Professional Staff

Leigh Lerner

Rabbi

rabbi@templemontreal.ca
514.937.3575 ext. 207

Born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Rabbi Lerner graduated from Duke University with a degree in English, after which he entered Hebrew Union College. He was ordained in 1972. Rabbi Lerner’s first pulpit was at Mt. Zion Temple in St. Paul, Minnesota, where he was Assistant Rabbi for three years, and Senior Rabbi for the following fourteen years. Among his many communal activities in St. Paul, Rabbi Lerner is particularly proud of renewing Black/Jewish dialogue.

In March 1989, he was appointed Senior Rabbi at Temple Emanu-El-Beth Sholom, where he quickly immersed himself in our community, learning French while earning a vital place in the hearts of our congregants. Rabbi Lerner's activities in Montreal are very impressive, having served as:

Rabbi Lerner's contributions also include the creation of a Mixed Doubles Group, involving intermarried couples in Jewish life, and the development of Jewish Divorce Documents for Liberal Jews, now used as the ocial Canadian Reform Get.

Rabbi Lerner is married to Loren Deckelbaum, Professor, Department of Art History, Concordia University. They are the proud parents of four children.

In 1994, Rabbi Lerner became a Canadian citizen.

Rachelle Mingail Shubert

Music Director and Cantor

rachelle@templemontreal.ca
514.937.3575 ext.235

When not on the bema leading services, Rachelle Shubert plans and coordinates the music of our services and oversees the professional and volunteer choirs, organist, guest soloists and musicians. She directs Kol HaNeshama, Temple’s adult volunteer choir, and co-directs the annual Purim Spiel. As Artistic Director of Temple's Concert Shabbat Series, she has brought renowned artists as cellist Denis Brott to the Temple bema. Rachelle serves on the URJ Canadian Steering Committee and is the Immediate Past Secretary of the Executive Board of the Guild of Temple Musicians.She has also participated in URJ Camp George as Faculty and as Parent Ambassador. She is on the Editorial Advisory Committee and Review Committee of Transcontinental Music Publications, the musicpublishing arm of the Union for Reform Judaism, and was Tefillah Committee Co-Chair for the 2007 American Conference of Cantors-Guild of Temple Musicians Convention. Rachelle pens a music column in each issue of The Temple Voice and gives classes in the field of Jewish music throughout the year.

Shellie Ettinger

Executive Director

shellie@templemontreal.ca
514.937.3575 ext. 204

Shellie Ettinger joined Temple Emanu-El-Beth Sholom as its Executive Director in April 2008.  She has enjoyed a successful career in Montreal’s Jewish Community and brings to Temple strong organizational expertise.  She has served as Executive Director of Jewish Immigrant Aid Services Montreal, Assistant Director of the Montreal Federation CJA Community Planning and Allocations Department, and Senior Coordinator of Programs at National Canadian Jewish Congress, responsible for outreach and development of small Jewish communities across Canada.

Shellie holds a Master of Social Work degree from the Wurzweiler School of Social Work, Yeshiva University in New York City.  She attended Sir George Williams University where she obtained her Bachelor of Arts in Applied Social Science and a certificate in Family Life Education.

Anita Bensabat

Program Director

anita@templemontreal.ca
514.937.3575 ext. 212 

Anita has been Temple’s Program Director since April 2007. Her role is to oversee all cultural and social programming with Temple membership volunteers, Rabbi Lerner, and occasionally the greater Montreal interfaith and Jewish communities. Anita handles all publicity requirements, follows up on specific requests, creates special dinners, events and other programs. She works closely with our various volunteer groups to help bring their programs to fruition. Anita is currently editor of Temple’s newsletter, the Voice.

New Director of Torah School  to follow