About Us
The Orlando Community Kollel, founded in August 2023 by Rabbi Yomtov Goldberger, is a 501(c)3 nonprofit dedicated to building a vibrant Makom Torah in Orlando. Comprised of nine high-level Talmidei Chachamim, graduates of Beth Medrash Govoha, the kollel devotes its days to deep Talmud study and sharing Torah with the community through chavrusas, shiurim, and personal learning
Our Mission
The Kollel has a twofold mission: to strengthen its scholars through continued high-level learning, and to provide them with wide opportunities for Harbatzas Torah. At the same time, it seeks to enrich the Orlando Jewish community by serving as an anchor of Torah study that inspires and uplifts every Jew.
Our Impact
Over the past several years, the Kollel has quietly but profoundly shifted the spiritual landscape of our community. What began as a dedicated group of yungeleit immersed in serious learning has blossomed into a ripple effect felt far beyond the walls of the beis medrash. More chavrusas are being formed — across ages and backgrounds — as balabatim carve out time in their busy schedules to taste the depth and clarity of consistent Torah study. The atmosphere of steady learning has created both accessibility and aspiration: Torah is no longer something admired from afar, but something engaged with personally.
We have seen a tangible increase in bar mitzvah boys receiving thoughtful, individualized preparation — not only mastering their parshah and haftorah, but developing a genuine connection to what it means to become a בן תורה. Families feel connected. Professionals stop in for night seder. Retirees rediscover the sweetness of structured learning. Young families encounter authentic role models living lives centered around Torah. The result is not just more programs — it is more exposure to the sweetness of Torah itself, and a community that increasingly feels anchored, elevated, and unified around it.
Rosh Kollel
Rabbi Yomtov Goldberger
Rabbi Yomtov Goldberger, together with the BMG placement team, founded the Orlando Community Kollel in 2023. A native of Atlanta, he learned in Yeshivas Ner Yisroel, the Talmudical Yeshiva of Philadelphia, and Yeshivas Ner Moshe in Yerushalayim. After marrying Ahuva (née Neuberger) of Baltimore, the Goldbergers lived in Lakewood for 13 years, where Rabbi Goldberger learned in Beth Medrash Govoha.
In 2016 he became a Rosh Chaburah, guiding hundreds of bochurim and avreichim through nearly every masechta in the Yeshiva’s curriculum. Drawing on both his upbringing in the Atlanta Kollel and his advanced scholarship from BMG, Rabbi Goldberger brings a unique ability to serve the yungerleit of the Kollel and the broader Orlando community. Mrs. Goldberger is a devoted mother to their children—proud students of Orlando Torah Academy—and also works as a software engineer.
Menahel
Rabbi Naftali Kassorla
Rabbi Naftali Kassorla serves as Menahel of the Orlando Community Kollel, bringing years of experience as an educator, leader, and community builder. He learned in the Mir Yeshiva and in Brisk under Rav Meir Soloveitchik zt”l and advanced halachic training under Rav Daniel Yaakov Travis—he received semicha from Rav Zalman Nechemia Goldberg zt”l. A seasoned Rabbi and lecturer, he has taught in yeshivas and seminaries across Eretz Yisroel, Over the years, he has served as a Maggid Shiur and a Shoel U’Meishiv in multiple Yeshivas, and lectured in Halacha and Hashkafa in several seminaries. Rabbi Kassorla is regular columnist for the Jewish Tribune UK, bringing depth, accessibility, and genuine care to every student and audience. His clarity, warmth, and depth of Torah learning have inspired countless students.
In addition to his teaching expertise, Rabbi Kassorla has emerged as a skilled executive leader with significant experience building and scaling Torah institutions. As CEO of Lamdeini, he transformed a small grassroots tutoring effort into a six-figure, multi-city educational nonprofit serving over 120 students weekly. His work included securing major gifts, developing operational systems, and building a sustainable framework that improved student outcomes and supported families across Israel.
His wife, Mindel, an accomplished Mishpacha Magazine columnist as well as a teacher and best selling author, also serves on the leadership team of Meoros High School for Girls as the Judaic Studies Coordinator.
Meet the Yungeleit
At the heart of our kollel are our exceptional yungeleit, the true engine of our growth, whom we are privileged to have guided by our world-class Rosh Kollel
Rabbi Yitzchak Bernstein
Rabbi Yitzchak Bernstein, originally from Woodmere, NY, learned in Bais Yisroel, Yeshivas Mir, and BMG. He and his wife, Devorah moved here from Lakewood.
Rabbi Chaim Yosef Freidman
Rabbi Chaim Yosef Friedman, originally from Atlanta, learned in Yeshivas Ner Yisroel for high school, followed by Beis Medrash under Rabbi Rabanowitz and Rabbi Dovid Soloveitchik. He and his wife, Hadasa, spent the past six years living in Eretz Yisroel, where they raised their two children, Aaron and Chava. Hadasa will serve as a kindergarten Morah at Orlando Torah Academy.
Rabbi Barak Taragin
Rabbi Barak Taragin, originally from Manhattan, NY, learned in Yeshivas Ner Yisroel, Cartaret, Yeshivas Mir, and BMG. His wife, Zahava, a school psychologist, also serves as Director of Clinical Development at Lumino ABA.
Rabbi Yossi Tepfer
Rabbi Yossi Tepfer, who hails from Staten Island, learned in Yeshivas Darchei Torah in Far Rockaway, and Yeshivas Kodshim (R’ Tzvi Kaplan) in Yerushalaim. He then spent seven years learning in BMG. His wife, Yocheved (nee Shneider) from Monsey, is a nurse practitioner.
Rabbi Binyamin Wachman
Rabbi Binyamin Wachman is originally from Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. He learned in the Peekskill Yeshiva, Yeshivas Brisk (R’ Dovid), and BMG, where he spent 4 years in R’ Gershon Ribner’s Kollel. His wife, Devorah (nee Zazulia), is originally from Brooklyn and currently works as Controller for Towne Nursing (Howell, NJ).
Rabbi Moshe Stern
Rabbi Moshe Stern is originally from Baltimore,Maryland. He learnt in Yeshivas Chofetz Chaim of Baltimore (TA), and four years in Eretz Yisroel where he learnt in Yeshivas Toras Chaim and Yeshivas Mir. He then spent six years learning in BMG. His wife Rina (nee Wolf) is originally from Passaic New Jersey and is a Registered Dietitian.
Rabbi Shlomo Wolf
Rabbi Shlomo Wolf was raised in Lakewood, New Jersey, and pursued his advanced Torah studies in the Mesivta of Long Beach followed by the venerable Mir Yeshiva in Jerusalem. He is married to Mrs. Baila Wolf (née Levi) of Passaic, who combines her professional career as an accountant and sheitel business with her commitment to supporting their home and the wider community. Together they are the proud parents of one son, Refael.
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