Meet the Kollel

ROSH HAKOLLEL

Rabbi Mordechai Scheiner
A distinguished Talmid Chacham of stature, Rabbi Mordechai Scheiner is the heart and soul of the Kollel. His erudite Torah knowledge and his dedication to the growth of the avreichim are fundamental to their development and preparation for careers of Torah leadership. Born and raised in Far Rockaway, New York, Rabbi Scheiner attended the Yeshiva of Staten Island where he studied under the Rosh Hayeshiva, Rav Reuven Feinstein shlit”a. From there he joined the Brisk Yeshiva of Rav Dovid Soloveitchik shlit”a in Yerushalayim. show more

FACULTY

	Rabbi Chaim Leib Gross, Executive Director As the Executive Director, Rabbi Chaim Leib Gross endows the Kollel with his organizational talent and seasoned people skills. The son of the late Reb Eliyahu Moshe z”l, the well known and beloved Executive Director of Toronto’s Bais Yaakov Elementary school, Rabbi Gross was born and reared on the ideals of dedication and commitment to community.show more Rabbi Gross spent his formative years in Toronto, first at Yesodei Hatorah and later at Yeshivas Nachlas Tzvi for high school. Upon his marriage to Esti Handler of Brooklyn, Rabbi Gross joined the Lakewood Kollel where he and his wife made their first home. While in Lakewood, Rabbi Gross also held two part-time teaching positions, one at the Bucks County Yeshiva in Yardley, PA, and the other at the community learning program of East Brunswick, NJ. During this time he also graduated from the Ner Le’elef program, specializing in community outreach. Rabbi Gross returned to Toronto to join The Thornhill Community Kollel. As Executive Director, he has greatly expanding the Kollel’s infrastructure as well as its sphere of influence. Mrs. Gross teaches at Toronto’s Bais Yaakov Elementary School. show less


	Rabbi Mordy Weinberg, Director of Community Development In his capacity as Community Development Director, Rabbi Mordy Weinberg spearheads the Kollel’s community initiatives. A dynamic people person, Rabbi Weinberg’s teaching career began while still a teenager at Camp Agudah, where he delivered a shiur for several summers and coordinated a mishnayos program for the campers. Upon graduating from Ner Yisroel, Rabbi Weinberg attended Yeshiva Gedolah of Detroit, Brisk-Yerushalayim and Beth Medrash Govoha in Lakewood. show more In 2004, he married his wife Chana – nee Kranz – of Monsey, NY. A graduate of Eitz Chaim and Ner Yisroel, Rabbi Weinberg has deep roots in Toronto. His grandfather, Rabbi Shneur Weinberg served as Principal of Eitz Chaim for over thirty years, and the legacy of his late grandmother, Rebbetzin Phyllis a”h is perpetuated by her myriad accomplishments in the development of Jewish Toronto. His father, Rabbi Moshe Weinberg, is a rebbe at Eitz Chaim and co-director of the popular Camp Eitan of Toronto. In the Kollel, Rabbi Weinberg has developed a host of innovative learning opportunities for participants on all levels. He also leads the Kollel’s recruitment effort aimed at attracting, and integrating young families into Thornhill. show less

Avreichim

	*Rabbi Eliyahu Goldwasser* Rabbi Eliyahu Goldwasser began his studies in Toronto at Yeshivas Ner Yisroel and then continued on to Yeshivas Mir in Yerushalayim. The Goldwasser name has become well known through his father’s renown as a noted lecturer and writer. Rabbi Goldwasser is married to Sarah Shaindel – nee Fleisher – whose father Reb Zvi Akiva is a well-known sofer in the community. After their marriage, the Goldwassers settled in Yerushalayim, where Eliyahu attended the Kollel of Rabbi Yitzchok Berkowitz for several years. show more Aside from his full-time studies at the Kollel, Rabbi Goldwasser delivers a variety of lectures for the public. His endearing personality serves as an invaluable asset in his teaching as well as in the Kollel’s overall integration into the community. show less

	Rabbi Baruch Hess As one of our full time avreichim, Rabbi Baruch Hess brings a unique dynamism to the Kollel. His geshmak and vive in learning lend themselves to the energy in the Bais Medrash. Born and raised in Baltimore, MD, Rabbi Hess attended Ner Yisroel of Baltimore and the Mirrer Yeshiva of Yerushalayim, where he became a disciple of Rabbi Asher Arieli. show more After his marriage to his wife Yocheved – daughter of R’ Moshe & Debbi Klugman of Toronto – the Hesses lived in Eretz Yisrael for several years, where Rabbi Hess was part of the Kollel at the Mirrer Yeshiva. While there, Rabbi Hess participated in the Ner Le’elef Outreach Training Program. They relocated to Thornhill when he joined the Kollel as one of the Avreichim. show less

	*Rabbi Dovid Rosen* Having grown up in such diverse communities as New Orleans, LA, Birmingham, AL and St. Louis, MO, Rabbi Dovid Rosen is not new to the field of community outreach. After graduating from Ner Yisroel in Baltimore, he attended the Mirrer Yeshiva in Yerushalayim and Beth Medrash Govoha in Lakewood. show more While in Lakewood, he led a SEED summer program in his former hometown of St. Louis. Rabbi Rosen is married to Chaya – nee Teitz – of Montreal. In addition to his full-time studies at the Kollel, Rabbi Rosen is also the gabai of our minyanim whose dedication is evident in the smooth functioning of our Bais Medrash. Mrs. Rosen is a teacher in Bais Yaakov Elementry School. show less

