BS Johns Hopkins University, MS Stanford University

Before coming to yeshiva, I found the Jewish experiences I was having through organizations like Meor to be meaningful and engaging. Machon Yaakov offered an immersive environment to take this to the next level, by providing the intellectual and physical space to ask questions – nothing was off-limits; nothing was out of scope.

The rabbis at Machon Yaakov have a unique blend of knowledge and understanding. I often thought about the student body that there was probably no other building in the world filled with 25 guys I could relate to so completely – sharing both a common background and journey.

While the decision to pause life in order to spend time at yeshiva seemed to carry certain risks, I found it unlikely that at the age of 50 I would regret having taken a year or two to become acquainted with my heritage. Conversely, I could certainly envision that I would regret not taking the time to do so. In the end, it was the single most impactful decision I’ve ever made. I now live in Jerusalem with my wife and work as a software engineer. We hope and plan to live in Israel long-term.

BBA Emory University

After graduating from Emory University, I attended Machon Yaakov in order to broaden my knowledge of Judaism and create the foundation to lead a Torah observant life. Over the course of the year, I grew tremendously as an individual and had an amazing time along the way. Looking back, I recognize more and more how infinitely valuable my time was at Machon Yaakov, as I continue to draw inspiration from the experience. Also, many of my closest friendships were developed at Machon Yaakov.

Following the end of my first year at Machon Yaakov, I returned to New York City to work for Citibank as a research analyst. I also became married to my wonderful wife Lauren, who I had previously known for many years. We both had the dream of spending our first year of marriage together in Israel and to our very pleasant surprise, our employers granted us each a year-long sabbatical in order to learn in a Israel, allowing me to complete my second year at Machon Yaakov. After my return to New York City I worked for a few more years at Citibank and then left to join a startup hedge fund, where I am now a senior analyst. I live in Woodmere, NY with my wife Lauren and our three children.

Now almost ten years since learning at Machon Yaakov, I am able to appreciate the springboard that one or two years of focused personal development can provide. Rarely does a day go by when I don’t interact with someone from Machon Yaakov, which is a testament to the bonds formed amongst the students. I am so appreciative of Machon Yaakov for giving all its students a vision of the greatness we are capable of achieving, both as individuals and as a community!

BS, BA University of Pennsylvania/Wharton School

Machon Yaakov’s mission is to teach students how to make the most out of life. They do this through the incredible combination of top-notch educators, thousand-year old teachings filled with timeless wisdom, and creating a student body comprised of people who are striving to actualize their potential and lead a powerful life. Through the process of learning Torah and the constant contact with tremendous role models, the positive transformations are inevitable. Thanks to my time at Machon Yaakov, I have become more intellectually curious, hardworking, caring, goal-focused, and more connected to the people in my life. I have become a better son, brother, friend, employee, and more recently, husband and father. For this, I will be forever grateful.

Before studying at Machon Yaakov, I worked as a research analyst at a hedge fund in New York, and after Machon Yaakov, I took on a similar role at a multi-family office, also in New York. More recently, I moved into a role in corporate strategy in Verizon, where my team advises the CEO and Board of Directors on top of mind issues.

Soon after completing my studies at Machon Yaakov, I met my lovely wife, Tania, through Rabbi Jacobs. We got married in 2014 and initially lived in Manhattan, then moved to Woodmere, and now live in Highland Park, New Jersey, with our three daughters.

BA University of Pennsylvania

After an intensive semester at the University of Pennsylvania full of suits, portfolio pads, “coffee chats” and case interviews, most college seniors are exhausted. Why? I don’t think it’s just the long days. It’s more essential than that. In those moments, we’re all forced to grapple with the question “what is success?” or even “am I successful?” With everyone shouting out the names of bulge-bracket banks and management consulting firms, it can feel like there’s little else that matters.

