GPATS Montak Scholars ċċċċ Contact Us Artificial Intelligence Biotechnology Computer Science Cybersecurity Data Analytics and Visualization Digital Marketing and Media Mathematics Occupational Therapy Physician Assistant Physics Speech-Language Pathology 2020-2021 Rachel Rosensweig Rachel RosensweigRachel Rosensweig is privileged to teach Gemara and Halacha at Ma'ayanot Yeshiva High School for Girls. She earned her B.A. in Judaic Studies and Biology from Stern College for Women, an M.A. in Advanced Talmudic Studies from GPATS, and dual M.A.-M.S. degrees in Medieval Jewish History and Jewish Education from Revel and Azrieli, respectively. Before joining Ma'ayanot, Rachel served as an adjunct professor at Stern College, where she taught Introduction to Talmud. She lives in Washington Heights with her husband, Rabbi Moshe Rosensweig, and their baby, Miriam. Mindy Schwartz Zolty Mindy Schwartz ZoltyMindy Schwartz Zolty is currently a doctoral student in clinical psychology at Adelphi University. She received her BA in Judaic Studies and Art History from Stern College for Women. Mindy studied for three years in the Graduate Program in Advanced Talmudic Studies (GPATS). While at GPATS, Mindy was a Wexner fellow/Davidson scholar and a Montauk scholar. Mindy has previously worked as the Community Scholar at Lincoln Square Synagogue and currently works as Rabbanit at Congregation Ramath Orah. She lives on the Upper West Side with her husband Yoni and their son. 2021-2022 Tzophia Stepansky Tzophia StepanskyTzophia Stepansky holds a B.A. in Psychology and Judaic Studies from and has been learning in GPATS for over four years. During her time in GPATS, she served as a community scholar in several shuls across the United States. Currently, Tzophia directs Drisha’s Middle School Summer Program for girls, studies in Drisha’s Beit Midrash in Israel, and serves as a faculty member at Midreshet Torah V’Avodah. She recently moved to Israel with her husband. Sara Greenfield Sara GreenfieldOriginally from Teaneck, N.J. and currently a resident of Jerusalem, Sara (Schatz) Greenfield is an experienced and knowledgeable educator who is passionate about expanding high-level Torah learning opportunities for women. She currently teaches Talmud at Midreshet Torah v'Avoda, works as an administrator and program director for Drisha Summer, and is completing an M.A. in Holocaust Studies at University of Haifa. She has lectured in numerous communities across the U.S. and Canada and is particularly enthusiastic about teaching Torah in small Jewish communities. Sara is a proud alumnus of Stern College for Women, where she received her B.A. in Judaic Studies and Education, and of 's Graduate Program in Advanced Talmudic Studies, where she received her M.A. in Biblical and Talmudic Interpretation. 2022-2023 Leora Orenshein Leora OrensheinLeora Orenshein is a dedicated educator currently teaching high school Gemara and Halacha at RKYHS. She holds a master's degree in Gemara and Halacha from GPATS and a bachelor's degree in Judaic Studies from Stern College. Leora has participated in various education fellowships and has previously taught at Midreshet Torah V'Avodah (MTVA). Leora has served as a scholar in residence in a number of shuls and communities. Leora is deeply passionate about learning and teaching Torah, both in the classroom and the community at large. Michal Schonbrun Michal SchonbrunMichal Schonbrun currently serves as one of the Campus Rebbetzins of Stern College for Women. Michal herself attended Stern College, where she earned her BA in Sociology and Judaic Studies. In addition to giving shiurim and meeting with students, Michal spends her day learning in her fourth year at 's GPATS. Prior to GPATS, Michal taught as a 3rd-grade Morah in Yeshivat Noam. 2023-2024 Net Penstein Neti PensteinNet Penstein is currently a third-year graduate student at GPATs, and also finishing her Master’s degree in Jewish Philosophy at the Bernard Revel School for Jewish Studies. After studying for a year at Migdal Oz, she earned a BA in Philosophy at Princeton University. She has been a teaching fellow at Ma’ayanot Yeshiva High School for Girls, as well as at the Maimonides School in Boston, and was the Emerging Scholars Fellow at Ma’ayan in Boston. She currently teaches Gemara II: Living and Dying by Torah at Stern. Ariella Broth Ariella BrothAriella Broth studied at MMY before majoring in Psychology and Judaic Studies at Stern. After spending a year in SAR High School's beit midrash fellowship program, she returned to her home beit midrash here at Stern to learn in GPATS (Graduate Program for Advanced Talmudic Studies).She is currently in the GPATS shana gimmel program while learning in Nishmat's American Yoetzet Halakha Program and teaching Gemara II: Human Nature in the Talmud at Stern. 2024-2025 Sarah Ross Sarah RossSarah Ross is currently a Master's student in GPATS and has a Master's in Jewish Education from Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education & Administration. She taught halakha in SKA High School for Girls and worked as an intern at the Beth Din of America. Before that, Sarah graduated from Stern College with a degree in Judaic Studies and a degree in Neurobiology. She loves learning and delving deep into the study of halakha to gain a greater connection and appreciation for the halachic system; she is excited about the opportunity to teach and share Torah with her students. She is currently teaching Women in Kewish Law at Stern College. Noa Berkowitz Noa BerkowitzNoa Berkowitz is currently a second year student in ’s Graduate Program in Advanced Talmudic Studies, learning full time in the Gemara track. Noa grew up in Teaneck, NJ, spent a year learning in Migdal Oz and recently graduated from Stern College with a double major in Political Science and Judaic Studies and a minor in Mathematics. Noa has served as the head of the beit midrash at Camp Stone and was a teaching fellow at Maayanot and Fuchs Mizrachi School. About Irving MontakIrving Montak z”l was a generous philanthropist, committed to advancing Jewish living and learning. His gifts have helped many institutions, including , establish opportunities for Jewish students and in turn, strengthen Jewish communities. Born in 1930 in Kobrin, Poland (now Belarus), Mr. Montak came to the United States as a young boy, escaping the atrocities of the Holocaust. He made his home in Brooklyn, NY, and served in the United States Army during the Korean War. He spent most of his career at the Coca-Cola Company and invested in real estate. Although he did not have the opportunity to attend college, Mr. Montak was a passionate supporter of education, a value deeply embedded within him by his mother, who felt deeply about giving young women educational opportunities. He provided generous support to 's Stern College for Women and dedicated the Montak Technology Center in memory of his beloved parents, Fannie (Faichie) and William Montak, and brothers, Sam and Israel Montak. His transformative gift to the Graduate Program in Advanced Talmudic Study (GPATS) included support of its Women’s Leadership Initiative as well as significant funding for the Irving Montak Scholars Program. In doing so, he continued his legacy as an educational advocate for and benefactor of educational opportunities and built on the values his parents shared.
