Clergy
Chevra Kadisha B'nai Jacob Beit Hazikaron
Cantor Yitzhak Epstein
Cantor Yitzhak Epstein was born in Jerusalem, Israel and is a third generation Sabra. He was
educated at Yeshivas Toras Chaim in Jerusalem, where he completed his studies for the
rabbinate. Cantor Epstein then continued his education in chazzanut and nusach from the late
world-renowned cantor, Cantor Zalmen Pollack whose students took up shtellehs (positions) in
the most prestigious synagogues across the globe. Cantor Epstein received additional training
from Cantor Yitzchak Eshell and voice lessons from Mr. Yaffen Blochem of the Conservatory of
Music in Jerusalem.Cantor Epstein served for three years as Cantor of the Achdut Yisrael
Synagogue in Jerusalem, where important dignitaries, such as Prime Minister Menachem Begin
and Yizchak Shamir attended services. His talents led him to South Africa, where he was
appointed chief cantor for the Beth Hamedrash Hagadol,
the most distinguished synagogue in the country. In Johannesburg, he was chosen by the great
synagogue to officiate at weddings with South Africa’s chief rabbi, Rabbi Bernard Casper. Cantor Epstein was then
hired by the Brighton Beach Jewish Center in Brooklyn, New York.
Shortly after Cantor Epstein moved to Montreal. Cantor Epstein has made a name for himself singing and performing at many cantorial concerts and performing at various events at the Golden Age Association, Senior Clubs, Maimonides Hospital, Vilner Farband Association, Litvisher Farband Association of Montreal, Voliner Association of Montreal and Jewish Veterans Remembrance Day Memorial Service.
Cantor Epstein is commencing his seventh year with Congregation Chevra Kadisha Bnai Jacob Beth Hazikaron Beth Hillel where he officiates on Shabbat and Holidays with the CKBJ-BH Choir under the direction of choirmaster Ari Snyder. Cantor Epstein is gifted with a beautiful tenor voice so the congregation can enjoy and be uplifted by the choral arrangements and traditional songs, which have been part of our prestigious congregation, the Chevra Kadisha Bnai Jacob Beth Hazikaron Beth Hillel.
Cantor Epstein and his wife Marsha are the proud parents of a beautiful daughter Zemira.
REVEREND BENJAMIN EVEN-HEN
Reverend Even-Hen was born fifty-eight years ago in Clug, Romania. In 1950, while still a young
boy, he immigrated to Israel with his parents, the late Mordechai Yehuda z”l and the late Elisheva
Finkelstein z”l.
Rev. Even-Hen graduated from Yeshivat “Nechalim”, and served in the Israeli Armed Forces from
1965-68. He was assigned to the Israel Northern Command in the field of communications and served
under the late General David Elazar z”l. Rev. Even-Hen saw active duty during the dark days of the
Six day war as well as the Yom Kippur War.
After the war, Benjamin enrolled in Mechanical Engineering at Beer-Sheva University where he
graduated in 1971. Upon graduation he went to work at the Atomic Center in Dimona. In 1972
he was asked to head the mechanical drafting department in “Lehmen” Comprehensive High School.
Rev. Even-Hen has been surrounded by music his entire life. His vocal skills were apparent at a young age and he loved to sing at any opportunity. He received voice training for several years before leaving Israel.
When he immigrated to Canada in 1978, his first job was in Hamilton, Ontario where he worked as a Hebrew teacher at the Hebrew Academy, as well as Cantor of the Adath Israel Synagogue. In August 1980, Benjamin accepted the position of Chazan Sheini at our Congregation.
Clergy with whom Reverend Even-Hen has shared the Bimah include: Rabbi Benjamin Hauer, Rabbi Gavriel Neuman, Cantor Joshua Rosenzweig z”l, Cantor David Bagley, Cantor Zev Toren and Cantor Simon Spiro. He is presently complemented by our accomplished Cantor Yitzhak Epstein and our esteemed Rabbi Asher Jacobson.
During his many years of affiliation with our Congregation, he has taught hundreds of Bar Mitzvah boys who are today fathers of their own “Bar Mitzvahs”. Indeed, Rev. Even-Hen is still called upon to instruct this new generation in preparation for their Torah reading.
It is not only Bar Mitzvahs who have been enriched by Benjamin the teacher. Many of us have approached him to teach us Shachris, to teach us how to daven Musef, how to sing the correct niggin for a particular passage. He always has the time, the patience and the skill to satisfy our requests.
His warm and inviting smile always welcomes every person called to the Bimah for an Aliyah. The eagerness with which congregants reach out to shake his hand during Torah processions demonstrates their admiration for the care, compassion, sincerity and knowledge he brings to our Synagogue and all its endeavours.
Reverend Even-Hen and his lovely wife Esther have been married for 37 years and have 5 wonderful children, Hagit, Yosi, Neer, Orna and Hadas as well as many grandchildren with whom they enjoy spending time.
At this juncture, after Benjamin’s twenty five years of dedicated service to us all, the Executive, Board of Trustees, fellow clergy and Congregation take great pleasure in extending to him and his family a heart-felt Yasher Koach. May we all merit to share in each other’s simchas for many years to come.
Rabbi Asher Jacobson
Originally from New York, Rabbi Asher Jacobson
studied at the central Lubavitch yeshiva in Brooklyn
where he completed his BA. He later majored in Jewish
law and received his rabbinical ordination with distinction
from the late chief Rabbi of Montreal, Rabbi Pinchus
Hirschpruing z”l.
In 1998, he moved to Montreal and directed Bais Menachem
, a seminary teachers’ college for young women. The following
year while continuing his administrative and educative duties,
he founded the Jewish Heritage Center, lecturing on Jewish
topics of interest, such as philosophy, Jewish theology, language, contemporary and halachic issues.
Rabbi Jacobson received an additional master’s degree at Concordia University and is currently a faculty member at Concordia where he lectures on comparative religion and theology. His recent dissertation in Word in the World, entitled “Can Jews and Christians Talk” was published by Concordia University, and is being used as a text for the Lonnergan theological department of studies.
Rabbi Jacobson’s interview on the Jewish perspective of the DaVinci Code was published in the New York Times best seller, The Secret of the Code.
Presently, he is in a doctoral program and is working on a special project in Systematic Theology, exploring the historical evolution of the law of retribution with the renowned author and French professor Charles Kannengeisser.
Rabbi Jacobson is the spiritual leader of Congregation Chevra Kadisha B’nai Jacob Beth Hazikaron - Beth Hillel. He continues to revitalize the core of the synagogue through the implementation of many new, exciting and innovative programs. This past Sunday the third group bat mitzvah graduated, and the synagogue published the third volume of Judaism From a Woman’s perspective.
Rabbi Jacobson was recently appointed as president of the Rabbinical Council of Canada, a conglomerate of 35 orthodox synagogues and institutions and he also serves as a member of various community organizations in Montreal.
Rabbi Jacobson and his wife Lieba are the proud parents of three beautiful children, Menachem Mendel, Bracha Rivkah and Yacov Dovid.
