Bios
Rabbi Mordechai Becher
Originally from Australia, Rabbi Becher is a Senior Lecturer for Gateways. Rabbi Becher has extensive experience teaching Judaism to adults, collegiates and high school students for over 30 years throughout the world. He has lectured at Ohr Somayach College in Jerusalem for 15 years, served in the Israel Defense Forces and taught in training programs for rabbis and educators. Rabbi Becher has also co-authored two books on contemporary issues in Jewish law and has responded to thousands of legal, ethical and philosophical questions on the AsktheRabbi.org website. His latest book, “Gateway to Judaism,” published by Artscroll-Mesorah Press, is now in its fifth printing.
Rabbi Reuven Lauffer
Rabbi Lauffer is a graduate of the Rabbinical Seminary, Jerusalem. He lives in Jerusalem and has taught for more than 30 years in Ohr Somayach in Jerusalem. He is an editor and web advisor for Ohr Somayach’s popular weekly Torah magazine “Ohrnet,” and has answered tens of thousands of questions for AsktheRabbi.org. Rabbi Lauffer teaches at numerous seminaries in Jerusalem and is a very popular public speaker and educator.
Rabbi Moshe Newman
Originally from Washington D.C., Rabbi Moshe Newman is a Talmudic lecturer for Ohr Somayach in Jerusalem and general editor of “Ohrnet” magazine. Rabbi Newman has co-authored books on contemporary issues in Jewish law and ethics and has vast experience in responding to legal and ethical questions on the AsktheRabbi.org.
Rabbi Jonathan Rietti
A descendant of the Sephardic leader the Ben Ish Chai and son of famous British actor Robert Rietti, Rabbi Rietti received semichah from Gateshead Yeshiva, after which he helped establish the Kollel in Gibraltar. Holding a master’s degree in education, he has been an educational consultant for 24 years. Rabbi Rietti currently works in Brooklyn under Machon Daas Esvuna training teachers using hands-on chinuch methods steeped in Chazal-based principles. Rabbi Rietti speaks worldwide on topics including inner growth, health, parenting and Jewish identity.
Rabbi Mordechai Suchard
The founder and director of Gateways, Rabbi Suchard is the son of a Rav and Dayan on the prestigious Johannesburg Beis Din. He studied in Telshe, Cleveland and Ponevizh, Israel, and received semichah from the Chief Rabbi and Av Beth Din of Jerusalem, Rabbi Kulitz. For the past 20 years, Rabbi Suchard has devoted his time to building Gateways into a premier education powerhouse that engages collegiates, young adults, families, singles and Russian immigrants in the United States and abroad to nurture and sustain Jewish identity, strengthen their connection to Israel, and make informed decisions about their Jewish future.