Rabbi - Rabbi Boruch Perton
Chazan Sheinie – Rev. Yitzchok Rosenberg
Executive Director- Eileen Rabinovitch
Sisterhood President - Hindy Lieberman, Sylvia Yarin
Men’s Club President – Ron Yarin
Emeritus Clergy:
Rabbi Emeritus – Rabbi Sidney Shoham
Rabbi Sidney Shoham was born in Baltimore, Maryland the son of Rabbi Yechiel and Rebbetzen Ethel, Z’tl. Both of his parents were children of Rabbinic scholars and well known leaders of their communities. He attended the Talmudical Academy of Baltimore grade school and then went to Mesivta Rabbi Chaim Berlin Rabbinical, Brooklyn, New York.
The Rosh HaYeshiva, Rabbi Yitzchak Hutner, Z’tl, studied with the late Rabbi Yechiel in the famous Yeshiva of Slabodka in Lithuania. While studying in the Yeshiva, Rabbi attended Brooklyn College at night and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree majoring in psychology. After Smicha, he attended graduate school at New York University, School of Psychology. He continued his studies in Montreal at the Allen Memorial Hospital – McGill University where he furthered his courses in Pastoral Psychiatry. Rabbi arrived in Montreal in 1955 to visit his brother Gilbert, who was Rabbi of the Beit Hamidrash Hagadol Synagogue on McKenzie. While here, he met with an enthusiastic group of individuals anxiously waiting to build a new community in the western suburb of Montreal. After discussions with the committee, several weeks later he was hired as the Rabbi of Beth Zion Congregation in the winter of 1956.
In the summer of 1967 following the Six Day War, Rabbi and Jewel, his wife, went to Israel for the first time. When they returned, Rabbi became active with Israel Bonds and was eventually asked by the Canadian Executive Director, the late Moe Appel, to form a Rabbinic Cabinet in Canada. It was then that he founded the Canadian Rabbinic Cabinet by travelling throughout the country and visiting the Rabbis and Synagogue leaders of various communities. He was able to create a strong group of Rabbinic and lay leadership that reached a new plateau in the sale of Israel bonds. He remained Chairman for approximately ten years.
Rabbi was the monthly host of “Religiously Speaking”, a radio show on CFCF, for a period of five years. In time, CFCF created a TV show entitled “Making Life Meaningful”. This took the form of discussion, followed by live call-ins. Both venues were a wonderful experience for the Rabbi and the community.
In 1979, Rabbi, together with his wife and family went to Israel for a years’ sabbatical and at that time became guest lecturer at Bar Ilan University in Tel Aviv and at Yeshivat Aish Hatorah in the Old City of Jerusalem. While in Jerusalem, Rabbi Shoham met with the late Rabbi Linhner, Z’tl , head of Boys Town- an amazing institution that combines Torah study with technical training. After assisting Boys Town he was honored in 1988 as “Man of the Year” for the school. In 1990 Yeshiva University of New York sponsored a dinner in Montreal honoring Rabbi Shoham at which time he received an honorary doctorate and a Chair was established in his name for Rabbinic and Community Leadership.In 1993 Rabbi Shoham received the Yovel Alumnus Award in New York City at the Annual dinner of the Mesivta Rabbi Chaim Berlin Rabbinical Academy, his alma mater. In April of 1994 Rabbi Shoham was the Rabbinic leader of the Quebec region of the “March of the Living”. Over 150 students from the area were amongst the thousands that traveled to Poland and then to Israel. The devastation found in Poland and the creative life of the renewed State of Israel left a tremendous impact on all. He was asked to repeat his role as Rabbinic advisor again in 2005. In 1997 Rabbi Shoham was the first and only Rabbi ever to be selected as the Chair for Combined Jewish Appeal. Alta Levinson was Chairperson for the Women’s Division. There was wonderful co-operation between the Synagogue and community to allow this responsibility to flourish. Rabbi Shoham was one of the founders of the Kollel Torah Mitzion, which is housed in Hebrew Academy, Cote St Luc. The Kollel has a tremendous influence on the high school students and adults of the entire community.
Cantor Emeritus - Cantor Tibor Holczer
