Our Staff

In addition to our staff below, a full list of conversion rabbis can be found on our conversion rabbis page and instructors are listed by their respective programs.

Sara Stirne Ibañez

Managing Director of Operations

Sara Stirne Ibanez manages all conversion rabbis and mentors as well as Darshan Yeshiva's virtual support team. Sara is focused on sustaining and growing programs and services through this HR lens. A former communications specialist and media maven, Sara holds a B.B.A. in Marketing with a minor in Hospitality Administration from Georgia State University. She brings with her seven years of experience in non-profit healthcare in addition to her sparkling personality and make-it-work mentality.

Rabbi Sandy Zisser

Director of Admissions

Rabbi Sandy Zisser is the Director of Admission for Darshan Yeshiva, as well as serving as a conversion Rabbi and mentor for the Darshan Training program. Rabbi Sandy holds B.A. degrees in American History and Judaic Studies from the State University of New York at Albany, a M.A. in Special Education from Bank Street College and Rabbinic Ordination from the Jewish Spiritual Leaders Institute. He is also a member of the Westchester Board of Rabbis.

Rabbi Sandy loves to interact with people and believes in educating the whole person, He strongly believes in educating the whole person, with opportunities for adults and children to learn, formally and informally, together as families, or independently by age groups. Rabbi Sandy loves teaching all ages from the youngest child to the oldest adult.

Rabbi Patrick A. Beaulier

Director of Programs and Strategy

Rabbi Patrick A. Beaulier's focus at Darshan Yeshiva is developing new programs and Jewish leaders. He is best known as co-founder of PunkTorah (the parent organization of Darshan Yeshiva). Rabbi Patrick has a BA from City University of Seattle, rabbinical ordination from RSI and holds several certificates in different areas of pastoral care. Rabbi Patrick also serves as spiritual advisor for Bonay Kodesh, an independent Jewish community in Chesterfield, VA.

Jenna Ryan

Special Projects Administrator

Jenna oversees special projects for Darshan Yeshiva that enhance our ability to serve our mission. Jenna formerly worked in Manhattan as a Human Resources Coordinator and as an Information Technology Recruiter for a boutique consulting firm that catered to hedge funds and major financial corporations on Wall St. Currently a full-time nursing student at Marshall University, Jenna has a passion for serving others and a keen eye for organization and developing new methods to increase efficiency.

Rabbi Ben Romer (Z”L)

Co-Founder, Conversion to Judaism Program

Rabbi Ben was the co-founder of the Darshan Yeshiva conversion to Judaism program. Prior to his work with Darshan Yeshiva, he served as a rabbi for over 30 years, both in congregations and as an Army Chaplain for 22 years. He served large and small Jewish communities and prior to his passing was part of the creation of a new Emerging Jewish Community, Bonay Kodesh. Welcoming each and every seeker into Judaism was critically important to Rabbi Ben, he learned from his Army chaplaincy that spiritual leaders have the obligation to help each person to get to where he or she is spiritually going. Rabbi Romer passed away on February 28th, 2016.