A unique monthly program for Torah learning, real conversations, and unforgettable connections.
What It’s About
Once a month, we gather on Friday mornings in a warm, welcoming home for great food, deep Torah, and meaningful discussion about the pressing issues facing the Jewish people today.
Why Join?
- Learn with inspiring teachers and leaders in an intimate setting
- Explore the intersection of Torah, values, and modern challenges
- Connect with other passionate gap year students
- Enjoy delicious meals and authentic friendships
- Experience a powerful Shabbat retreat with the group
Hosted monthly in Jerusalem | Friday mornings | Open to all gap year students
Add your voice. Enrich your year.
Learn more: office@yctorah.org
Lead Staff
Rabbanit Yaffa Aranoff
Director of YCT Israel Office
Rabanit Yaffa Aranoff received semicha in 2023 from the Ohr Torah Stone Kollel Deah. Originally from New York, Rabanit Yaffa made aliyah after graduating from Barnard College. She has a master’s degree in Jewish history from the Hebrew University. Rabanit Yaffa teaches in the Darcheynu program at Midreshet Lindenbaum and teaches and speaks regularly in her community synagogue, Beit Boyar. She lives in Jerusalem with her husband and five children.
2025-2026 Fellows
Gabriel Ackerman-Lieberman
Gap Year Program:
Yeshivat Orayta
Hometown:
Washington, DC
Sheina Berdy
Gap Year Program:
Midreshet Lindenbaum
Hometown:
Irvine, CA
Tovah Berger
Gap Year Program:
Midreshet Amudim
Hometown:
Washington, DC
Noam Brandriss
Gap Year Program:
Orayta
Hometown:
Baltimore, MD
Leo Eigen
Gap Year Program:
Yeshivat Orayta
Hometown:
New York, NY
Lia Goldberger
Gap Year Program:
Midreshet Lindenbaum
Hometown:
New York, NY
Hinda Gross
Gap Year Program:
Midreshet Lindenbaum
Hometown:
Phoenix, AZ
Lia Hendlish-Lemberger
Gap Year Program:
Midreshet Lindenbaum
Hometown:
Tenafly, NJ
Jacob Joseph
Gap Year Program:
Yeshivat Orayta
Hometown:
Needham, MA
Hazel Kirsch
Gap Year Program:
Midreshet Lindenbaum
Hometown:
Berkeley, CA
Jessica Klibaner-Schiff
Gap Year Program:
Yeshivat Drisha
Hometown:
Newton, MA
Shalva Lazarus
Gap Year Program:
Mechinat Beit Yisrael
Hometown:
Washington, DC
Yitzy Leonorowitz
Gap Year Program:
Yeshivat Orayta
Hometown:
Pomona, NY
Aliza Lesser
Gap Year Program:
Midreshet Lindenbaum
Hometown:
Washington, DC
Julia Levin
Gap Year Program:
Midreshet Lindenbaum
Hometown:
Baltimore, MD
Doni Marder
Gap Year Program:
Yeshivat Har Etzion
Hometown:
White Plains, NY
Zev Mendelson
Gap Year Program:
Yeshivat Orayta
Hometown:
Potomac, MD
Leah Minkoff
Gap Year Program:
Midreshet Lindenbaum
Hometown:
Oakland, CA
Menahem Neumeier
Gap Year Program:
Yeshivat Eretz HaTzvi
Hometown:
Berkeley, CA
Mussia Poltorak
Gap Year Program:
Midreshet Lindenbaum
Hometown:
Bergenfield, NJ
Ariel Schwartz
Gap Year Program:
Ashreinu
Hometown:
Newton, MA
Daniel Schweig
Gap Year Program:
Mechinat Beit Yisrael
Hometown:
Berkeley, CA
Hila Shiller
Gap Year Program:
Midreshet Lindenbaum
Hometown:
New Rochelle, NY
Daniel Stadtmauer
Gap Year Program:
Yeshivat Har Etzion
Hometown:
White Plains, NY
Daniel Wagman
Gap Year Program:
Yeshivat Maale Gilboa
Hometown:
New York, NY
Kayla Weinberg
Gap Year Program:
Midreshet Lindenbaum
Hometown:
Pittsburgh, PA
Samantha (Malkie) Zoltan
Gap Year Program:
Midreshet Lindenbaum
Hometown:
Brooklyn, NY
