Meet the Directors
Midreshet Tehillah representatives usually visit high schools across the US and UK during November and December to meet potential students. They may return in January for face-to-face interviews with each applicant, but it is also possible to arrange an interview over Zoom or WhatsApp.
Rabbi Jeremy Kagan grew up in Hawaii and attended Yale University, where he received a B.A. in Philosophy. While traveling in Israel during college he began his Torah studies, going on to learn in Ohr Sameach, Meshech Chochma, and Heichal HaTorah B’Tzion. He regularly attended the shiurim of Rav Moshe Shapiro and eventually gained Semicha from Rav Zalman Nechemya Goldberg. His first book (Feldheim, 1998) The Jewish Self: Recovering Spirituality in the Modern World was much acclaimed. In 2011 his second book: The Choice to Be: A Jewish Path to Self and Spirituality (Feldheim, 2011) received the National Jewish Book Award for Modern Jewish Thought. His most recent publication is The Intellect and the Exodus: Authentic Emuna for a Complex Age (Koren, 2018).
Mrs. Susan Kagan got involved with Jewish education before she entered high school and has not stopped since! Joining NCSY at the tender age of 13, she rose quickly through the ranks to become a National Officer. After completing her degree at Touro College, Mrs Kagan came to Neve Yerushalayim to become a madricha. She was quickly put in charge of a number of Neve outreach programs and would drive from one end of Israel to the other to run kiruv programs on college campuses. When she got married she became the first house mother at Bnos Chayil, one of the early Neve seminaries. A year later she was brought back to Neve to become the house mother of the newly opened Neve Yerushalayim Har Nof campus. Susan remained the head house mother for 12 years, during which time she earned her masters in Clinical Sociology – a family therapy degree. After a successful career in family counseling she was recruited by a very close relative (!) to join Midreshet Tehillah in its second year of operation.
Mrs. Miriam Tannenbaum was born and raised in NY and lived in Texas for 16 years. She taught a variety of limudei kodesh subjects in Akiba Academy of Dallas’ Middle School, where she also served for many years as Judaic Studies coordinator. With much excitement, Miriam and her family made Aliyah in summer 2018, fulfilling a life-long dream, and eagerly joined the Midreshet Tehillah faculty. She is currently also involved in opening a new high school for girls in Beit Shemesh, where she serves as the Menahelet. Miriam is married to R’ Meir Tannenbaum and is a mother to Nechama, Avrumy, Avigayil, Yitzy and Tzvi. She loves learning, running marathons and coffee.
Mrs. Michal Levy was born and raised in Israel and received her certification and specialized degree in education from Merkaz BeitYakov. She earned a B.A. in English and Education from The Ministry of Education of Israel and also participated in the counselling Skills Course at the Family Institute at Neve Yerushalayim. Michal lives in Jerusalem with her husband and children.
574To request a Zoom presentation to your school or community or a meeting with one of our Directors, please contact:
Rabbi Jeremy Kagan at US telephone 347-408-1453 or at [email protected];
Mrs Susan Kagan at [email protected] or WhatsApp her at +972-525-347-574
Mrs. Miriam Tannenbaum at US telephone +1-414-526-6864 or email her at [email protected]
If you are visiting Israel and would like to visit Midreshet Tehillah, please contact us at [email protected]