Rosh Kollel
Rabbi Meir Riber
Originally from Denver, Colorado, Rav Riber is the Rosh Kollel and Rav of the Somerton Community. He served as a Rebbi and Mashgiach in Aish HaTorah, Yerushalayim, for ten years before moving with his family to Philadelphia to take the helm in Somerton.
Before Aish HaTorah, Rav Riber learned for over a decade at the Mir Yeshiva in Yerushalayim. He learned under HaRav Asher Areili shlita, and from there spent several years in a Brisker chabura. Then he studied in an Issur v’Heter chabura, where he eventually gained his semicha. In addition, he had the opportunity to develop close relationships with HaRav Yitzchok Berkowitz shlita and Rav Reuven Leuchter shlita. Rav Riber and his Rebbetzin have dedicated themselves and their energies to leading and developing the community ever further.
Rabbi Yaakov Tzvi Hoffman
A native of California, Rabbi Hoffman graduated with a Bachelor of Music in Classical French Horn performance from the University of California, Santa Barbara. He and his family then headed to Jerusalem. There he studied at Aish HaTorah for six years, earning his Rabbinic ordination under Rav Tzadok Cable.
Afterwards he and his family voluntarily spent five years in Bloomington, Indiana doing Jewish outreach at Indiana University. There he become an honorary AEPI brother, and brought Tuesday night cholent and Torah physically into various Frat houses.
Now, he is excited to be our kollel’s new program director. Both he and his wife are looking forward to being a part of helping the Somerton community grow and flourish.
Program Director
Rabbi Aryeh Leib Aronzon
Rabbi Aronzon grew up in Scranton, PA, and went to a yeshiva somewhere. He is going to send in his own bio soon.
Rabbi Moshe Finegold
Hailing from Toronto, Canada, Rabbi Finegold graduated with distinction from the University of Toronto with an Honors Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy and Religion, before heading off to yeshiva in Jerusalem, Israel. There he received rabbinical ordination from Aish HaTorah in ‘Hilchos Shabbos’ under Rabbi Avigdor Nevinzahl, and a degree in ‘Community Leadership & Jewish Education’ from Ner LeElef. He also learned in Yeshivas Mir, under Rabbi Resnick.
After five years in Jerusalem, Rabbi Finegold and his wife Chana arrived at the CBS Kollel of Somerton in 2016. In his position, he teaches students of all ages and religious backgrounds in a host of Torah topics, and features on guitar for our Kollel’s seasonal musical concerts.
Rabbi Doniel Daitchman
Originally from Queens NY, Rabbi Doniel Daitchman attended Mesivta Ateres Yaakov (M.A.Y) in the 5 towns for high school. He learned in Yeshivas Ohr Yerushalayim and Yeshivas Bais Yisroel where he became a part of the kollel while growing close to many of the Rebbeim there. A talmid of Rav Doniel Lehrfeld Shlita and his uncle Rav Yehoshua Liff, he has also studied in depth aggadata with Rav Dovid Kaplan shlita.
Rabbi Daitchman is a professional sushi chef as well as a top rank athlete and musician. He has a close relationship with the teenagers in our community, and he started our wonderful teen-kollel basketball program every other motzai shabbos.
Elan Paul
Coming soon.
