Our instructors come from all walks of life. They are educators, Rabbis and even lawyers.

Rabbi Mat Hoffman
Rabbi Mat Hoffman received his first rabbinical ordination in 1988, received Yoreh, Yoreh thereafter and is studying for an advanced rabbinic degree. His rabbinic work has been featured in the New York Times, the Gannett newspapers and the Jewish Week. Rabbi Mat has appeared on CBS-TV and on the Maury Povich Show. He has been selected as a Super Lawyer in 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 indicating that he is in the top 5% of his profession. Rabbi Mat has a psychology degree from the University of Michigan and a law degree from Columbia University and has been published in the United States, Europe and Japan. He has run the Flame’s Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur Services since 1991.

Rabbi Bob Garber
Rabbi Bob Garber runs the Beginner’s Minyan at the Jewish Heritage Center in Queens, and is working on a masters degree in Jewish History at Yeshiva University. He received a law degree from Columbia University and is currently the head of technology for a computer software business. He has been studying the Talmud on a daily basis for over 25 years and teaches the Flame’s ongoing Parshat HaShavua class on virtualyeshiva.com.

Susan Garber
Susan Garber has a masters degree in education from Yeshiva University, and also studied at Michlellet Bruria in Jerusalem. She is the author of “Denver Dreams”, a Jewish novel, a book on teaching writing (Scholastic), and has been published in many educational periodicals. She currently teaches and consults in Jewish schools throughout the tri-state area and runs a seminar for Jewish educators.

Hillel Newerstein
Hillel Newerstein teaches Bible and Talmud at Yeshiva Kesser Torah in Queens. He has a Masters Degree in counseling at Queens College. He previously studied at yeshivas in Israel and at Yeshiva Kesser Torah.

Rabbi Meir Leibowitz
Rabbi Meir Leibowitz ireceived rabbinical ordination from Yeshiva University, and is currently pursuing a masters degree in Jewish Education. He has studied extensively in Jewish History, and currently teaches in Jewish schools in Queens.

Michael Poulad
Michael Poulad has a BA in Judaic Studies at Queens College, and has studied at yeshivas in Jerusalem and New York. He is actively involved in Jewish music and Jewish spirituality.

Joseph R. Rackman
Joseph R. Rackman is a partner in the Manhattan law firm of Hogan & Hartson L.L.P. and has published in numerous Jewish periodicals including Moment, New York Jewish Week, Tradition, Sh'ma, Jewish Review, Jewish Action and Midstream.

Rabbi Benjamin Hecht
Rabbi Benjamin Hecht is the Founding Director of NISHMA, a Torah Think Tank recognized throughout North America and Israel for its study, insights and perspectives in the fields of Torah law and ethics. He writes prolifically on Jewish thought and its interaction with the human condition and is in the process of completing a new book on Jewish identity. In addition to his rabbinical ordination, he holds degrees in law, psychology and management.