Rabbi Shimon Zehnwirth is the founder and dean of Torah Academy. A lifelong learner and educator, he has taught and guided students for over 25 years. He received high-level rabbinic ordination from the Rabbinical Seminary of America (RSA – Yeshiva Chofetz Chaim) in Queens, New York, as well as a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Queens College of CUNY. He served as Instructor of Talmud and administration member at RSA’s Jerusalem campus, then moved back to the States to become the principal of Torah High Schools of San Diego – Girls Division and subsequently, of Hanna Sacks Bais Yaakov High School of Chicago. Besides his duties at Torah Academy, he gives daily and weekly classes to adults in the community on Talmud, the weekly Torah portion and other topics. He is the co-author of Majesty of Man: Torah Insights into Human Nature (1992) and Pinnacle of Creation (2007) published by Artscroll/Mesorah Publications Ltd., based on the teachings of Rabbi Henach Leibowitz zt”l. Both works stress the greatness of the human being, and accurately describe the basis for Rabbi Zehnwirth’s approach to education of both children and adults – to nurture and develop the vast, untapped potential and nobility that exists within each person.
