Rabbi
Jonathan Infeld
Rabbi Jonathan Infeld was born in Pittsburgh, PA. He graduated from Brandeis University with a BA in Near Eastern Judaic Studies in 1995. After graduating and before beginning rabbinical school, Rabbi Infeld spent a year studying in Jerusalem at Pardes Institute. Rabbi Infeld was ordained at the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York in 2002. His first position was as the assistant rabbi of the Marlboro Jewish Center in New Jersey. In 2006 Rabbi Infeld moved to Vancouver with his family to become rabbi of Congregation Beth Israel. Rabbi Infeld is married to Lissa Weinberger. They have three children Avishai, Yair and Naomi. The family loves living in Vancouver and is delighted to be part of Congregation Beth Israel.
Cantor
Mike Zoosman
Hazzan Michael Zoosman received his Cantorial Investiture and Master’s of Sacred Music from the H.L. Miller Cantorial School of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America (’07), where he studied as a Wexner Graduate Fellow. From 2005-2008, he served as part-time Hazzan and student cantor at Congregation Beth El in New London, Connecticut and officiated as a student cantor at Congregation B’nei Jacob in Springfield, Massachusetts for several years prior. Cantor Mike has served as a chaplain in various hospital settings and currently is the Jewish Chaplain for the federal correctional facilities throughout British Columbia . He received his B.A. in Music and History from Brandeis University (’03) and has appeared on the musical theatre, opera and operetta stage, with a particular yen for Yiddish song, musical composition and some stand-up comedy…if necessary. Cantor Mike is thrilled to have joined Rabbi Infeld and Ba’alat Tefillah Debby as part of the K’lei Kodesh of Congregation Beth Israel in summer, 2008. When he is not among his B.I. mishpakha or with his cat, you may see him cycling, jogging and otherwise enjoying beautiful Vancouver.
Ba'alat Tefillah
Debby Fenson
Debby Fenson joined Beth Israel in December 2005. As Ba'alat Tefillah of Beth Israel she focuses on teaching Bar and Bat Mitzvah students and chanting the torah and other liturgical texts. "I grew up in Winnipeg, a Jewish Community known for its warmth and Yiddishkeit. Speaking of Yiddish, my mother, after sending 3 children to Talmud Torah, decided to send me to the Peretz Folk Shul. Being an older mom, she liked slow, quiet activities. Some of my favorite memories are singing Yiddish songs with her, as well as playing scrabble (in English). My dad, on the other hand, took me on long bicycle trips and taught me how to canoe in Lake Winnipeg. When I was 10 years old, my parents finally made Aliyah- realizing a dream they had shared for 30 years! Growing up in Israel made me fluent in Hebrew and instilled in me a lot of Hutzpah, which I have tried my best to tame since returning to Canada. After moving to Vancouver in my 20's, I studied music, catered and tutored many Bar and Bat Mitzvah students. I love working at Beth Israel and feel really privileged to work with Rabbi Infeld and Cantor Mike."
Shannon Etkin
Executive Director
Shannon Etkin joined BI in 2002 as the executive director. He has a Masters degree in the field of organizational development and educational theory from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education – University of Toronto. Shannon has lived in several cities in the United States and Canada. He has worked in the for-profit and not-for–profit world with Jewish and other organizations and businesses, focusing on organizational change and development.
Gaynor Levin
Program Director
Gaynor Levin was born in Cape Town, South Africa. Gaynor received a B.A. HDE from the University of Cape Town and taught at Herzlia High School before moving to Canada in 1991. She taught for a few years in Vancouver (both at day school and afternoon Hebrew school) and then moved into her current position as Program Director at Beth Israel. She loves the variety that the job offers and enjoys the wonderful work environment at Beth Israel so much that she has been here since 1997!
Gaynor lives in Vancouver with her husband, Ivor and teenage children, Samantha and Marc.
Harriet Frost
Hebrew School Principal
Harriet Frost was born and raised in Montreal . She completed her post secondary education at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and McGill University. Since relocating to Vancouver, Harriet has worked in the Jewish community teaching Music and Hebrew in Vancouver’s Jewish Day schools and Supplementary schools. An accomplished songwriter and recording artist, Harriet’s love for music also includes Judaic and Cantorial music. She has been head of the Hebrew School for 9 years. "Being principal of the Hebrew School at the BI is a great privilege. Working with a dynamic staff we are creating a nurturing environment for children to thoroughly explore their Jewish identity." Harriet lives on “Kibbutz Steveston’ with her husband Robert Albanese and their daughters Noa and Teva.
Mijael Lacher
Director of Youth and Young Adult Outreach
Mijael Lacher was born in Tel Aviv. When he was a child his family moved to Buenos Aires where Mijael attended primary and high school. In 2008, he was ordained as a Cantor at the Latin American Rabbinical Seminary. Since then he has worked in different congregations from Bogota to Santo Domingo, Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires. Mijael has trained bnei mitzvah, taught Hebrew and Masoret. In 2009 he moved to Hartford, Connecticut where he worked as Program Director at Trinity College Hillel. During his time there he staffed Tzedek trips to South America and Israel.
Now, ready to venture further North, Mijael arrived in Vancouver on August 2011 to become the Director of Youth and Young Adults Outreach at Congregation Beth Israel. He looks forward to working with the staff and congregants, and to making Beth Israel part of his life.
Shailene Caparas
Manager / Accounting Services
Shailene is a Certified Public Accountant from the Philippines. She graduated summa cum laude with a degree of BS in Accountancy in April 2003. She initially worked as an auditor at SGV & Co, an affiliate of Ernst & Young Global. In 2007, she immigrated to Canada with her family and joined the synagogue in December of the same year. Shailene is also currently working on her CGA courses and with God’s favor, she managed to top her FA4 Exam at CGA-BC in March 2009.
Keri Zwicker
Office Manager
Keri is the office Manager at Beth Israel. She joined Beth Israel in August 2010. Keri's unique career background working at QLT, Bio-Tech, Red Bull Energy Drink and Kerrigan Gymnastics Academy, has created a wide range of Office Managerial experience. Keri converted to Judaism in August 2009 and there's no better way to teach one about Judaism then working in an Office at a Shul. She has embraced her daily tasks along with every Jewish holiday and she is always eager to learn. She feels honored to be working with such extraordinary Office Staff and Clergy at BI. Whether it's planning a B'nei Mitzvah, booking an appointment to meet with Rabbi Infeld, or sponsoring a Kiddush lunch, Keri looks forward to her next phone call with you!! Keri also shares the Jewish Community with her husband, Jordan Zwicker from Beyond Sound and Keri is a true Vancouverite!
Susanne Gumprich
Office Assistant
Susanne was born and raised in Saskatoon where her family was very involved in Congregation Agudas Israel (Conservative) Synagogue. She first came to Vancouver in 1988 to attend University. She went home to work in Saskatoon after graduating intending to return to Vancouver in two or three years. Back in Saskatoon she took up the family tradition as a board member and lay leader at her shul. In 2006 Susanne moved back to Vancouver along with her parents who she shares with her two sisters, her brother and various nieces and nephew.
Caretakers
Melody Jaime Lito Ernesto
