Rabbi Cory Weiss

Rabbi Cory Weiss served as Rabbi of Congregation Beth Shalom Rodfe Zedek in Chester, Connecticut from 1999 to 2005, contributing to the growth of the community and the building of a new synagogue. Prior to Beth Shalom he was the Associate Rabbi at Congregation Beth Israel in West Hartford, Connecticut. Rabbi Weiss received his ordination at the New York campus of the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in 1993. He earned his M.A. in Hebrew Literature at HUC-JIR's Jerusalem and Los Angeles campuses. He received his Bachelor of Music degree with distinction in 1986 from the University of Michigan, where he studied French Horn, composition, and Judaic Studies.

Rabbi Weiss served as Treasurer of the Northeast Region of the Central Conference of American Rabbis,  as Vice President of the Shoreline Soup Kitchens, on the Board of Northern Middlesex County Habitat for Humanity, and as President of the Valley-Shore Clergy Association. Rabbi Weiss has also served on the faculty of URJ Camps Eisner and Crane Lake. Rabbi Weiss lives in Thornhill with his wife Karen, who is a professional Jewish Educator, and their sons Michael and Jacob.

Rabbi Michael S. Stroh, Rabbi Emeritus

Rabbi Stroh came to Toronto in the summer of l966 to accept the post of assistant rabbi, and then associate rabbi of Holy Blossom Temple. In l97l, he became the rabbi of newly formed Temple Har Zion.   Rabbi Stroh  received his B.A. from Queen's College, Summa Cum Laude. He was ordained at Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC - JIR) at which he earned an M.A. with honours.  In l991, he received the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity from HUC - JIR.  He has been an instructor at Queen's College and taught Jewish Thought at the School of Education and philosophy at the School of Sacred Music of HUC - JIR. He has been an instructor in Jewish Theology at the University of Waterloo.

Rabbi Stroh teaches regularly at Kolel -The Centre For Liberal Jewish Learning. He was a member of the Theology faculty of the University of St. Michael's College, University of Toronto. Rabbi Stroh spent his last sabbatical in New York and Israel. He taught Covenant Theology with Professor Eugene Borowitz at HUC - JIR and did research on Franz Rosenzweig.

Rabbi Stroh is a Past President of Arza Canada, (Reform Zionist Organization) and a Past Chairperson of Arzenu: International Federation of Reform and Progressive Religious Zionists. He was a member of the Zionist General Council (Va'ad Hapoel) of the World Zionist Organization and the Assembly of the Jewish Agency. He is a past president of the Toronto Board of Rabbis and was a member of the Commission on Sustaining Rabbinic Education of the Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion/Central Conference of American Rabbis. Rabbi Stroh was a chair of the Reform Round Table, a group of rabbis who discuss the content and direction of Reform Judaism.

He is married to retired publicist Celia Stroh.  They have two children, a daughter Samantha and a son Jonah. He is a grandfather to Spencer Ethan.

Among Rabbi Stroh's publications are the following:

• Marshall McLuhan and the Shape of the Reform Jewish Future

• Tradition for Reform Judaism

• A New Look at Franz Rosenzweig's Speech Thinking
  Central Conference of American Rabbis Journal

• The Authority of the Tradition for the Reform Rabbi
  Yearbook of the Central Conference of American Rabbis,Vol. XC, Part Two

• A Reform Perspective
  Midstream Magazine

• Authority, Autonomy, and Authenticity: A Personal Search
  Jewish Spiritual Journeys
  Lawrence A. Hoffman and Arnold J. Wolf, Behrman House Inc.

• Mending The World And The Evil Inclination: The Human Role In Redemption
  Duties of the Soul
  Niles Goldstein and Peter S. Knobel, URJ Press

• Martyrdom: Suicide for the Sake of Heaven (Forthcoming)
  The Freehof Institute of Progressive Habbalah
  

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Tara Abrams, Cantorial Soloist

Tara Abrams has been our Cantorial Soloist since 2001. She sings at all Shabbat, Festival and High Holy Day services and adds warmth to Har Zion's worship experience. As B'nai Mitzvah Co-ordinator, Tara oversees the program and tutors most of the students herself. In addition, Tara enjoys teaching “Introduction to Torah Cantillation” classes to grade 6 students in our Beit Ivrit ( Hebrew School ). Tara liaises with Rabbi Weiss and Susan Sermer, Director of Education, ensuring that children and parents alike have a positive experience in preparation for becoming Bar or Bat Mitzvah. Tara teaches Torah and Haftarah cantillation to both the Adult B’nai Mitzvah classes and other adults in the congregation who want to learn this Jewish life skill. She provides support on an ongoing basis to congregants who chant Torah and Haftarah at services.

An Honours graduate of the Faculty of Music, University of Toronto and an A.R.C.T. graduate of the Royal Conservatory of Music, Tara first encountered Jewish music as a student at Temple Har Zion’s Religious school. Her love of Jewish music was nurtured while attending URJ’s Goldman Union Camp Institute where there was a tremendous focus on singing. She is a true product of the Reform movement, and specifically Har Zion, from Consecration through to Confirmation and beyond. Tara has served as a Faculty member of our URJ’s Camp George. She is a member of the Guild of Temple Musicians. Tara works closely with Rabbi Weiss and Eleanor Rice, our Music Director, to make Temple Har Zion’s worship services spiritual, inclusive, musically-infused and participatory through the singing of songs that cover the spectrum from traditional to contemporary. Tara is married to David and has two children, Emily and Ryan.

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Karen Grimm, B.Sc., Executive Director

Karen Grimm coordinates and directs Temple activities. She is a member of the National Association of Temple Administrators and of The Synagogue and Temple Administrators of Toronto. Karen leads the office staff in offering support to and addressing the needs of Temple's congregants. To contact Karen Grimm call 905-889-2252 x #4 or email at karengrimm@templeharzion.com

Susan Sermer, B.Sc., B.Ed., Director of Education

Susan Sermer, B.Sc., B.Ed., Director of Education, received her education at the University of Toronto. In the public school system, she had many years of experience in the classroom, developed family education programming, and acted as a host teacher to York University students in the Bachelor of Education program. Susan has been an active member of Temple Har Zion since 1984. She has been involved, among other things, in the Religious School committee, Worship committee, Shabbat Task Force, Out of the Cold program, and has been on staff of the Religious School in the roles of teacher as well as Teacher Training Coordinator.

Susan is an active member of the Reform community in the Toronto area. She is a member of the Reform Educators’ Council, The Supplementary Principals’ Council, and the Family Educators’ Network. Each summer, Susan, along with many other Reform rabbis and educators, serves as faculty at Camp George, the only Canadian Reform Jewish camp, located near Parry Sound, Ontario.

As Director of our school, Susan develops and implements curriculum, and interacts with staff, students and their families in order to create the best possible Religious School for the children of our community.

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Naomi Kfir, Hebrew School Principal

Naomi oversees curriculum development and coordinates and implements programs of our Hebrew school.

Jacqueline Canton, Youth Advisor

Our Lay Leadership

Temple leaders work with the clergy, Executive Director, school and office staff.  The structure includes the Executive Committee, the President, and a wide range of committees that plan, support and are involved in all aspects of Temple life.

The Board is made up of the Executive Committee, the Treasurer and the immediate Past President as well as appointed members. This group approves all policies, budgets and financial decisions.

The president supervises the general management of day-to-day operations. Committee chairs are involved in religious, education and community activities. Members are welcome and encouraged to join committees and to contribute their expertise or share their interest in a particular area.

Temple Har Zion Board of Directors

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