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The Forest Hill Jewish Centre is quickly becoming the source of
Jewish Pride in Forest Hill. Although phenomenally active, you
could actually walk right by the Centre and never even notice
it. On Spadina Rd. north of Lonsdale, just up the stairs next to
Starbuck in the Forest Hill Village, is a remarkable place,
where people are learning and growing throughout the day. The
Centre strives to be unassuming, no one is made to feel
intimidated, and spirituality is found on many levels. Shabbat
hospitality, for anyone looking for meals or a place to stay, is
exceptional - all are invited to see for themselves!
The Centre started 6 years ago when Rabbi Elie and Rebbetzin
Rifky Karfunkel moved to the village. Under this dynamic
couple's leadership, the community has positively exploded -
with new people from the neighborhood walking into the Centre
each day. Exceptionally spirited Purim and Simchat Torah
celebrations at the Centre highlight the joy of the Holidays,
while the vast array of learning programs allow area residents
to plumb the depths of our beautiful tradition. Judaism in
Forest Hill is palatable and genuine, and the spirit at the
Centre of Shabbat is truly from another world.
The Centre has recently taken over a newly renovated space. Now,
a beautiful space physically, as well as spiritually, in less
than a year we have already outgrown the space and are packed to
capacity. Plans to build a new synagogue building on Spadina,
modeled after the Jaslo Synagogue in Poland are already well
under way.
With holiday events, learning classes, children's programs,
prayer services and a weekly shabbat kiddush like no other, we
hope that the Centre has something to offer everyone interested
in strengthening their Jewish roots. We hope that you will join
us soon.
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Growing up in Staten Island, New York, Rabbi Elie Karfunkel had two heroes: Don Mattingly
(Yankees first baseman) and Shraga Feivel Mendelovitz (A leader of North American Jewry).
We’re very fortunate that he chose to follow in the footsteps of the latter.
One of Rabbi Karfunkel’s greatest qualities is his sincere love for every Jew. Since our
congregation’s inception, he has fostered an open, friendly, non-judgmental environment
where all can feel welcome—regardless of their background, knowledge, personal situation,
or points of view. Rabbi Karfunkel takes great pleasure in counseling, teaching, and
learning with members of our community--not out of professional duty--but out of a heartfelt
concern for their well-being, and a relentless pursuit to help them grow spiritually.
Rabbi Karfunkel attended high school in Manhattan, followed by two years of yeshiva study
in Telz Stone, near Jerusalem. He went on to learn, and eventually become ordained, at
Yeshivat Shaarei Torah, in Monsey, New York, under the tutelage and guidance of Rabbi Berel
Wein. These years of learning under Rabbi Wein imbued Rabbi Karfunkel with the desire to
devote his life to, as Rabbi Wein would say, “the family business”-- service of the Jewish
People. During these years, Rabbi Karfunkel also earned his B.A. (magna cum laude) and his
M.A. in education from Adelphi University.
After receiving smicha, Rabbi Karfunkel married Rifky Idels, who was born and raised just
up the road in Thornhill, Ontario. Together, they moved to Oshawa, Ontario, where they
were the Rabbi and Rebbetzin of Congregation Beth Zion for three years. Rabbi Karfunkel
believes that these years contributed greatly to his becoming the person he is today.
His varied duties in Oshawa showed him how important each individual’s contribution is to
the success of a community.
Fortunately for us, the Rabbi and Rifky, along with their three-year-old son, Moshe,
and one-year old daughter, Mimi, saw that there was an opportunity to build something
truly incredible in Forest Hill, and agreed to be torn away from Oshawa. A more perfect
fit could not be imagined. Today, Moshe and Mimi have two brothers and a sister, (in order)
Binyamin Zev, Ayala, and Shlomo Zvi. This beautiful family loves to bring people into their
lives, and feels that their home is an extension of the synagogue. Under this dynamic
couple’s leadership, the Forest Hill community has positively exploded—with new people from
the neighborhood walking into The Centre every day.
Judaism, according to Rabbi Karfunkel, needs to be explored for all its richness, depth,
and substance. Under his leadership, Jewish life in Forest Hill is palatable and genuine,
and the spirit at The Centre on Shabbat and Holidays is truly from another world—and must
be experienced!
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Mordechai
Appel was born in Montreal, Quebec. His parents moved the family
to Lawrence, Long Island, New York when he was two years old. A
few years later, the family continued south and settled in Miami
Beach, Florida. At age thirteen, Mordechai left home to study in
Telshe Yeshiva in Cleveland, Ohio. Five years later, he
continued to study at the Mirrer Yeshiva in Jerusalem.
During his three and a half year stay, he received a degree in
education from Aish Dos (Torah U’Mesorah). At age twenty one,
Mordechai continued to Lakewood, New Jersey. During his five
year stay at the Beth Medrash Govohah Kotler Institute, he
received a B.T.L. and a Masters in Religious Vocation. At age
twenty three, Mordechai met his wife Chaya Leah Greenwood of
Toronto. In April of 2004, Mordechai and his family moved to
Toronto. Mordechai was a member of the Kollel Avreichim (Coldstream-
Rabbi S.Miller). He stayed on for a year and a half.
Mordechai is currently licensed as a Commercial Real Estate
Agent. Mordechai and Chaya Leah have three children. Blimi, four
years old, Shmuli, three, and Zissi twenty months old.
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