- Our People
Leadership & Staff
City Shul is shaped by a partnership between clergy, staff, lay leaders, volunteers, and members. That spirit of shared leadership has been part of City Shul since its founding and remains one of its defining strengths today.
- Clergy
Clergy
Rabbi Stephanie Crawley
Rabbi
Rabbi Stephanie Crawley became City Shul’s spiritual leader in 2024 following an extensive international search that reflected the congregation’s commitment to thoughtful and visionary leadership.
Known for her warmth, scholarship, and deep commitment to community-building, Rabbi Crawley brings a passion for creating Jewish experiences that are meaningful, participatory, and accessible. Before joining City Shul, she served as Associate Rabbi at Temple Micah in Washington, D.C., where she developed innovative programs that brought Jewish learning and community into new spaces and reached people seeking alternatives to traditional institutional models.
A graduate of Case Western Reserve University and Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, Rabbi Crawley is a recipient of the prestigious Tisch Rabbinical Fellowship and has served Jewish communities throughout North America, Israel, and beyond.
Born and raised in St. Louis, Rabbi Crawley now calls Toronto home together with her husband, Rabbi Jesse Paikin, and their daughter, Ruthie. She is inspired by the power of Jewish community to help people live rooted, hopeful, and fully human lives.
Hazzanit Tara Abrams
Hazzanit
Hazzanit Tara Abrams joined City Shul during the High Holy Days of 2021 and became the congregation’s cantor in 2023.
An experienced and beloved Jewish musical leader, Tara previously served for more than two decades as Hazzanit of Temple Har Zion. Throughout her career, she has been dedicated to creating worship experiences that are spiritual, participatory, inclusive, and enriched by music.
Tara believes deeply in the power of music to elevate prayer, build community, and help people connect with Jewish tradition in meaningful ways. Her warmth, presence, and love of Jewish music continue to enrich the spiritual life of City Shul.
Rabbi Elyse Goldstein
Rabbi Emerita
Rabbi Elyse Goldstein is the founding rabbi and visionary spiritual leader of City Shul. Following her retirement in 2024, she was named Rabbi Emerita in recognition of her extraordinary contributions to the congregation and to Jewish life in Canada.
Widely respected as a teacher, author, speaker, and community leader, Rabbi Goldstein has spent decades helping make Jewish learning more accessible, inclusive, and relevant. She founded Kolel: The Adult Centre for Liberal Jewish Learning, one of North America’s most innovative Jewish adult education programs, and was awarded the Covenant Award, the highest honour in Jewish education in North America.
A prolific author and leading voice in Jewish feminism, Rabbi Goldstein has written extensively on Torah, Jewish identity, and contemporary Jewish life. Her leadership has influenced generations of students, rabbis, and community builders.
The values that helped shape City Shul from its earliest days, participation, learning, inclusivity, and spiritual depth, remain central to the congregation today.
Staff
Staff
Barb Wiseberg
Synagogue Operations Manager
Barb is often the first point of contact for members and visitors alike. With a background in marketing and communications, she brings warmth, practicality, and an extraordinary talent for problem-solving to the day-to-day life of the congregation.
Whether helping members navigate a challenge, answering questions, or keeping countless moving pieces running smoothly behind the scenes, Barb plays a vital role in ensuring that City Shul remains a welcoming and responsive community.
Rae Szereszewski
Director of Jewish Education
Rae joined City Shul in 2023 and has played an important role in expanding and strengthening the congregation’s youth and educational programming. Drawing on experience in Jewish youth leadership, education, and community-building, she is committed to creating engaging learning environments where people feel empowered to ask questions, explore ideas, and grow.
Her work reflects City Shul’s belief that Jewish learning should be accessible, inclusive, and meaningful for learners of all ages.
- Board
Board Leadership
Liron Taub
Chair
Liron Taub is a lawyer with the Government of Ontario, where he has served as both Legislative Counsel and Crown prosecutor. A lifelong participant in liberal Jewish communities, he is passionate about Jewish learning, prayer, and active engagement with Jewish tradition. At City Shul, he serves as a gabbai and member of the Shira Harmony Group.
Liron believes Judaism is at its strongest when it invites thoughtful, creative, and meaningful participation. He lives in Toronto with his wife Miriam and their son Yitzhak.
