Ralla Klepak
After School Chabura Program
Partnership with Emotiv8

Rabbi Aaron Gaffen joined Mesivta Shaarei Adirim in 2019 as the General Studies Principal and Director of Student Services. Prior to joining Mesivta Shaarei Adirim, Rabbi Gaffen served as Assistant Principal and Dormitory Supervisor at Fasman Yeshiva High School. He has also taught General Studies at Yeshivas Meor HaTorah of Chicago and Hanna Sacks Bais Yaakov High School. Rabbi Gaffen earned his Bachelor’s degree at Ner Israel, Baltimore, received Semicha from Hebrew Theological College, and achieved his MEd at Loyola University of Chicago.

Rabbi Mordechai Elbaum, Rosh haMesivta, founded Mesivta Shaarei Adirim in 2017. Rabbi Elbaum’s teaching career began at Telshe Yeshiva and continued at Arie Crown Hebrew Day School, where he gained extensive classroom experience in working with challenged students. It was also during that time that Rabbi Elbaum developed a testing system to diagnose and address learning challenges in adolescents that specifically impact their ability to learn Gemara. Rabbi Elbaum subsequently taught for two years at Netzach Eliyahu, a school for disadvantaged bochurim founded by the Walder Foundation.
At Shaarei Adirim, the Rosh haMesivta utilizes his rich experience in working one-on-one with bochurim with various learning challenges, such as ADHD, moderate anxiety, depression, dyslexia, processing disorders, and others. Rabbi Elbaum completed Torah Umesorah’s Teachers’ Training Courses in both 2008 and 2009, received certification from the Torah Umesorah/Walder Teacher Center Aish Dos Course in 2011, and earned the ATT Torah Teacher’s License in 2012.

Rabbi Shuey Miller joined Mesivta Shaarei Adirim in 2020 as the Director of Resources and Student Guidance. Rabbi Miller earned a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Hebrew Theological College, a Masters in Education from University of Phoenix, and a Masters in Counseling Psychology from North Park University. Illinois State certified, Rabbi Miller has been teaching for over 10 years, combining his specialties in the fields of both special and gifted education. Rabbi Miller also pursued training as a Registered Behavior Technician at RUSH Neurobehavioral Center on Executive Functions, and in the Responsive Classroom model, a student-centered, social and emotional learning approach to teaching and discipline.

Rabbi Avrohom Yitzchak Ausband, Rosh Yeshiva, stems from a long lineage of world-renowned Gedolim and Mechanchim. His family’s strong influence in the world of Torah learning and Chinuch spans several generations of Telshe institutions, both in Europe and the United States. Prior to joining Mesivta Shaarei Adirim, Rabbi Ausband served as Mashgiach in Yeshiva Tiferes Boruch of Springfield, New Jersey addressing all student concerns. With a keen understanding of a bochur’s social and emotional needs and development, Rabbi Ausband continues to connect with and impact each student at Mesivta Shaarei Adirim.