Cote St. Luc synagogue welcomes new spiritual leader Rabbi

Rabbi Yechezkel Freundlich of the TBDJ Synagogue

When Rabbi Yechezkel Freundlich officially assumed the post of spiritual leader of the Tifereth Beth David Jerusalem (TBDJ) Synagogue in Cote St. Luc this past August, after serving as an Associate Rabbi for a synagogue in Atlanta, Georgia since 2007, one of the first conversations he had with a member of the TBDJ congregation dealt with a matter that was more meteorological than spiritual.

“The weather was indeed a starting point. It was 88 degrees that day, and he told me that it must have felt more like the temperature in Atlanta for me. I replied to him that after being used to a place where the temperature would be 96 degrees with the humidity at 11 a.m., 88 degrees was gorgeous for me,” said Rabbi Freundlich during a private luncheon with several journalists early last month.

Born the son of Holocaust survivors in Louisville, Kentucky and raised in New Jersey, Rabbi Freundlich (or “Rabbi Y”, as he was affectionately known as by the members of his congregation in Atlanta), brings to the TBDJ a wealth of experience and knowledge. He holds three degrees (including a Master of Science Degree in Professional Counseling from Georgia State University); was part of group in Atlanta that promoted personal and religious growth through family meetings, personal development classes and social programming; directed an advanced nightly Torah study group and held outreach sessions for university students and preschool parents; developed and produced a “Strengthen Your Marriage” workshop that was presented across the U.S.; and developed a “3 Minute Parenting Through the Parsha” online video series.

Rabbi Freundlich, who replaced Rabbi Chaim Steinmetz, the TBDJ’s spiritual leader for 19 years who left the synagogue to accept a position in New York, was part of rigorous selection process that began nearly a year ago. But what was so unique about it was that the members of the congregation took an active role in the process as well.

“The committee decided to involve the members in the selection process,” said TBDJ President Judah Aspler. “We sent out a survey to them, so they could provide us with the necessary feedback, and it helped solidify the criteria of what we were looking for in a spiritual leader.” After the final three candidates were chosen, they were invited to spend a weekend with the members to give them a hands-on feel of what the synagogue, its members and the community were all about, and participated in a wide range of activities from services to classes, to personally interacting with the members. “Each of our guest Rabbis commented to me on how impressed they were by what they saw in terms of member involvement, care and passion for the shul,” said Aspler. “Our candidates were impressed, and I think we all were as well. We demonstrated who we are, and who we will be.”

When Rabbi Freundlich was officially selected to lead the TBDJ, he and his wife Rifki, along with their seven children ranging in ages from 3 to 16, were given a large scale Shabbt dinner on August 19 to formally welcome them to the community, which attracted over 300 people.

Rabbi Freundlich realizes he has big shoes to fill as the successor to a long-serving and popular spiritual leader, and wants to make the synagogue a vibrant focal point of the community. “I know it is very hard to fill the shoes of such a beloved rabbi, especially the impact Rabbi Steinmetz made on the shul and how he left it as a very strong place,” he said. “I would like it to be a vibrant place both socially and spiritually, and engage more people to what we have to offer, so that it can be an important centre of the community, and an important place in people’s lives.”

As well, Rabbi Freundlich and his family relished the exciting challenge of adjusting to a new way of life in Montreal, especially adapting to its unique culture and learning how to speak French. “I like Montreal because it’s such a diverse, multicultural city. And we are bringing our car in from Atlanta so we can get around the city much easier. And all that road construction? Well, I believe that’s being done so that the roads can be fixed up especially for me and my family,” he said. “And I was a big sports fan when I was in Atlanta, so I am looking forward to finally support a winning team in Montreal!”