Life is for living – get the most out of it!
At HaMerkaz we believe that anybody can be anything that he or she wants to be. All you have to do is grab life by the back of the neck, and lead it where you want to go.

Easier said than done – how do you take charge of your destiny?

HaMerkaz was founded with this very mission. We aim to channel 3000 years of wisdom to students in a meaningful, relevant and user-friendly way. Our programs are designed to help young adults decode the mysteries of Jewish tradition and to introduce them to the richness and diversity of our heritage, demonstrating its relevance to 21st century Jews.

What is the Rabbinic approach to stem cell research? Is there equality of the sexes according to the Bible? Would Moses have an iPhone? And would he text the people of Israel the 10 commandments?
Join us and we'll show you how to take control of your destiny. It will be a trip of a lifetime!

Rabbi Alan (Alter) Klein, Senior Rabbi at HaMerkaz
Rabbi Klein is our driving force and educational director (although some say he only got involved with HaMerkaz as an excuse to go rappelling down cliffs and drive dune buggies with the students on incredible Israel trips.)

Rabbi Klein studied archeology at the University of Arizona (for those of you familiar with the New York area, he attended the famed Bronx High School of Science as a youngster.)

His love of archeology combined with his love of Jewish history led him to become expert in the field of Biblical archeology – the archeology of Israel. Since he spent a good number of years in Israel, you can ask him for a tour of the historical countryside.

Rabbi Klein also taught in secular schools in Israel and assisted Jewish outreach programs internationally. He lives in Ramat Beit Shemesh with his wife and five children.