	*Rabbi Yisrael Meir Goldman* Rabbi Yisroel Meir Goldman was born and raised in Boston MA, where his father serves on the teaching faculty at the Maimonides School. Rabbi Goldman is married to Nechama (nee Elias) of Montreal. show more Her father Rabbi Dovid Elias serves as the Rosh Kollel of the Montreal Community Kollel. After their marriage, the Goldmans settled in Yerushalayim, where Yisroel Meir continued his learning at the Mir and then at Yeshiva Bais Yisroel for several years. Rabbi Goldman is also a graduate of the Ner L’Elef teacher-training institute. show less

	*Rabbi Menachem Indich* Rabbi Menachem Indich is a native of Cleveland Ohio, where his family resided until he was 12 years old. The Indichs then relocated to Lakewood NJ and Menachem spent his high school years at the Staten Island Yeshiva. show more After high school, he learnt in Telshe Yeshiva and then under Rav Dovid Soloveitchik in the Brisker Yeshiva in Yerushalayim. Upon his marriage to Dvora (nee Zweig) of Baltimore he returned to Lakewood and spent 5 years learning in the Kollel of Bais Medrash Govoha. show less

	*Rabbi Avi Kutner* Rabbi Avi Kutner grew up in Toronto where he attended Yesodei Hatorah and Yeshivas Nachlas Tzvi. He then joined Yeshiva Ohr Hameir in Peekskill, NJ, and then spent several years studying in Yerushalayim, first under Rabbi Tzvi Kaplan in Yeshivas Kodshim and later at Yeshivas Mir. Rabbi Kutner is married to Shoshana – nee Yunger – also of Toronto. show more After their wedding, the Kutners settled in Yerushalayim, where Avi returned to Yeshivas Kodshim. The Kutners returned to Toronto in 2007, settling in Thornhill as a full time member of The Thornhill Community Kollel. Rabbi Kutner ‘s warm and friendly personality serve as a vital asset to our Bais Medrash. Mrs. Kutner holds a degree in special education. show less

	*Rabbi Raphael Greenspan* Rabbi Raphael Greenspan relocated to Thornhill to take part in the founding of the Kollel. Rabbi Greenspan takes an active role in the community delivering shiurim at BAYT and other venues.

	*Rabbi Yitzi Weiss* Rabbi Yitzi Weiss serves an important function as the Kollel’s Program Coordinator in addition to learning part-time in the Kollel. Born and raised in Los Angeles, Rabbi Weiss studied in Ohr Yerushalayim and Yeshiva Gedolah of Waterbury. Upon his marriage to Libby- nee Rosenberg, the daughter of a longtime Thornhill family, they moved to Eretz Yisroel where Yitzi learned at Kollel Toras Chaim.

	*Rabbi Yossi Bergman* Prior to coming to Toronto, Rabbi Yossi Bergman taught Gemara and mentored students at Yeshiva Dvar Torah in Yerushalayim. A part-time member of the Kollel, Rabbi Bergman also gives shiurim and mentors chavrusas from the community.

	*Rabbi Moshe Yaakov Perl*Rabbi Moshe Yaakov Perl spent his high school years at Yeshivas Ner Yisroel. After graduation, he learnt in Yeshiva Gedola of Montreal and the Mir in Yerushalayim. Upon his marriage to Miriam- nee Klein, also of Toronto, Rabbi Perl joined the Kollel as a part-time member.

	*Rabbi Zechariah Adler* Rabbi Zechariah Adler is a Thornhill native and a graduate of the local CHAT High School, as well as Yeshiva of Skokie, Ohr Somayach and the Ohr Lagolah rabbinic leadership program. He is currently a part-time member of the Kollel.

	*Rabbi Moshe Rubanowitz* Originally from LA, Rabbi Moshe Rubanowitz came to Thornhill after several years in the Norfolk Kollel in Virginia. He is a rebbe at The Toronto Cheder in the mornings and spends a significant part of his day at the Kollel.

	*Rabbi Shmuel Aron Kleiner* Before coming to Thornhill, Rabbi Kleiner spent many years in Eretz Yisrael learning at the Mirrer Yeshiva in Yerushalayim and then at Kollel Beis Yisroel in Neve Yaakov. As one of the original members of the Kollel, he delivered several of the regular shiurim in the Kollel. Rabbi Kleiner has since moved on to become a rebbe at The Toronto Cheder, but he still learns part-time in the Kollel and gives shiurim. show more Rabbi Kleiner and his wife Devora- nee Farkas- are both natives of Toronto. Shmuel Aron is an alumnus of Eitz Chaim and Yeshivas Nachlas Tzvi. His father, Reb Dovid, is the well-known gabbai at the Agudah of Toronto. The Kleiner, Posner, Weitz and Farkas families are long time Toronto residents. show less

	*Rabbi Dovi Gopin* Rabbi Dovi Gopin represents a unique sense of pride for the Thornhill community, as one of its very own, “homegrown”, Talmidei Chachamim. Starting out as a full-time member of the Kollel Rabbi Gopin has since moved on to become a rebbe at The Toronto Cheder and learn part-time in the Kollel.

Meet the Kollel

ROSH HAKOLLEL

FACULTY

Avreichim

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