Dr. Zeligman holds a B.A. from Yeshiva University, a J.D. and LL.M. from the University of Toronto, and an S.J.D. in Law and Religion from Emory University. He is excited to join the staff and students at Yeshiva Ohr Yisrael, where he brings his extensive academic background to the teaching of History, Government, and Economics. Originally from Canada, Dr. Zeligman is always happy to talk hockey.

          Mr. Christopher Ellis is a native of Atlanta and earned a B.S. in Applied Mathematics with a concentration in Actuarial Science from Auburn University. He discovered that teaching was a more rewarding and enjoyable career than working in insurance. Mr. Ellis is certified in all content areas of secondary mathematics in the state of Georgia and has been teaching at Yeshiva Ohr Yisrael since 2015, covering all levels of mathematics. He particularly values the relationships and sense of community at the school. In his free time, he enjoys camping, kayaking, fishing, and traveling, having visited Ireland, France, Germany, Czechia, Slovakia, Poland, Hungary, and Canada.

          Dr. Richard Katz is a trained linguist, specializing in language history and how grammatical features come about. He earned his Ph.D. in linguistics from the University of Georgia. He first came to Yeshiva Ohr Yisrael in the fall of 2018 where he teaches Language Arts and English to the 9th and 12th grade. In class, he works on strengthening students' skills in close reading and argumentative writing. Outside of class, he is writing a book about the history of grammatical structures like the perfect tense. 

            Mr. Tarpley was born and educated in Atlanta and holds a B.A. in Liberal Arts, an M.Ed. in Education, and a J.D. in Law. He has worked as a teacher, school administrator, and principal, and is a former practicing attorney. He enjoys the faith-filled, welcoming environment at Yeshiva Ohr Yisrael. Mr. Tarpley is married to Pamela and has two children, Katherine and Hamilton. In his free time, he enjoys UGA football, Braves baseball, and spending time with his family. His favorite book is The Great Gatsby.

         Mr. Thompson holds a B.A. in Creative Writing and an M.A. in English Literature. He looks forward to helping Y.O.Y. students become well-rounded thinkers who can read critically and express themselves clearly in writing. His favorite novel is Anna Karenina, and he is an avid runner.

          Rabbi Jake Czuper has had the opportunity to teach students in both formal and informal educational settings. With a B.A. in Psychology, a Master's degree in Education and Special Education, and Semicha from Beis Medrash L'Talmud (Lander College), Rabbi Jake is passionate about teaching Torah and sharing his knowledge of Positive Psychology and health to best impact his students. Rabbi Jake looks forward to teaching PE and Health classes at Y.O.Y. and getting to know the student body.

Mr. William Ellis earned a B.S.Ed. in Secondary Social Science Education with a content major in Geography from the University of Georgia (1975) and an M.Ed. in Educational Leadership from Georgia State University (1983). He holds Georgia state certifications in Social Science (Broad Field), Gifted Education, and Educational Leadership. Mr. Ellis taught in the Gwinnett County school system for over 34 years, serving as department chair for eleven years and contributing to the development of Georgia’s geography certification exam.

He joined Yeshiva Ohr Yisrael in 2009 and now teaches the full range of social sciences, including AP U.S. History and AP U.S. Government. Mr. Ellis values the school’s student-centered approach and strong parental and community support.

An Air Force brat, he was born at Hunter AFB in Savannah and lived in 13 different homes before graduating from Duluth High School, including four years at Ramey AFB in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. He and his wife Debbie of 48 years have three children—one of whom teaches math at Y.O.Y.—and five grandchildren.

          Mr. Soni holds a Master’s degree in Biotechnology and a Bachelors of Education from India. He has over 12 years of experience teaching Science, primarily to pre-medical students. Mr. Soni is also certified in Biology through the Georgia Educator Professional Certification. He is especially looking forward to contributing to the school community, supporting students in achieving academic success, and growing further as an educator within a collaborative environment. Mr. Soni has a deep interest in Indian classical music.

Now in his fourth year at Yeshiva Ohr Yisrael, Mr. Pillow brings creativity and enthusiasm to the classroom. He holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre Performance and a Master of Arts in Teaching in Mathematics Education, and he is certified to teach in the state of Georgia.

Mr. Pillow appreciates the unique opportunity to learn from both the students and the Rabbeim about the Jewish way of life, an experience he finds deeply enriching as a non-Jewish member of the YOY community.

Fun Fact: Mr. Pillow once appeared in a movie and was even a contestant on The Price Is Right!

R. Scott Harris is an internationally recognized planetary geologist and the physics, chemistry, biology, and earth systems instructor at Yeshiva Ohr Yisrael of Atlanta. He also serves as a visiting research scientist at the University of Georgia and hosts the weekly At-Home Planetarium Show on YouTube (@SouthernSpaceRocks). With over 30 years of experience, Scott studies asteroid and comet impacts, extraterrestrial volcanism, and the early history of our solar system, and he has authored numerous peer-reviewed papers and conference presentations.

A former physics and geology instructor at North Gwinnett High School, Scott has also worked at Fernbank Science Center and the Jim Cherry Memorial Planetarium, where he directed public science programming. He has contributed to television documentaries, including the Emmy-nominated Earth Unlocked series, and has held leadership roles in multiple geological societies, including president of the Atlanta Geological Society.

A native of Winder, Georgia, Scott earned degrees from Arizona State University, the University of Georgia, and Brown University. His research has taken him around the world, from studying impact craters in South America to discovering the first K-T boundary deposits in South Carolina. Passionate about sharing science with students and the broader community, Scott brings both expertise and enthusiasm to his teaching at Yeshiva Ohr Yisrael.