hirshfeld served as our Rosh Yeshiva, devoting his energy and talent to our students and alumni.

Rabbi Dovid Schoonmaker

Rosh Yeshiva
Rabbi Schoonmaker came to Shapell’s in Elul, 5777 after 16 successful years as the Rosh Beit Midrash at Aish HaTorah. He developed curricula and programs for the Yeshiva, mentored faculty, and has guided the academic and spiritual growth of hundreds of students. An alumnus of NCSY (and later a faculty member of their acclaimed Summer Kollel), he learned at Kerem B’Yavneh, Heichal HaTorah, Yeshivas Mir, and Birchas Mordechai, and has smicha from HaRav Zalman Nechemia Goldberg, zt"l.

The Rebbeim

Rabbi Joel Cohen

Rebbe
Rabbi Cohen has been learning and teaching at Shapell's since 1995. He received smicha from the Israeli Chief Rabbinate. With a father who worked for the Mossad, he traveled the world as a child, living in France, Switzerland, Ethiopia, Turkey, and Italy. In the past, Rabbi Cohen has led Shapell's smicha program (with the talmidim receiving smicha from Rav Zalman Nechemia Goldberg זצ"ל) and continues to be available for this purpose if there is a critical mass of qualified and interested students.

Rabbi Avraham Fischer

Rebbe
Rabbi Fischer introduces beginning students at Shapell’s to the fundamentals of Hebrew language. He has a BA in English Literature from Yeshiva University, Smicha from RIETS, and an MA in English Literature from NYU. After serving as Rabbi and educator at a small congregation in New Jersey, Rabbi Fischer made aliya in 1986. He was Director of Jewish Studies at the WUJS Institute in Arad, and teaches at a number of educational and outreach programs, including Midreshet Rachel v’Chaya – Shapell’s sister seminary for women.

Rabbi Daniel Gerszt

Rebbe
Rabbi Daniel Gerszt is an alumnus of Shapell’s and returned in 2020 to work with students, primarily in a pastoral role. Following two years of learning at Shapell’s, Rabbi Gerszt continued to learn at Yeshivas Mir, Torah Ohr and Medrash Shmuel. He continues to learn in Yeshiva, whilst also training to be a psychotherapist. Prior to learning at Shapell’s, Rabbi Gerszt graduated in History and Politics from Birmingham University and served in the Israeli Army.

Rabbi Yakov Haber

Rebbe
Rabbi Haber came to Shapell´s in 2007 with a decade of expertise in high-level Torah education at Yeshiva University and as a teacher at Stern College for Women. Rabbi Haber is a graduate of Yeshivat Kerem B´Yavneh and Yeshiva University, holds a master’s degree in Computer Science, and was a fellow at YU’s prestigious Kollel Elyon. He is a dedicated student of Rav Hershel Schachter shlit”a and Rav Mordechai Willig shlit”a and shares with his students the mesorah of Torah from Rav Soloveitchik that he received from his rabbis.

Rabbi Meshulam Isaac

Rebbe
Rabbi Meshulam Isaac has been at Shapell’s/Darché Noam almost since the beginning, joining the faculty in 1979. From that time through 2011, Rav Meshulam – as he’s known by all – introduced more than a generation of Shapell’s students to the vocabulary and style of Gemara. Raised in Detroit, he studied with Rav Pinchas Scheinberg, zt”l, accompanying Rav Scheinberg when the yeshiva moved to Israel in 1966, and has been teaching Torah for over 40 years.

Rabbi Eliezer Kwass

Rebbe
Rabbi Kwass, originally from Milwaukee, received smicha and a masters degree in Jewish Philosophy at Yeshiva University, studied for many years under Rav Yehuda Amital zt”l and Rav Aharon Lichtenstein zt”l at Yeshivat Har Etzion. Rabbi Kwass’ tremendous Torah knowledge and gift for writing has made him the ideal editor for many of our past Torah publications. He also gives a weekly online chabura for alumni.

Rabbi Yitzchak Lerner

Rebbe
Recruitment Coordinator
Rabbi Lerner is a Shapell’s/Darché Noam alumnus who returned to teach here. After completing his BA in International Relations from Concordia University in his hometown, Montreal, Rabbi Lerner began his studies at Shapell’s in 1992. After three years at Shapell’s, he went on to learn at Medrash Shmuel and received smicha from Rav Zalman Nechemia Goldberg shlit”a.

