Kol Hamevaser is the monthly Jewish thought magazine of the Yeshiva University student body. Our primary contributors are undergraduates, although we include input from RIETS Roshei Yeshivah, YU Professors, and outside scholars. In addition to our print magazine, we sponsor special events that include speakers, discussion groups, conferences, and shabbatonim.

Kol Hamevaser was established in 2007-2008 by Mattan Erder, Gilah Kletenik, and David Lasher. It hearkens back to Hamevaser, a newspaper established in the 1960s by the Student Organization of Yeshiva (SOY) to compete with The Commentator. It later became a Jewish thought magazine, publishing its issues about twice a year until it was discontinued in 2002.

Today, Kol Hamevaser is dedicated to sparking discussion of Jewish issues on the Yeshiva University campus and beyond. The magazine hopes to facilitate the religious and intellectual growth of its readership. It provides opportunities for young scholars to grow in their intellectual pursuits and mature into confident Jewish leaders.

Meet Our Staff

Editors-in-Chief

Chesky KopelChesky, the editor-in-chief on the Wilf Campus, was born and raised in Long Island, NY, and is now a Yeshiva College senior studying History and English Literature. His path to Kol Hamevaser includes a love for writing, for Jewish thought, and for chutzpah. You can also find him writing other things, cycling, talking about music, trying to be part of countercultures, and variously loving or hating political approaches to the achievement of social justice and peaceful coexistence.

Gabrielle HillerGabrielle, the editor-in-chief on the Beren Campus, grew up in Fair Lawn, NJ. After spending some amazing years in Ma’ayanot and Midreshet Lindenbaum, she is currently in her third year in Stern College. Gabrielle is majoring in Jewish Education and minoring in History, and hopes to one day teach Tanakh and Gemara to high school students.  Gabrielle is an avid fan of Rashi who, she thinks, is often misunderstood, and she loves Zumba, reading, and baking.

Associate Editors

Adam FriedmannAdam Friedmann, the associate editor on the Wilf Campus, is a third-year YC student majoring in Philosophy and minoring in Computer Science. He hails from Toronto, Canada and spent two years at Yesodei Hatorah (the other-other yeshiva in Beit Shemesh). His principle occupation is Torah study though his interests include music (both playing and listening), writing, and philosophy.

Chumie Yagod Chumie, the associate editor on the Beren Campus, is a Senior at Stern College, majoring in Biology and Philosophy. She hails from Northern Maine/Pennsylvania (yes, both, simultaneously). Her hobbies include learning Torah, philosophy, books, teaching, philosophy, painting, and Strange Loops. Her other hobbies include science and attempting to deny that she doesn’t have a life outside philosophy. She wants to get an M.A. in education, a PhD in Philosophy, and learn everything.

