Stephanie Stern completed her Doctorate in Physical Therapy at Hunter College in New York City, and is licensed both in Israel and the United States. Over the past 10 years, Stephanie has worked in a variety of settings, specializing in orthopedics and sports medicine, where she has helped individuals rehabilitate from injury and return to sport. In 2015, further broadening her area of expertise, Stephanie received her imPACT certification as a concussion specialist, and completed training as a certified strength coach. Stephanie has a private practice in Ramat Beit Shemesh focusing on orthopedics, sports medicine, post-concussion management, and strength and fitness. In her work with Lev LaChayal, Stephanie works with Chayalim who have sustained injuries, experience pain, or who need general strengthening. Stephanie strives to provide skills and techniques to Chayalim, that will enable them to endure the physical demands of the army. And, if injuries do occur, Stephanie works with Chayalim to help them rehabilitate and return to full strength. 

Zachary Stern, an alumnus of Yeshivat Lev HaTorah (06-08), is a dually licensed Clinical Psychologist (US & Israel). Zachary received his Psy.D. from Widener University in Philadelphia, PA, with a focus in child, adolescent, and family therapy. Zachary has experience helping people with a wide range of presenting concerns, including ADHD, anxiety, depression, trauma, and adjustment, and draws from cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), as well as family systems theory. In working with Lev LaChayal, Zachary assists pre-draft Chayalim to better understand their individual strengths, develop skills for resiliency and stress management, and identify resources to utilize throughout their service. Additionally, through weekly group meetings, Zachary provides in-depth psychoeducation on a variety of mental health symptoms and dispayments which Chayalim commonly face. Zachary also works with Chayalim during and post their active service who have experienced trauma, emotional challenges, and severe stress. Zachary’s goal is to foster an environment where mental health awareness and psychological well-being are prioritized and respected, and to enable every Chayal to have a positive and successful experience serving in the Israeli Army.

Army service inescapably presents some of the most intense emotionally challenging situations. Here, in Lev LaChayal, we have found that having extra professional services on hand have played a critical role in maintaining balance for many of our soldiers. Rav Paltiel, a seasoned therapist, teaches in our pre-draft program to introduce the students to some of those challenges and processing techniques. However, most importantly, Rav Paltiel’s golden personality and amazing respect for every human being, allows him to magically and professionally empower his clients and students with the belief in themselves and overcome their struggles. Our chayalim are comforted tremendously by knowing that their very own home-base extends all the support they might need.

Rav Noam White, a Lev HaTorah alumnus and award winning sniper in the sniper team of Givati’s recon’ battalion, has now returned as a rebbe for the Lev LaChayal program. Rav Noam served in the IDF prior to the existence of Lone Soldier housing programs. Upon completing his army service, he served as a core inspiration and volunteer worker to establish a proper program for our devoted machalniks, volunteer soldiers from overseas. Rav Noam’s intensity is transmitted to the students equally in the physical training exercises he leads and the night shiur he gives. He is a true personification of the synthesis of Torah and Tzahal, and serves as an incredible role model for the training and in-service soldiers. Rav Noam and his wife Elisheva serve additionally as an av and eim bayit, taking care of the active soldiers, hosting them for Shabbat meals, and being their doting parents away from home.

Rav Dudi Winkler is a native Israeli who gained a thorough understanding of students from the diaspora through his many years teaching in Yeshivat Lev HaTorah, 3 years as a shaliach in Australia, camp Rabbi in Moshava Edismore, and director of Camp Nesher Summer Program in Israel. His unending commitment to chayalim from all over the country has earned Rav Dudi the title of “Abba of the Chayalim Bodedim (father of the lone soldiers)”. He provides personal advice & direction for hundreds of chayalim and helps them navigate through the government bureaucracy to ensure that each student ends up in the best place. Rav Dudi is well known for his charm, Israeli chutzpah, and extraordinary craziness he is willing to do on behalf of his chayalim. He meets with all the boys in the program regularly, visits the bases, and always makes sure that they are properly cared for.

Rav Benjy Kwalwasser is a well-loved educator for the past 20 years and is known for his support and encouragement of each individual. Rav Kwalwasser was one of the visionaries of “Lev LaChayal”, a program launched in 2014 offering a yeshiva framework to prepare and support lone soldiers, and in May 2017, he assumed leadership of the entire program. As the program’s executive director, Rav Kwalwasser has overseen the program’s development, increase in services and doubling of size.