Clergy - Shaarei Shomayim

Rabbi Sam Taylor - Senior Rabbi

Email: RabbiTaylor@shomayim.org, ext 201

Rabbi Sam Taylor is the Senior Rabbi of Shaarei Shomayim, the largest Modern Orthodox Synagogue in Canada. He is also on the Rabbinic Board of the Kashrus Council of Canada. Before Shaarei Shomayim, Rabbi Taylor served as the Community Rabbi at Borehamwood and Elstree Synagogue, the biggest Orthodox Congregation in Europe with over 1,400 families, and at the iconic Western Marble Arch Synagogue in Central London. Rabbi Taylor’s first rabbinic position was Youth Rabbi at East Hill Synagogue in Englewood, NJ. Furthermore, Rabbi Taylor has been the Head of Fellowships at JNF UK and Jewish Chaplain at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital. Rabbi Taylor studied at Yeshivat HaKotel before graduating from the Cass Business School with a BS in Management. He then attended Yeshiva University where he received his Rabbinic Ordination and an MS in Jewish Education. He also has a Graduate Certificate in Non-profit Management from Harvard University.

Rabbi Elliott Diamond - Rabbi

Email: RabbiDiamond@shomayim.org
To listen to Rabbi Diamond's Siddur Snapshots: Insights & Refections on Daily Prayer CLICK HERE.

Rabbi Elliott Diamond has long been associated with Jewish education in Toronto and currently serves as the Vice Principal of Jewish Studies at Netivot HaTorah Day School. Rabbi Diamond has been an important member of the Shaarei Shomayim community for many years and has contributed to the synagogue in many capacities. Currently, he is the Interim Senior Rabbi of Shaarei Shomayim.

Rabbi Diamond holds a B.A. from the University of Toronto, pursued his Masters in Education from the Ontario Institute of Studies in Education and received his rabbinical ordination from the late Chief Rabbi of Montreal, Rabbi Pinchas Hirzprung, z”l.

Rabbi Diamond and his wife Rochelle have three children, Avi, Eliana and Amiel.

Rabbi Sammy Bergman - Assistant Rabbi

Email: RabbiBergman@shomayim.org, ext 204

Rabbi Sammy Bergman grew up in Elizabeth, New Jersey. He attended Yeshiva University, and received a B.A. in Accounting from the Sy Syms School of Business. He received his rabbinic ordination from the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological seminary, where he was a fellow of the Wexner Semichah Honours Program. He has served as Sgan Rosh Beit Midrash, Beit Midrash Zichron Dov, and the Rabbinic Assistant at Shaarei Shomayim from 2019 to 2021.
Rabbi Bergman is married to Dr. Ahuva Bergman, who works as a pediatrician. They have two daughters, Miriam and Devorah.

Rabbi Jared Anstandig - Rabbinic Assistant

Sgan Rosh Beit Midrash, Beit Midrash Zichron Dov

Email: janstandig@torontotorah.com

Rabbi Jared Anstandig is from West Bloomfield, Michigan. He studied in Yeshivat Torat Shraga in Jerusalem, followed by Yeshiva College where he studied Psychology and Jewish Studies. Rabbi Anstandig completed rabbinical school at Yeshiva University and while also studying in YU’s Marcos and Adina Katz Kollel. He earned a Master’s Degree in Tanach from Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies.
During his rabbinical training, Rabbi Anstandig held numerous rabbinic internships, such as at Lincoln Square Synagogue in New York City, Kesher Israel in Washington, DC, and Shaare Tefillah in Teaneck, NJ. He also served as an officer in the US Army Chaplain Corps.
Prior to his tenure at BMZD and Shaarei Shomayim, Rabbi Anstandig and his family have lived in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where Rabbi Anstandig served as the rabbi of the Orthodox community for the University of Michigan Hillel. He also served the local Orthodox population of adults as the rabbi of the Ann Arbor Orthodox Minyan.
Rabbi Anstandig is married to Sarit, and they have two children, Batya (age 2) and Aryeh (5 months).

Ralph Levine - Shamash
Email: ralphlevine@rogers.com

Ralph Levine, Shaarei Shomayim’s Shammas and Baal Koreh, is responsible for the Torah readings at our services and for overseeing daily morning services. Ralph is a resource to those who are sitting shiva and can assist with the recitation of kaddish. He offers training to boys in advance of their Bar Mitzvah and can provide tutorials to adults who wish to improve their davening or haftarah reading skills.

Chaim Freund - Chazzan

Email: chaimelfreund@gmail.com

Chaim received his Rabbinical Ordination from the Rabbinical College of America and from Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau, former chief Rabbi of Israel. He served as lead Chazzan for the High Holidays in London, California, and he served as year round Chazzan and Ba'al Koreh at Chabad of the Shore in Deal, New Jersey. He studied at the Tel Aviv Cantorial Institute under Chazzan Naftali Hershtik, as well as Professor Johannes Sweiger from NYU in New York City.

Chazzan Freund is married to Mirel, and they have a daughter, Sarah.