Staff Writers

	Akiva WeisingerAkiva, entering his second year on YU Campus, is a Jewish Studies major hailing from the small, growing, Jewish community of Teaneck, NJ. He previously spent two years at Yeshivat Yesodei HaTorah (yes, the bookmark people), and before that spent 4 years at MTA swearing he would never again walk the halls of Muss and Zysman, a promise which obviously has gone well. Akiva’s interests consist of anything that is interesting, which includes but is by no means limited to Contemporary Jewish Philosophy, hardboiled detective novels, the music of Bob Dylan, and the suddenly resurgent Detroit Lions. He can be usually be spotted on Facebook, spelling his name funny and arguing with someone.
	Atara SiegalAtara is a junior at Stern majoring in Psychology with a focus in Neuroscience, and, although it may be unusual for a Psyc major, actually plans on becoming a clinical psychologist. A native of Silver Spring, MD she also enjoyed spending 2010 learning at MMY. On the side she enjoys learning, biking and of course, writing for Kol HaMevaser.
	Davida KollmarA Stern senior, Davida is majoring in Physics because she loves learning about how the world works and to see God’s hand in the world around her. A proud Nishmat Shana Ba’Aretz graduate, she feels fortunate to be able to consider the Beit Midrash her third home behind her house in Edison, NJ and her dorm room. Davida’s hobbies include reading, learning just about anything, and writing her puzzle column for The Observer.
	Dovi NadelHailing from the small town of Southfield , Michigan, Dovi is a proud alumnus of Akiva Hebrew Day School. Following high school, he hid in the Gush for two years and he has recently reemerged as a sophomore at YU. When not in the beit midrash , the heights lounge , or exploring NYC , you can find Dovi sleeping… in the library.
	Elana RaskasElana Raskas is from New Rochelle, NY. She attended SAR high school, followed by Migdal Oz in Israel for a year, and is currently a Stern senior. She is majoring in English Literature and Jewish Studies, so Kol Hamevaser kind of makes sense.
	Gilad BarachGilad is either a junior or a senior in YC, depending on who wants to know. He plans to major in Math and Physics, despite (or, perhaps, because of) his love/hate relationship with contemporary physics (it’s complicated). Gilad enjoys learning and sharing Torah, and is especially fond of taunting his chavrutot by mentioning something interesting and off-topic, only to stop midway and insist on resuming the learning. He also professes knowledge of arcane books of Tanakh (such as Nakh), as may be expected from a Gush guy.
	Jacob BernsteinJacob was raised in Woodmere, New York where he attended Rambam Mesivta High School. He learned at Yeshivat Har Etzion (Gush) for a year, and is now currently a junior at Yeshiva College where he plans on majoring in Jewish History and Math (although he’s unsure if this will actually happen…) Jacob is currently President of the Student Holocaust Education Movement (SHEM) Club, as well as Vice Chairman of the Honors Council.
	Kimberly HayKimberly is a Stern College junior from West Hempstead, NY, majoring in Physical Sciences and minoring in Political Science. She went to SKA High School, and spent a year studying in Migdal Oz before coming to Stern. When she’s not thinking about issues facing the Jewish community (read: spacing out), Kimberly enjoys spending time in the beit midrash, reading, and listening to people make jokes about her last name.
	Mati EngelMati is a rising senior at Stern College for Women, majoring in Psychology with a minor in photography at F.I.T. Her interests also include Jewish education and learning Jewish philosophy as a means of pondering life’s most pressing questions. In her spare time she enjoys Instagram, making new friends and traveling to far away places.
	Miriam KhukhashviliMiriam is a Junior at Stern College for Women from Queens, NY. She attended Stella K. Abraham HS for girls, followed by Shaalvim for Women. She is majoring in English-the exact track is currently undecided. Miriam’s an avid fan of both Tanakh and the Yankees (respectively) and her hobbies include reading, jigsaw puzzles and eating FroYo.
	Penina WeinPenina grew up in Queens, New York, attended SKA High School and subsequently spent a year learning at Migdal Oz. Currently a junior in Stern College, Penina plans on pursuing majors in both Jewish and Elementary Education, while minoring in Psychology. She is excited to be a part of the Kol Hamevaser Staff for a second year.
	Rachel WeberRachel is a senior at Stern College majoring in Jewish Studies and minoring in history. In addition to being a staff writer for Kol Hamevaser, she is the president on the Beren Campus of TEIQU (Torah Explorations, Questions, Ideas and Understanding).

Webmaster

Rafi MillerRafi is a third-generation native of the Chicago area. The Cubs still have yet to win a World Series since the Miller family arrived. Rafi attended Ida Crown Jewish Academy and Yeshivat Hakotel, and is now in his fourth year at YU, majoring in Mathematics and Physics. He currently runs the websites of The Commentator, The Beacon, and Kol Hamevaser. He enjoys web design, as it happens.

Design Editor

Arieh LeviArieh is a sophomore at Yeshiva University searching for a major and a minor. Arieh graduated from SAR High School in 2010 and then spent one and 3/4 years studying at Torat Shraga in Jerusalem. Arieh enjoys abstract intellectual discussions and a good midnight Golan run, particularly when both are combined. He currently resides in Washington Heights.

Distribution Managers

Yaelle LassonYaelle is a Junior, majoring in Media Communications/Journalism with a minor in Political Science. She is from Baltimore (which is not as far as New Yorkers think) and attended MMY in Israel. She writes, interns, coordinates, presidents, and mentors for different organizations on and off campus. Hoping to pursue a career in legal advocacy, she would enjoy being a swim team coach all her life too. She strives to be a “YU Poster Child”, defy middle child syndrome, and is excited to return to distribution after a bad stint of distributing binomials in 9th grade algebra.

Joshua Freundel