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 is the CEO of Aish Toronto. He has long been associated with Jewish education in Toronto, and is the former 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.

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.

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.