Rabbi Anthony Manning

(Director/Rosh Midrasha Midreshet Rachel V’Chaya
Rabbi Manning is Director/Rosh Midrasha of Midreshet Rachel V’Chaya. Growing up in England, he learned in Yeshivat Etz Chaim, Yeshivat Hamivtar, Ateret Yisrael, and at the Jerusalem Kollel of Rav Yitzchak Berkovits. After receiving an MA in Law from Oxford University, he worked as a lawyer in London before moving to Israel in 2002. Rabbi Manning has taught at MRC since 2005, gives a weekly shiur at the OU Israel Center and is a member of the Rabbinical Council of America. His 2023 book: Reclaiming Dignity – A Guide to Tzniut for Men and Women gained wide acclaim and he is pursuing a doctorate in Jewish Philosophy at Yeshiva University. Rabbi Manning and his wife, Sarah, live in Alon Shevut.

Rabbi Avi Rowe

Rebbe
Rabbi Avi Rowe is the Rebbe for our shiur for "veteran" students. Originally from Rochester, he came to Israel after high school. He learned at Kerem b'Yavneh, Heichal haTorah and the Mir Yeshiva, earning s'micha from HaRav Zalman Nechemia Goldberg zt"l. He then received his law degree from Bar Ilan University and was in the business world for 15 years. He then returned to the Mir for another 7 years. He teaches Daf Yomi at Kolel Yad Binyamin in Katamon and gives in depth halacha and haskfafa shiurim to working men. He and his wife Shoshana are blessed with seven children.

Rabbi Gidon Schneider

Mashgiach Ruchani
Originally from Toronto, Rabbi Schneider earned degrees in Criminology, History, Philosophy of Law and Social Thought, and a professional certificate in Dispute Resolution. An alumnus of Shapell’s, Rabbi Schneider learned in the Mir Yeshiva before joining Yeshiva University’s Gruss Kollel from which he received smicha. He also received a Masters in Jewish Education and Administration and smicha from Rav Zalman Nechemia Goldberg.

Rabbi Elie Silverberg

Rebbe
A Shapell’s alumnus, Rabbi Silverberg came to Israel at 27, and, after six years of intensive yeshiva study, was the first alumnus to join the full-time faculty. Born and raised in Toronto, Rabbi Silverberg has a BS in Electrical Engineering from the University of Toronto and worked for an electric corporation in Canada before arriving in Israel.

Rabbi Binyamin Wolff

Rebbe
Rabbi Binyamin Wolff is the director of the Executive Learning Program. He teaches a very popular Daf Yomi class in Rechavia. He has taught extensively at the Orthodox Union’s Israel Center, and continues to serve on the faculty of Yeshiva Aish HaTorah. He holds rabbinic ordination from Yeshiva University and is an alumnus of both Yeshivat Mir and Yeshivat Kerem b’Yavneh.

The Administration

Rabbi Shmuel Jablon

Executive Director
Rabbi Shmuel Jablon joined Shapell’s/Darché Noam in the spring of 5775 (2015), having made aliyah with his family the previous summer. Prior to his aliyah, he served as a Jewish Day School administrator in the U.S. for 17 years. A musmach of Hebrew Theological College (Skokie Yeshiva), he also holds a Masters in Education and has significant experience in strategic planning and community relations. Rabbi Jablon resides in Efrat and loves being a part of the Darché Noam family.

Michael Cohen

Alumni Relations
Michael has been welcoming students to Shapell’s since 1981 when he first began as both a student and administrator. He has held a variety of positions here over the past 3 decades. Currently, as Student Financial Director, Michael tries to assure that no qualified applicant is unable to study here because of financial constraints. Originally from Connecticut, Michael holds a BA from Colgate University and an MBA from Indiana University. He particularly enjoys staying connected with almost 40 years of alumni.

Mrs. Dana Margolis

Director of Philanthropy
Mrs. Dana Margolis, as Director of Philanthropy, is responsible for alumni relations and fundraising. Dana and her husband, Adam, are also alumni of our Married Couples Program. Before fulfilling a life-long dream-making aliya in the spring of 2021, Dana and Adam were star lay leaders in the Milwaukee Jewish community led by their mentors, Rabbi Michel and Rebbetzin Feige Twerski. Professionally, Dana has been a Senior Lecturer in Jewish Studies at the University of WI-Milwaukee for 20 years and most recently served as the Director of Women’s Philanthropy for the Milwaukee Jewish Federation.
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