St. Louis Kollel

Our Team

The St. Louis Kollel is an association of young Jewish scholars who have come together to share their knowledge of Jewish tradition with the general Jewish public.

Our group consists of fifteen married couples who function as a team in order to fit the needs of the entire spectrum of the Jewish community.

Each of these dynamic individuals has spent several years immersed in the study of Talmud and a plethora of other fundamental texts. They have been brought together by a shared commitment to the values of community and education, both central tenets of our rich heritage.

Rabbi Menachem Greenblatt, Rosh Kollel & Dean

Rabbi Greenblatt has served as spiritual leader of Agudas Israel of St. Louis since 1986. He was instrumental in founding Torah Prep School as well as Bais Yaakov High School. In 1991, he spearheaded the establishment of the St. Louis Kollel and became Rosh Kollel, Dean – a position in which he continues to serve at the present time. A native Memphian, Rabbi Greenblatt received semicha from the Ner Israel Rabbinical College and studied under leading Torah Sages of our times, notably among them Rabbi J.I. Ruderman, Rabbi Chaim Shmuelevitz, and Rabbi Nachum Parzovits. Rabbi Greenblatt’s wife, Tova, serves as principal of Bais Yaakov High School of St. Louis.

 

Rabbi Menachem Kirshner, Executive Director

Originally from Chicago, Illinois, Rabbi Kirshner studied at Beis HaMidrash LiTorah in Skokie, and Har Etzion in Israel. He earned his Masters in Education and Administration from Loyola University as part of the Jewish Education Leadership Institute, and his semicha is from HTC in Skokie and from his rebbe, Rabbi Moshe Kenzer of Chicago. Rabbi Kirshner holds the position of Executive Director in the St. Louis Kollel. Rabbi Kirshner, his wife, Tovi, and children, Elisha, Reuven and Avraham are thrilled to be part of such a warm and open community.

 

Rabbi Shaya Mintz, Program Director

A native of Baltimore, Maryland, Rabbi Mintz studied at Yeshivas Ner Yisroel in Baltimore and Yeshivas Mir in Yerushalayim. Rabbi Mintz's warm smile and love for everyone is well known. His ability to think creatively and and organize programming is an incredible aset. He will be running a myriad of programs, lectures and classes throughout the year. Rabbi Mintz and his wife, Mindi, have four children: Shira, Adina, Brochie, and Esti.

 

 

 

Rabbi Yerachmiel Frank

Originally from Brooklyn, New York, Rabbi Frank studied in the Mirrer Yeshiva in Brooklyn, St. Louis Rabbinical College, and Bais Medrash Gavoha in Lakewood. He joined the St. Louis Kollel in 1991, and has the position of Rosh Chabura for the afternoon study session. Rabbi Frank also serves as the Vice President of Agudas Israel of St. Louis, and as the liaison between The Chofetz Chaim Heritage Foundation and the St. Louis Jewish community. Rabbi Frank and his wife Chavie, have 6 children: Tzippora, Yisroel Meir, Shaindel Hinda, Sora, Bracha and Rochel.

 

Rabbi Chona Muser

Originally from Baltimore, Rabbi Muser studied in Yeshivas HaNegev in Israel and The Mirrer Yeshiva in Brooklyn. He joined the St. Louis Kollel in 1991. In addition to his responsibilities at the Kollel, Rabbi Muser has been serving as the President of the Board of Bais Yaakov of St. Louis. Rabbi Muser and his wife, Chaya, have eight children: Binyomin and Rivkie Biron, Yehuda and Penina Soffer, Elisheva, Chanie, Miri, Tzvi Yitzchak, Refael, and Chaviva.

 

Rabbi Gidon Nitsun

A native of Johannesburg, South Africa, Rabbi Nitsun studied at various Yeshivos in Eretz Yisrael including ITRI, Maalos HaTorah, and Yeshivas HaRan. He is a certified mohel, sofer and shochet. Since arriving in St. Louis in 1993 to join the St. Louis Kollel, he has completed a Sefer Torah and has been proud to join in many simchas by perfoming brissim here. He is also an instructor of Talmud in Block Yeshiva High School, Epstein Hebrew Academy and teaches in Bais Yaakov of St. Louis. Within the Kollel, Rabbi Nitsun manages the bookstore. You’re sure to find his wife, Pnina, and some of his 8 children teaching girls, babysitting, at the playground, and shopping at Schnucks.

Rabbi Zvi Schwartz

Rabbi Schwartz comes from Brooklyn, New York. He studied at Yeshivas Mir in Yerushalayim, Bais Medrash Gavoha in Lakewood, and Yeshiva Gedola of Passaic. He enjoys meeting people, giving classes and spending time with his family. Within the St. Louis Kollel, Rabbi Schwartz will be organizing programs for University students. Rabbi Schwartz and his wife, Fraida, have three children: Shimon Aryeh, Ezriel, and Mattisyahu.

 

Rabbi Shlomo Soroka - Director of Learning

Rabbi Soroka was born in Brooklyn, New York. He studied at Yeshivas Toras Moshe in Yerushalayim, The Mirrer Yeshiva in Brooklyn, Bais Medrash Gavoha in Lakewood, and Yeshivas Mir in Yerushalayim. One of his many talents is oil painting. Rabbi Soroka is Rosh Chabura for the morning study session and is responsible for implementing the kollel’s learning schedule. Rabbi Soroka, and his wife Devorah have two children Elchanan and Yisroel Meir.

 

Rabbi Mordecai Yaroslawitz

Rabbi Yaroslawitz is originally from Boro Park, New York. He studied in the Mirrer Yeshiva in Brooklyn, the St. Louis Rabbinical College, Emek Halacha under Rabbi Tuvia Goldstein, ztz”l, and joined the St. Louis Kollel in 1991. Affectionately called ‘Yari’ by all, he is well known throughout St. Louis for his talents in kiruv and chessed. Whether a shabbos meal of 30 or a convention of 800, Rabbi Yaroslawitz always knows how to capture the moment and inspire people of all ages and from all backgrounds. Rabbi Yaroslawitz and his wife, Zippora, have 8 children: Rivka Serel, Simcha Hillel, Esther, Matti, Sholom Yechezkel, Avraham, Rochel Shaindel and Chaya Sara.