Clergy
Rabbi Jarrod Grover
Rabbi Jarrod Grover serves as the senior spiritual leader and mara d'atra of Beth Tikvah. He came to Beth Tikvah at 28 years old fresh out of rabbinical school, and has remained with the congregation throughout his career. A bilingual native of Montreal, Rabbi Grover received his bachelor's degree in Economics at Princeton University. His M.A. and rabbinical ordination are from the Jewish Theological Seminary of America where he served as president of the students' organization.
Rabbi Grover is a leading religious voice within the Canadian Jewish community and currently serves as Vice-President of the interdenominational Toronto Board of Rabbis. He has been involved for many years with the Ontario Region of the Rabbinical Assembly, Israel Bonds, and the Rabbinic Cabinet of the Jewish Federations of North America.
He has received numerous fellowships and awards, including several leadership awards from the Government of Canada, and accreditation by the Canadian Association for Pastoral Practice and Education. In the winter of 2014, he was invited by Prime Minister Stephen Harper to join him on his official delegation to Israel.
Rabbi Grover speaks regularly from the pulpit, teaches inside and outside of the synagogue, and officiates at hundreds of lifecycle events throughout the year. His leadership vision focuses on commitment to Jewish law and tradition, Israel engagement, egalitarianism, and social justice. He is married to Carmela, with whom he shares four children and a Boston Terrier named Oscar.
To get in touch with Rabbi Grover, please email his assistant at yardena@bethtikvahtoronto.org
Rabbi Alisa Zilbershtein
Rabbi Alisa Zilbershtein is the Assistant Rabbi of Beth Tikvah. She is a graduate of the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York. She holds an M.A. in “Jewish Civilizations” from Hochschule für Jüdische Studien, Heidelberg, Germany.
Before coming to North America Rabbi Zilbershtein lived in Kyiv, Ukraine, where she taught "History of Jewish Philosophy" at the National University of "Kyiv-Mohyla Academy." She speaks Ukrainian and Russian languages and is eager to welcome refugees and immigrants from the Former Soviet Union (FSU) into the Jewish community of Toronto.
Rabbi Zilbershtein specializes in pastoral care work. She is experienced in grief and loss processing and spiritual crisis counseling.
To get in touch with Rabbi Zilbershtein, please email her assistant: yardena@bethtikvahtoronto.
Ḥazzan Tibor Kovari
Ḥazzan Tibor Kovari is a native of Cluj, Romania. He came to Beth Tikvah in 2003 from the Beth Israel Synagogue in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Previously, he served as Chief Cantor of the Choral Temple in Bucharest and the Romanian Jewish Communities as well as the Director of Jewish Education for the Federation of Jewish Communities of Romania, acting Rabbi and Cantor for each of Anna Frank High School in Budapest, Lauder Reut Jewish Kindergarten and School in Bucharest-Romania, the Hungarian Armed Forces and the Pava Street Synagogue in Bucharest. He attended the Talmud Torah educational program.
He later received Rabbinical and Cantorial training at the Hungarian Rabbinical Seminary in Budapest, Hungary, Ohr Somayach educational centre in Monsey NY and, at the Federation of Jewish Communities of Romania. Tibor has sung in numerous concerts across Israel, Europe and North America. He is married to Isabela, and they are blessed with three children, Daniel Yaakov, Ariel Yosef and Matan Israel.
To get in touch with Hazzan Kovari, please email him at hazzan@bethtikvahtoronto.org
Ritual Director, Irv Kirshenblat
Irv became a part of the Beth Tikvah family in 2001. He previously practised law and entered synagogue life mainly due to his passion for Judaic studies, teaching and community. He has always enjoyed teaching children, youth and adults and values engaging lay members of Beth Tikvah in ritual participation such as chanting torah, haftarot, megillot and leading prayer services.
Irv believes Jewish tradition, prayer, learning and having fun are all connected. As such, he enjoys the rhythm of the Jewish calendar and the needs of the congregation. You will not only find Irv at synagogue services, but also preparing breakfasts, tailgating, biking to work, and riding with the Beth Tikvah bike gang in the summer.
Prior to Beth Tikvah, Irv was privileged to have served in other synagogue positions including, President, Executive Director, ba’al koreh, teacher, fundraising and lay spiritual leader. He is particularly proud of his in-depth involvement in the rebuilding of Beth Radom (Toronto) and his design and supervision of the fabrication of Beth Radom’s main sanctuary ark stained glass windows, and those surrounding its main sanctuary entrance doors.
Irv was born and raised in Toronto and attended University of Toronto (B.A. Hons.), Queens University (L.L.B.) and York University (B.Ed.). He is married to Linda, and has 3 daughters, 2 son-in-laws and 3 grandchildren.
To get in touch with Irv, please email him at irv@bethtikvahtoronto.org