Rabbi Aaron Flanzraich
Rabbi Aaron Flanzraich was born in Brooklyn, NY in 1966 and attended Bar Ilan University in Ramat Gan, Israel, where he was also admitted into the University's prestigious Advanced Talmudic Institute (Machon G'voah L'Talmud). In 1990, he received a dual ordination from Yeshivat Sha'ar Ephraim, and the Israeli Chief Rabbinate. As Senior Rabbi of Beth Sholom Synagogue since 1998, Rabbi Flanzraich has instituted a Kosher Food Bank, a Summer Work Program for Jewish teenagers, and assisted in implementing the Out of the Cold program for the homeless. He is past president of the Toronto Board of Rabbis , aformer chair of the Christian Jewish Dialogue of Toronto , where during his tenure the inter-faith program “Walking G-d’s Paths” was brought to Toronto for the first time , a board member of the Canadian Rabbinic Caucus, a board member of Israel Bond's Rabbinic Cabinet and is the authour of a book on combating Jewish fundamentalism called, "The Small Still Voice". Rabbi Flanzraich is also a frequent guest on TVO, Vision TV, and the CBC.
After 16 years in Toronto, the rabbi claims that he is still an avid New York Islanders fan (although there is this nagging rumour that he can be seen at the Air Canada Centre for Leafs games!), and he challenges the kids in the Shul to as many hockey games as they can handle. He also loves leading the children of the Shul on Rock Climbing and Paintball games! The Rabbi has two beautiful children, Ari, age 14 and Talia age 11.