About
Born in Yosemite, California (1999).
Now living in Montana.
When we started, we set out to create a new kind of Jewish experience.
We stepped into the wilderness for the beauty, the adventure, and the space to think.
We had no idea that this journey would grow into something far greater: a groundbreaking experience that would impact thousands of young people and help shape a generation.
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​There is something powerful about stepping away from the noise of everyday life.
When you disconnect from distractions and reconnect with Jewish learning, community, and nature, you discover what’s been inside you all along.
North Star Ranch
Located on 40 private acres at the foothills of Flathead National Forest, North Star Ranch offers a peaceful and comfortable setting surrounded by Montana’s untouched natural beauty.
Each room includes a private bathroom, shower, and central heat and air conditioning. We also offer four brand-new private cabins for guests.
We are just 20 minutes from Whitefish Mountain Resort, 45 minutes from Glacier National Park, and 25 minutes from Glacier Park International Airport (FCA).
Meet the Team
Rabbi Mordechai Kreitenberg
Founder and CEO
Rabbi Mordechai Kreitenberg is the founder and director of Heritage Retreats. He grew up in Los Angeles, California, and attended college at UC Berkeley. He began his Torah Study career at Machon Shlomo Yeshiva in Jerusalem, and later studied for 5 years in Mercaz Hatorah in Talpiot. He later spent 5 years studying in the Mir Yeshiva in Jerusalem. He lives with his wife, and family in New Jersey.
In 1999, Rabbi Kreitenberg founded Heritage Retreats to help students connect to their Jewish heritage and build a personal relationship with God through immersive experiences in nature. He has inspired generations of students through his vision and leadership.
Rabbi Aaron Kotler
Senior Educator
Rabbi Aaron Kotler is President Emeritus of Beth Medrash Govoha (BMG) which he led from 1995 to 2021, setting it as the leading Jewish institution of our generation. He is active in building Jewish communities worldwide, and in connecting young Jews to their heritage. He founded Chemed Health which serves 250,000 patients annually; NJ Hand, a builder of affordable housing; and Beacon Health. He is a Trustee of Acutecare Health System; of RWJ Barnabas Health MMC; of NJ Reentry Corporation; of the NJ Israel Commission; and served in public roles, including appointments to the New Jersey President’s Council on Higher Education and other government entities.
Rabbi Moshe Greene
Senior Educator
Rabbi Moshe Greene found his way to Aish HaTorah after graduating from the University of Michigan in 1979. After a year of inspiration under the tutelage of Rabbi Noach Weinberg, he moved to Far Rockaway, NY learning under Rabbi Shlomo Freifeld in Yeshivat Shor Yoshuv. He has been a rebbe there for over three decades. He also serves as a senior lecturer with the Jewish Enrichment Center in Manhattan, NY and as a teacher and guitar strummer with Heritage Retreats and Sinai Retreats during winter break and summer months.
R' Leiby Burnham
Senior Educator
R' Leiby Burnham, MSW, is a Rabbi, psychotherapist, and writer. R' Burnham is the senior educator for the Weiss Family Partners Detroit program of Yeshiva Beth Yehudah, where he does community outreach, and leads Jewish travel experiences in the US and abroad. He taught learning-disabled high school students for eight years in NYC, while receiving Rabbinical training at Shor Yoshuv Institute, and obtaining his Masters in Social Work from Yeshiva University. To round out his Jewish communal experience he spent five years working with at-risk youth in NYC, and six years volunteering with Chai Lifeline, a pioneer in social support for Jewish children suffering from serious illness. R’ Burnham lives in Oak Park, MI with his wife and their six children
Rabbi John Ghermezian
Senior Educator
Rabbi John Ghermezian serves as President and Chief Business Officer at Mall of America® and Vice-Chairman of Triple Five Corporation. A forward-thinking leader, he helps shape the future of retail, working with global brands to drive growth and innovation at one of the world’s most iconic retail destinations.
In addition to his business leadership, Rabbi John studied for many years at Yeshiva Ner Yisroel, where he received his rabbinical ordination. He has traveled across the country and around the world inspiring Jewish communities. Today, he is a key builder of Jewish life in Minneapolis, actively supporting schools, community organizations, and initiatives that strengthen and grow the community.
Rabbi Eliyahu Greenberg
Program Director
Rabbi Eliyahu Greenberg received his B.A. from FDU and his Master’s degree from NYU. He previously worked in investment banking at Merrill Lynch before pursuing advanced Torah study, earning the Rabbinical Fellowship Award from Beth Medrash Govoha.
Today, he serves as a Campus Rabbi at NYU, where he is a passionate Torah scholar and mentor. With backgrounds in finance and photography, he enjoys engaging students in meaningful conversations about today’s most relevant Jewish topics. In his free time, he is also an avid scuba diver and drone photographer.
Avi Weisz
Program Manager
Avi Weisz has spent the past five years creating and leading Jewish experiences around the world that are equal parts meaningful, energizing, and real. He was raised and educated in some of the most respected yeshivas, which gave him a deep love for Jewish heritage—and a strong drive to help others connect to it in a way that feels alive and relevant.
What sets Avi apart is how naturally he bridges tradition and today. Whether he’s guiding a retreat in a stunning setting or running a hands-on learning experience, he builds spaces where people can ask honest questions, go deeper, and leave feeling more connected—to Judaism, to community, and to themselves. At the heart of it all, Avi’s goal is simple: to make Judaism feel personal, accessible, and truly transformative.
Chef Meir
Head Chef
Chef Meir Based in Israel, our chef is a professional culinary expert specializing in private events and personalized dining experiences. His style combines classic, old-school techniques with bold, modern flavors, delivering refined and unforgettable meals.
He specializes in date nights, dinner parties, BBQs, weekends, vacations, recipe development, and events of all sizes. He also travels worldwide, bringing a high-end, tailored culinary experience wherever it’s needed.