Speakers

Mrs. Michal Horowitz

Mrs. Michal Horowitz has a BS from combined studies at York University, Toronto, and Brooklyn College, and an MS from Brooklyn College, NY. Mrs. Horowitz offers weekly classes and shiurim at many venues in her home community of the Five Towns, NY, and the greater NY area. Additionally, she is a speaker at Yeshiva University’s Midreshet Yom Rishon and this Shavuos is her fourth consecutive year as a speaker at the RIETS Shavuos Yarchei Kallah program. Mrs. Horowitz is a featured speaker on the Speakers Bureau of the Orthodox Union (OU). Michal lives in Woodmere, NY with her husband and children.

Rabbi Menachem Penner

Rabbi Menachem Penner is the Max and Marion Grill Dean of Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary at Yeshiva University and the Men’s Undergraduate Torah Studies programs at Yeshiva University. Rabbi Penner served as the spiritual leader of the Young Israel of Holliswood in Queens for 20 years and is now Rabbi Emeritus. Rabbi Penner received his semikhah from RIETS in 1994 and his BA from Yeshiva College in 1991. The parent of a child with special needs, he speaks across the country on issues of children with disabilities.

Mrs. Shoshana Schechter

Shoshana Schechter is assistant professor of Bible at Stern College for Women and the director of the Mechina program there. A graduate of Stern College, with a BS in both Judaic Studies and English Literature, Mrs. Schechter also teaches Tanach and English at Ateres Bais Yaakov High School in Rockland County, New York. She holds masters degrees from Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies as well as from Columbia University School of Journalism. She is a frequent lecturer on topics in Tanach and has been involved in Jewish outreach programs on four continents. She lives in New Hempstead, New York with her husband, Yitzchak, and five children.

Rabbi Dr. Jacob J. Schacter 

Rabbi Dr. Jacob J. Schacter is University Professor of Jewish History and Jewish Thought and Senior Scholar at the Center for the Jewish Future, at Yeshiva University. Rabbi Dr. Schacter holds a PhD in Near Eastern Languages from Harvard University and received rabbinic ordination from Yeshiva Torah Vodaas. He graduated from Brooklyn College in 1973. From 2000–2005 he served as dean of the Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik Institute in Boston. From 1981– 2000, he served as rabbi of The Jewish Center in Manhattan, moving the congregation from 180 to more than 600 members over the course of his tenure, and also served as rabbi of the Maimonides Minyan in Brookline, MA from 2000–2005.

Dr. Isaac (Yitzy) Schechter

Dr. Schechter is a leader and innovator in behavioral health in the Jewish community. He started and runs ACHIEVE Behavioral Health in Monsey and Monroe, NY. ACHIEVE is a federally designated Certified Community Behavioral Health Center bringing a very wide range of high-level clinical.

Rabbi Hershel Schachter

Rabbi Hershel Schachter is Rosh Yeshiva and Rosh Kollel at RIETS where he holds the Nathan and Vivian Fink Distinguished Professorial Chair in Talmud. A prolific author, he has published more than 100 articles in Hebrew and publications, including English in scholarly HaPardes, Hadarom, Beis Yitzchak, and Or Hamizrach. His books include Eretz HaTzvi, B’ikvei HaTzon, Ginat Egoz, Nefesh HaRav, Mipninei HaRav, and Divrei HaRav