Our Team
Meet our incredible team of experienced and passionate educators.

Rabbi Avrohom Loketch
Regional Director
Rabbi Loketch was born and raised in upstate NY. He went to college for Business, Finance, and majored in Accounting. He always thought he would work as an accountant at his father's firm in Manhattan. But after learning in some of the top institutions in Israel and receiving 3 Rabbinical Ordinations from the High Court of Jerusalem, Rabbi Loketch and his wife, Suri, were ready to spread the beauty and wisdom of Judaism to students in Boston. For the past 17 years, Rabbi Loketch has created meaningful relationships with students on campus and for many years after they leave. Rabbi Loketch enjoys time with his family, running & traveling with students around the world, to Israel, South Africa, Argentina, Panama & more!
_edited.jpg)
Rabbi Yoni Ganger
Harvard Campus Educator & Young Professionals Division
After graduating from Washington University in St. Louis with a degree in Philosophy- Neuroscience - Psychology and Spanish, he deferred medical school to explore Judaism for two years in Israel. This led to a profound personal realization that he preferred to help others rediscover their rich Jewish identity, as opposed to healing their bodies. Rabbi Ganger spent the next seven years learning from some of the best scholars in Israel. He studied Talmud at the Mir yeshiva and received his Rabbinical ordination from the prestigious Jerusalem Kollel. Aside from interests in Judaism, Rabbi Ganger is a former tennis instructor. Please don’t hesitate to schedule him for some time either on or off the court.

Yehudis Solomon
Senior Educator & Young Professionals Division
Yehudis and her family are proud members of the Boston Jewish community for over 15 years. In 2018, she joined the MEOR to provide education & mentorship to young women. She is passionate about women’s empowerment, self-development, and sharing meaningful Jewish experiences. She completed a certificate program in advanced Judaic studies and education in Israel. Yehudis earned a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy from Towson University in 2001. She is a practicing OT at Boston Children’s Hospital in the critical and acute care settings. Yehudis her husband, Zvi and family enjoy sharing intimate Shabbat meals and playing family games. When not at home, you can find the Solomons out hiking, kayaking, or discovering the wonders of nature.
_edited_edit.jpg)
Jessica Lazarev
Administration
Jessica is a native of Newton, MA and attended public school her first half of high school until she was introduced to Judaism from a different light. Mid high school she decided to transfer to the local modern orthodox day school, and changed her life around. She subsequently got her BA in Speech Pathology and Audiology at Stern College for Women and received her MBA with a focus in healthcare administration from Touro College. She previously worked in the corporate world and felt out of place. Her love for Judaism only kept growing so when the opportunity came to also work with students interested in learning and growing in their Judaism, it was a no brainer for her to join the team! She could not be happier with her day-to-day life because she is living a life full of meaning and purpose.

Rabbi Ari Kadish
Educator
Rabbi Kadish hails from Long Island, NY, where he grew up and laid the foundations for his journey. Rabbi Kadish studied accounting at Touro University and went on to pass all four sections of the CPA. However, his heart always yearned for Jewish learning, so he moved to Jerusalem to join the renowned Kollel of Rav Yitzchak Berkovits. After three years of intensive study he obtained Rabbinic Ordination. Rabbi Kadish knew he always wanted to spread and share the beauty of Judaism with others. Outside of work, you'll find him playing basketball, cooking up a delicious meal, or exploring the world with his wife Adina and their children.

Daniel Lazarev
MIT Campus Educator
Daniel was born in Holon, Israel, and moved to Toronto, Canada when he was young. He majored in math and physics at Yeshiva University, and is currently a PhD student in mathematics at MIT and a medical student at Stony Brook University. Last year, he founded a nonprofit, Kochvei HaShamayim to help young Jewish couples balance family life with their early career and advanced education. In his spare time, he likes to play basketball, kayak, and go out on family trips.

Rabbi Yaakov Frankel
Educator
Yaakov was born and raised in Manchester UK. He spent a few years in a Yeshiva - a talmudic college - both in England and in Israel honing his learning/teaching skills and developing his character. After marrying his wife Chavi in June 2019, Yaakov and Chavi settled in Jerusalem and joined a program named Kollel Eitz Pri. The program focuses on self-growth, learning and teaching skills, coaching and guiding, with opportunities for hands on experience. Other than his joy for learning and teaching Yaakov is an avid football (called soccer on this side of the pond!) fan and loves playing with friends. Yaakov joined the MEOR team of Boston in September 2022 and is responsible for the MEOR programming and education at Brandeis University. It will be an exciting journey for all of us, for MEOR, for Family Frankel, for the students and their families and for Brandeis University.

Mercy Benzaquen
Administrator
Born and raised in Caracas, Venezuela. Mercy moved to Boston to pursue a degree in Journalism and Communications Sciences and Disorders at Emerson College. She specialized in Data Journalism at Columbia University and continued her studies with a Masters in Global Studies from Northeastern University. Mercy has worked in various newsrooms around the country catering to the Hispanic community in the US.
Mercy and her husband, Alberto, currently live in Boston and are incredibly happy to be part of the growing Jewish community of Boston!
Mercy works as an administrator for MEOR Boston handling the communications for our programming. Feel free to reach out to Mercy with questions about MEOR classes, events, trips and more!

Rabbi Yoni Sackstein
Educator
Rabbi Yoni Sackstein was born and raised in South Africa, where he developed a strong connection to his roots and a passion for making a difference. With a degree in computer science, he initially imagined spending his life in his home country. However, his love for traveling and helping others led him to explore the world, combining adventure with meaningful volunteer work. Driven by a thirst for knowledge and a deep commitment to his Jewish faith, Rabbi Yoni spent eight years learning at some of Israel’s most prestigious Torah institutions.
In 2024, Rabbi Yoni and his wife, Elisheva, along with their two young boys, relocated to Boston to take a role at Meor Boston.With his approachable and laid-back South African demeanor, Rabbi Yoni is excited to build relationships with students, make Judaism relatable and engaging, and foster a community.
​