Anne Sealey
Vice-Chair
Anne Sealey has been part of the City Shul community since its early years and has contributed to congregational life in many ways, including helping build City Shul’s culture of hospitality and welcome. Professionally, she works for the Government of Ontario.
Anne is passionate about creating a vibrant Jewish community and helping ensure that City Shul remains an inclusive and welcoming home for people of all backgrounds and experiences.
Barbara Wade Rose
President
Barbara Wade Rose is a former award-winning journalist and author who has been an active member of City Shul for many years. As President, she is committed to strengthening the congregation’s future while preserving the warmth, participation, and community spirit that have defined City Shul since its founding.
Peter Levitt
Treasurer
Peter Levitt brings more than four decades of leadership experience in finance, treasury, and risk management. A former senior executive at CIBC, Manulife, TD Bank, and other major financial institutions, he has also served on numerous corporate, community, and educational boards.
At City Shul, Peter helps ensure the congregation’s long-term financial strength and sustainability.
Carly Ziniuk
Secretary
An award-winning mathematics educator, Carly Ziniuk has spent her career helping people discover the joy of learning. Before joining City Shul’s leadership team, she chaired the congregation’s Education Committee and played a key role in supporting Jewish learning initiatives.
Carly brings curiosity, creativity, and a deep commitment to community-building to her leadership role.
Shelley Albert
Board Member
Shelley Albert has been part of City Shul since its founding and was delighted to discover the community she and her family had long been searching for. A physician specializing in internal medicine and nephrology, Shelley has spent her professional life caring for others and helping people navigate complex challenges.
At City Shul, she is an active Torah reader, member of the Shira Harmony Group, and participant in a variety of congregational initiatives. She is honoured to contribute to the ongoing growth and evolution of a community that combines learning, spirituality, participation, and belonging.
Rochelle Dworkin
Board Member
Rochelle Dworkin and her family have been part of City Shul from the very beginning. Over the years, she has contributed to many aspects of congregational life, including coordinating Torah readers, participating in the Shira Harmony Group, and volunteering at community events.
Deeply rooted in Jewish values, culture, and creativity, Rochelle is proud to help sustain and strengthen a community that has become an important part of her family’s life.
Robert Gibbs
Board Member
Robert Gibbs is a professor of philosophy and religion at the University of Toronto whose teaching and research focus on modern Jewish thought and the role of the humanities in contemporary life.
Throughout his career, Robert has been interested in helping Jewish tradition speak meaningfully to modern audiences. A longtime participant in Jewish learning and adult education, he brings intellectual curiosity, thoughtful leadership, and a deep appreciation for community to his work with City Shul.
Ottie Lockey
Board Member
Ottie Lockey is a respected arts leader and consultant whose career has included senior leadership roles with some of Canada’s leading cultural organizations, including Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra and Choir.
After joining City Shul, Ottie quickly became an active participant in congregational life, serving on the Leadership Team, chairing the Transition Task Force, and regularly reading Torah. She values the learning, friendship, and sense of belonging she has found within the community and is committed to helping City Shul thrive for years to come.
Kaeli Macdonald
Board Member
Kaeli Macdonald is a social worker and psychotherapist whose work focuses on perinatal mental health, trauma, and helping people navigate periods of personal transition and growth.
A member of City Shul since 2016, Kaeli is inspired by the congregation’s thoughtful and engaged community. She brings creativity, compassion, and a collaborative spirit to her leadership role and is passionate about helping shape the congregation’s future while preserving the qualities that make it unique.
Amy Madras
Board Member
Amy Madras joined City Shul in 2018 and quickly found a community that combined friendship, learning, and spirited worship. An accountant working in the not-for-profit sector, she has contributed to congregational life through volunteer leadership, committee work, and support for technology and security initiatives.
Amy values the warmth, inclusivity, and sense of connection that define City Shul and is committed to helping others find a place within the community.
A.M. Matte
Board Member
A.M. Matte is an award-winning writer, playwright, public servant, and proud parent. A longtime participant in City Shul life, A.M. has contributed to congregational programming, including many memorable Purim celebrations, and is passionate about creating vibrant and inclusive Jewish community.
As a member of the Leadership Team, A.M. brings creativity, curiosity, and a deep commitment to ensuring that City Shul remains a place where diverse voices are welcomed and valued.
Rob McCready
Board Member
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