My two years at Machon Yaakov helped me to ingrain a much broader and more holistic approach to these questions. Together with a class of thirteen other like-minded young professionals, I deeply explored classical and contemporary Jewish texts. Outside of the classroom, I formed meaningful mentor relationships with Rabbis who continue to offer their perspective in helping me make critical decisions in my life. While in Israel, I had numerous opportunities to explore beyond the classroom, partaking in breath-taking hikes and touring Israel’s holiest historical sites. Returning to America, I felt empowered to continue developing myself spiritually, personally, and professionally. A mere 8 months later I met Becka, my fiancé, who enriches my life each day. Machon Yaakov helped me establish a solid foundation upon which I will continue to build in the years to come.

BS University of Iowa, MBA University of Chicago

I grew up and studied engineering in Iowa, and prior to Machon Yaakov had lived and worked in Minnesota, California, Illinois, and New York. While working as a research analyst at a NY investment partnership, I began to pursue Jewish studies and had the incredible fortune of developing meaningful relationships with a number of observant Jewish professionals and educators, including Rabbi Jacobs.

My decision to take action and attend Machon Yaakov was built on my belief that this program – the curriculum, educators, and fellow students – was the foremost path to identifying, developing, and bringing out my greatest potential in all corners of life. My time and effort at Machon Yaakov served to integrate all of my prior goals with a more clearly defined and all-encompassing timeless Jewish value system.

I now live in New York with my wife and our three children, and have continued to develop my investment career over the past 15 years. I currently work as a Portfolio Manager for a large investment conglomerate.

BA The George Washington University, JD South Texas College of Law

I was raised in Maryland, attended college in D.C., and relocated to Texas for law school. Shortly after law school, I serendipitously connected with a group of rabbis in Houston who, unexpectedly, provided me a new understanding of Jewish life and culture. After having my interests sufficiently piqued, I made the decision to place my professional career temporarily on hold (which, at the time, was terrifying) in order to pursue the opportunity to engage in Jewish studies full time in Jerusalem. I proceeded to spend 2008-2010 at Machon Yaakov and, despite my initial concerns and hesitations, ended up having the greatest time of my life!

I returned to America during the summer of 2010, got married by the end of 2011, and now reside with my family in Baltimore. Despite the anxiety that comes from momentarily deviating off the standard career track, I was able to almost seamlessly resume my career upon returning from Israel. I now serve as General Counsel to a construction firm with operations in six states. I look forward to conquering the daily challenges that come from working full-time, but while maintaining a work-life balance that ensures family, Judaism and learning remain principal priorities. Beyond work, my typical routine involves attending a “Daf Yomi” class (daily learning of one page of Talmud/Gemara), maintaining an exercise routine that includes 25-30 miles of outdoor running per week, and trying to sustain a Keto(ish) diet.

Machon Yaakov instilled in me a lifetime of inspiration and empowered me with the life skills essential to thriving simultaneously as a successful professional, community leader and observant Jew.

BA Quinnipiac University, MSW Wurzweiler School of Social Work @ Yeshiva University

In the summer of 2005, upon being drafted by the Seattle Mariners out of college, I found myself fulfilling my lifelong dream of playing professional baseball. I was pursuing the lofty goal of playing in the MLB, chasing the esteem and wealth of a professional athlete. On all the teams that I played for, I was the token Jew, and I wore that honor proudly. This role brought many questions from interested teammates, mostly religious in their own right, who had never met a Jew before. However, when I found myself unable to answer many of their questions, I began my own search.

My life admittedly was great, but a yearning for more meaning brought me to Sinai Retreats, where I received a small taste of learning Torah. That was all I needed to make the decision of a lifetime. I walked away from my dream and I found a greater life of spirituality, fulfillment, and happiness. I am so grateful for my years at Machon Yaakov which laid the foundation for this life. While at Machon Yaakov, their primary focus on character development through learning Torah and the presence of refined Rabbis and mentors, set the stage for my own personal growth. The small intimate setting made up of growth-oriented brothers and the ability to connect on a personal level with each Rabbi facilitated a deeper connection to authentic Torah Judaism. In my two years in Machon Yaakov, especially with the work accomplished in Rabbi Lynn’s second year program, I was able to become aware of my own unique strengths, which led me to my new profession. Machon Yaakov still plays a large role in my life as I continue to rely on the Rabbis for guidance and maintain the life-long friends made in those years.

