Jeff Kaplan

I have been involved with the Torah Center for almost four years, starting when Rabbi Goldwasser came to Gainesville, Florida to host a Shabbaton for my fraternity, Tau Epsilon Phi. Since that time, we created an outreach center in Gainesville where we continue to have bi-semester Shabbatons and bi-monthly events ranging from building a Sukkah to studying Chassidut. What set our programming apart is the openness and welcoming philosophy behind the teaching, which resonates within all the individuals associated with the Torah Center. After graduating from the University of Florida and moving to South Florida to begin my teaching career,  I continued my involvement by attending shabbatons in Danbury, Connecticut in and eventually spending the summer in Jerusalem at the newly established Tzema Nafshi. In Jerusalem,  I had a real Yeshiva experience rooted in the same philosophy that inspired me to become involved in religion while in Gainesville. The routine of life was different than anything I had known before, but the teachers and other students gave me the mentorship I needed to succeed. The dynamic teachers, all experts in their own right, provide an educational experience that was extremely personal, making the learning experience tangible and relatable. I spent my summer studying Chumash and Pirkei Avot.  Rabbi Goldwasser, the teachers, and the students created a personalized environment that enabled my growth. In turn, I was able to return such guidance to my peers and I continue to do so now at Indiana University where I am studying in a PhD. program in Education and Learning Sciences. The learning dating back to Gainesville and through Tzema Nafshi in Israel has been integral in forming me into the person I am today, in my religious, moral, and professional life.