Rabbi Mordechai Besser was born in Tel Aviv and immigrated to the United States when he was nine years old. He attended Rabbi Jacob Joseph elementary and high school and earned a B.A. from Yeshiva College, and M.A. from Bernard Revel Graduate School and an M.S. in Education from Hofstra University. He also received his Semicha from Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik at the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary of Yeshiva University. In addition, he earned Permanent New York State School Administrator and Supervisor, and District Administrator Certificates, as well as the Board of Jewish Education Permanent Principal’s License. Rabbi Besser taught Judaic and General Studies at the Hebrew Academy of Nassau County Junior and Senior High School, and was Principal of the Hebrew Academy of the Five Towns and Rockaway for 21 years. He was also Program Director of Camp Morasha for 26 years.

Rabbi Besser is currently in his 18^th year as Principal of Manhattan Day School. He served as Chairman of the Yeshiva Elementary Principals’ Council and is an evaluator for the Middle States Association, and the Department of Education Blue Ribbon Program. Rabbi Besser is one of only three Yeshiva Principals to be awarded the National Distinguished Principal award from the United Sates Department of Education, and was the recipient of the Rabbi Isaac Elachanan Educator Award in 2007.

Rabbi Besser celebrated his Bar Mitzvah at Congregation Ohab Zedek, and is married to Edna- a proud graduate of Manhattan Day School. They live in Kew Gardens Hills and derive nachas from their children and grandchildren.