Currently, I reside in Jerusalem with my amazing wife and five beautiful children. I am the clinical director for Amudim Israel. I also maintain a private practice in Jerusalem. Although it has been years since I was in Machon Yaakov, the Torah I learned and the relationships built with the Rabbis continue to guide my daily life.

BS Drexel University

I was born in Kiev, Ukraine and grew up in Philadelphia. After graduating from college, I spent several years working in the field of Computer Security and Systems Engineering for various consulting companies. During this time, I started slowly learning more about traditional Judaism from various Jewish outreach organizations in Philadelphia. After several years of gradual growth, I eventually decided to leave work and dedicate 2 years to intensive learning, spiritual growth, and character building. I was very fortunate to find out about Machon Yaakov.

I chose Machon Yaakov due to its small size, individualized attention, and exceptional staff, all allowing for a unique learning approach for every student. I was attracted to a curriculum that balances practical textual learning skills, Jewish law, and traditional Jewish thought, while emphasizing personal development. Machon Yaakov does an excellent job of helping students integrate Torah values into all aspects of everyday life. Living in Jerusalem and being surrounded by other Jews who are continually striving to better themselves encourages students to maximize their potential as Jews.

Since returning from Israel, I have been living in Passaic, NJ with my wife and 4 beautiful children. I work as a Director of Information Security for a large international bank in Manhattan. I have been fortunate to be able to give back to my community in Passaic where I serve on the board of my synagogue and volunteer as a Commissioner for the Parking Authority of the City of Passaic.

BA New York University, MBA University of Chicago-Booth School of Business

I had always toggled between a number of interests – whether it be film, entrepreneurship, marketing, or gaming – all of which I pursued professionally for some period of time. Though this indecision had led me through dozens of countries, I realized I felt most at home in foreign situations when I could tap into my Jewish heritage, and engage in Jewish studies.

Over time, I began to realize that the teachers I respected most in Jewish education were overwhelming affiliated with the Machon Yaakov system. The people I would meet in these learning programs also had similar backgrounds and goals. I was stunned that so many young professionals who wanted to make a strong impact in the world were simultaneously pursuing Jewish learning. Machon Yaakov provided this hands on approach to Jewish learning – engaging in real world problems, developing a meaningful approach to the professional world, and helping to concretize long term goals related to family, residence, and friendship.

I now live in Chicago, where I run a venture capital fund, and work with a variety of young tech startups.

BS University of Pennsylvania, MBA Harvard Business School

I grew up in Venezuela where I learned windsurfing and studied industrial engineering. After Chavez came to power I moved to the US where I completed a masters in Biomedical Engineering at UPenn and worked in strategy consulting for a few years before starting the MBA program at Harvard Business School.

During the summer between my first and second year of MBA, I met my wife and together we decided to take some time off from “life” and go to Israel to learn in Yeshiva/Seminary. A few weeks later I was unpacking my luggage in Machon Yaakov.

After Machon Yaakov, my wife and I decided to spend some additional time learning Torah in Jerusalem before going back to Boston to finish the MBA. It was the right decision: as I was more mature and focused I was able to get more out of it. After finishing the MBA I founded a startup in telehealth aiming to deliver cost effective health care solutions in Latin America.

I am now living in Miami- juggling my time between my wife and two kids, the startup and my learning. I am even fortunate to be able to do some teaching in Judaism once in a while.

Machon Yaakov has been the most unique opportunity I ever had. Besides learning the basics of Torah and Jewish values I was able to build the foundations of my marriage and family. It was a truly transformational experience were I was able to cultivate deep relationships with exceptional and inspiring Rebbeim and fellow students. I still treasure these relationships very dearly and they continue to be role models in my day to day life.

