Rabbi
Yehoshua and Tali Grunstein, along with their son Noam, and
(later) Canadian born Aviva & Amichai, arrived in Halifax in August 2003 to serve
the long-standing Beth Israel Family.
Click here to view the Grunstein's Farewell.
Rabbi Grunstein was born in the town of Cedarhurst, NY, making
"Aliya"(literally "went up") to Israel, alongside his Parents & siblings and
shortly after his 11th birthday. Rabbi Grunstein finished 4 years of high
school at Yeshivat "Neve Shmuel" of Efrat, Israel (http://www.neveshmuel.org.il/), and at
age 18 entered the Study Hall of Yeshivat Har Etzion, known as the "Gush",
in Alon Shevut, Israel (http://www.haretzion.org/), a
"Hesder" Yeshiva combining Army service in the I.D.F together with Yeshiva
studies. R' Grunstein served in the Artillery Corps, and is a reserve
solider today in the Military Rabbinate of the I.D.F. While spending 8
years in the Yeshiva, ultimately completing Ordination from the Chief
Rabbinate of Israel, as well as from Rabbi Shlomo Riskin (http://www.ohrtorahstone.org.il/),
R' Grunstein also completed a B.A. in Education from the "Herzog" College
in 2002.
R' Grunstein served as a teacher of Talmud for foreign students for over 4 years at Yeshivat Har Etzion, as well as a high school teacher for Jewish Law and Mishna. In September 2000, R' Grunstein and his wife joined a preparatory program called "Amiel", which trains Rabbis and Educators to serve communities outside of Israel. After completing his studies there, he was asked to serve as its Educational Director, which he did, until assuming the Spiritual Leadership of the Beth Israel Community in Halifax.
Tali
Grunstein was raised in Chicago, until her parents "Aliya" to Beit-El Israel,
together with her and her siblings, in 1990. Tali completed high school
in Israel, and after doing a year of National Service, she enrolled and
completed a LLB at Bar - Ilan University. After attaining her license as
a lawyer in September of 2000, she worked as a lawyer in a Jerusalem firm,
specializing in Family Status and Intellectual Property. In
addition to her law training, Tali enrolled in a Course for Higher Torah
Learning that trains women to serve as Advocates in Rabbinic Courts.
Together, they serve as a combined force to further develop the long standing community of Halifax, and offer Spiritual Leadership for the trials and challenges that await us as we march further into the 21st Century.