Rabbi Mordechai Tokarsky, chief rabbi of JCBB - was born in St. Petersburg, Russia, after moving to the US he studied and was ordained by the Chofetz Chaim Yeshiva. As one of the first Russian speaking Rabbis educated in America, Rabbi Tokarsky has a unique ability to understanding the mentality and perspective of Russian - Jewish youth. He served as dean of Yeshivas Kishenev for the Vaad L’hodtzolas Nidchei Yisroel, helping dozens of students to rediscover their Jewish heritage.
He is the founder of Shaarei Emunah Center for Jewish Life, an outreach center and synagogue for Russian-speaking youth.
Rabbi Meir Bruk - received MA in mathematics
at Kiev University and worked in the arenas of artificial intelligence and hi-tech education. He received his religious education at Aish ha-Torah and Ner Le-elef Kollel, both in Jerusalem. From 1994 until 2003, he was the director of the Aish Ha-Torah outreach center in Kiev, Ukraine. Rabbi Bruk was also the chief editor of Aviv, a major Jewish Russian-language publication in Kiev.
He gave classes for Midrasha Tzionit. He also worked for Shvut Ami, a Russian-speaking outreach organization in Jerusalem, making seminars for Russian Jewish intellectuals and TV satellite classes for the Odessa Kollel. Rabbi Bruk is an expert in Jewish family education, kabbala, psychology, and Jewish philosophy. Click here to visit his live journal
Rabbi Tamir Zaltsman – studied at the Atomic Energy institute (Obninsk) and the Polytechnic Institute in Kiev. After making aliya to Israel in 1992, he studied for 10 years in YeshivaRabbi Yitzhak Yechiel in Jerusalem, receiving his rabbinical ordination from Rabbi Lifschitz in 2004. Rabbi Zaltsman also displays a creative flair—he composes songs, writes poems and created two popular rock bands: “Kids from the Block” and “The Last Warning”, whose fame spread beyond the local rock scene in Kiev, with studio albums and prestigious awards of Kiev Musical Festivals. Over the past 10 years, Rabbi Zaltsman was actively involved in outreach, with Aish ha-Torah’s Russian Department, Sochnut, Midrasha Tzionit, a school for girls in Kiev, and the “Bnos Suri-Soshe” school for girls in Berditchev.
Rabbi Zaltzman is a dynamic lecturer on such topics as Basic Judaism, TANA”H (The Scriptures), Talmud (the Oral tradition), Halacha (The Jewish Law), Kabbala and Jewish psychology.
Rabbi Reuven Chaskey - was born in St Petersburg and immigrated to Isreal when he was 19. He studied at prestigious Israeli Yeshivos,
including Ateret Yisroel and Kollel SSC, receiving a total of 14 years of formal Jewish education. He obtained his rabbinical ordination
from the Chief Rabbinate of Israel in 2004. Rabbi Chaskey was trained
in outreach work at Aish Ha-Torah in Jerusalem and Ner Le-elef Kollel.
He’s been active in outreach since 1993, lecturing at Aish Ha-torah and Bney Torah camps, and working as program director in Toldos Yeshurun—a Russian outreach organization once led by the late Rav Yitzhok Zilber,zt’l, and now led by his son, Rav Ben Zion.
Rabbi Chaskey is an experienced lecturer on such topics as Jewish history, personal growth, modern Jewish thought, Talmud, and Hebrew language.
Cantor Herzl Pineles - began his years of service at the Jewish Center of Brighton Beach Congregation over 50 years ago. During this time, he has created a unique musical atmosphere that stresses the best of traditional Jewish melodies, and a service that is true to the time-honored musical chant that is the essence of the centuries-old synagogue tradition. Cantor Pineles was born in Manheim , Germany and studied chazanut under the famous Cantor Samuel Weisser. A member of the esteemed Fellowship Guild, Cantor Pineles was also influenced by Cantor’s Pinchik and Kusevitzky. Despite numerous offers, the Cantor has remained at the JCBB and was a guest performer at Town Hall in NYC many times. We welcome you to join us for services in the main synagogue, to experience the inspirational atmosphere created by the voice and melodies of Cantor Herzl Pineles.
Yehuda (Jules) Loweff - President of JCBB