BA University of Pennsylvania, MA Harvard School of Education

I was fortunate to have received a Jewish day school education in Connecticut until age 14, and went on to attend public high school. Naturally, my secular knowledge quickly surpassed my Jewish understanding which was left in the dust — stagnated, like that of many, at a junior high level. Although I maintained a very strongly-rooted Jewish identity — even spending a year in Israel before college, volunteering, doing 3 months of “army training,” and studying Jewish history — I gradually became more detached from mitzvahs, and certainly from real Torah learning.

When I got to Penn, I started as a physics major, dabbling in philosophy — thinking, as most people, that it would make for good cocktail conversation. However, the big, nagging, unanswerable questions in physics, combined with my increasing involvement in student government, and later pro-Israel activism and education, spiced with a summer in the Costa Rican rainforest with a stack of Jewish philosophy books, led me to write my honors thesis on God and science, inspired to find an authentic yet relevant Judaism for the 21st century. I came to Israel in 2006 to pursue a graduate fellowship at a Jewish think tank on the same topic, and had a month to “kill” before it started…

I of course didn’t realize it at the time, but what I was really looking for was a place like Machon Yaakov, where sincere, dedicated students bond and learn with sincere, dedicated teachers of a refined, beautiful and authentically real vision of what a life of Torah is meant to look like.

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Since then, Jack has lectured and taught in Israel and as a rabbi at Meor of Penn before taking time off to learn mindsets and methods at Harvard Graduate School of Education. From there he led the educational restructuring and served as senior educator at Meor Manhattan (now Olami Manhattan), humbled to have had the privilege to be part of the lives of so many young Jews. He is now working in a similar capacity for the North American Region of Olami, based out of Miami, FL. He co-authored a book titled Nurture their Nurture (2021) on the Torah’s guidance for living a life rooted in one’s unique gifts with Machon Yaakov’s Dean of Students Rabbi Yosef Lynn.

BA University of Michigan, JD University of Pennsylvania

I first became interested in attending Machon Yaakov during my undergrad years at the University of Michigan and at law school at Penn. As important as my education had been, I found myself searching for a program that would connect me to my Jewish roots in a deeper and more lasting way. A mentor of mine always used to say: “people spend 20 years learning how to make a living, but no time at all learning how to live.” I can say now that Machon Yaakov has taught me how to truly live. Once there, I encountered Rabbis and mentors who were as interested in my personal development as in my professional development, who encouraged me to explore and actualize all of my potential, and who were (and are) always available to offer guidance along the way. Machon Yaakov taught me not only how to be great in the boardroom, but how to be a great husband, a great father, and a great Jewish community leader. Most importantly, Machon Yaakov has instilled in me a desire to keep growing, strengthening connections with the people in my life, and striving to be the best that I can be.

I now live in the Upper West Side of Manhattan with my wife and 2 young children and work as a corporate lawyer for a Wall Street law firm. Life is busy, but Machon Yaakov has given me the tools to succeed and thrive.

BS Jay College of Criminal Justice, JD Hofstra University School of Law

I can positively say that my year in Machon Yaakov was the most important year of my life. During that year I acquired the vision and the tools essential for a life of personal, spiritual and professional success. Prior to coming to Yeshiva, I yearned for a life of inspiration but found it only in rare, fleeting moments. I learned at Machon Yaakov that every area of life can be fused with inspiration and a sense of mission and accomplishment.

Machon Yaakov was the most important year of my life without a doubt. That year I acquired the tools and the skills needed to treat other people with dignity, to have a sense of mission in life, and to take pride in living a life of ethical discipline.

The way I conduct myself as a husband, a father, a son, and a professional has been very deeply influenced by the vision I received from my Rebbeim at the yeshivah.

I am an owner and Managing Partner of a Law Firm in New York. I specialize in mediation and couples’ work based on Imago Therapy.

BS Rutgers University

Although I did not grow up in a particularly religious home, being a child of an Israeli father allowed me to experience some Jewish values and rich traditions in a daily lifestyle throughout my youth. While my enrollment in the public school system and exposure to American culture certainly dulled my spiritual sensitivities, my innate Jewish identity was still very much a constant defining characteristic of who I am. As such, I always felt a desire to achieve more with my Judaism, grow in my observance, and discover my purpose in life. Naturally, these desires led me to Machon Yaakov.

The decision to put my life and new career on hold was certainly challenging, as I was fortunate enough to land a dream job designing bridges for the United States Government. It was everything a new engineering grad could dream of. However, I got so caught up in chasing a career and advancing my social status, I realized that I had neglected my religious and spiritual heritage. Ultimately, I could not ignore my yearning to for more spiritual pursuits. I can sincerely testify that the experience of learning full-time in a yeshiva was more than worth it, and all of the anxieties that accompany a drastic life-change were for naught. Attending Machon Yaakov provided me the perspective on life to be confident and successful in areas well beyond the confines of Yeshiva. I have a much deeper understanding of who I am, what drives me, and how to contribute to the world in my unique way. Not only did I satiate my quest for understanding Judaism in a deep and rigorous way, but I also learned to how be a complete person and lead a life with noble values. In addition, living a Torah observant lifestyle is also so unbelievably satisfying and rewarding; you really have to live it to understand it.

Machon Yaakov even played an influential role in reestablishing my career upon returning to the United States. After applying to re-obtain my previous job, my employers were so impressed with the maturity and commitment of a yeshiva student, I was re-hired and offered a promotion within the same department that I had resigned from. The profound benefits of attending Machon Yaakov are truly boundless

BA Bernard M Baruch College

I began learning more about Judaism and discovering my roots during my years in college. Upon graduation, I started working for a large advertising agency in New York City, focusing on the pharmaceutical industry. Over the next few years, while steadily progressing in my career, I tried to learn as much as I could. Despite my best efforts, my overall spiritual growth and acquisition of new skills in learning were both very slow. Emotionally, although I felt that I was on the right path, I felt that there was something very important still missing from my life.

I entertained the thought of going to a yeshivah in Israel for close to a year. Going through a list of reasons as to why I should not go, I realized that an opportunity to hyper-focus on my spiritual growth would not come about by itself. If I were to stay within the realms of my daily routine, I would never find “the right time” to acquire the skills and craft a spiritually meaningful life I so longed for.

After consulting with friends, rabbis, and few of the alumni – I made Machon Yaakov my yeshivah of choice. What initially began as a one-year commitment turned into two. My life has been forever transformed through my experience at Machon Yaakov and I feel that I have very much discovered what I’ve been searching for.

Upon returning to NYC, I jumped back into advertising, with my career picking up exactly where I left off. I now live in New Jersey, with my beloved wife and children. I hold a Senior Vice President role at a major advertising and communications agency.

MBA, Umea University, Sweden; Dublin Institute of Technology, Ireland

Denes is the Managing Partner of one of Israel’s largest venture capital funds. As a serial entrepreneur turned serial investor, he has invested in over 100 companies and founded a number of start-ups in the past decade. Prior to VC, he served on the Swedish Diplomatic Trade Mission leading their management consulting division, and has lectured at universities such as Harvard, Kellogg, INSEAD, and was recently appointed to the Advisory Board of “Igniting Innovation for Impact” at Cambridge University.

Denes, a grandchild of four Holocaust survivors, only found out he was Jewish in his teens. In his 20s he wanted to explore his Jewish roots and came to Israel for “yeshiva shopping”. What drew him to Machon Yaakov was the unprecedentedly high teacher-per-student ratio and the quality of the students who were willing to take a year of their successful carrier/studies in order to pursue something with a higher purpose. When asked to describe Machon Yaakov, instead of a yeshivah, Denes calls it an “Executive MBA in Mensch studies with the best alumni program in the world”.

Denes is closely involved with a number of philanthropic organizations. He is the co-founder of the Am Yisrael Foundation – Tel Aviv’s largest incubator promoting Jewish identity and learning, social entrepreneurship, and leadership. He has lectured on Jewish Wisdom and Ethics all over the world and writes a weekly blog for the Times of Israel.