Our clergy

cherished in our community

Our Inspirational Leaders

The warmth, energy, and dedication of our Rabbis and Cantor are an integral part of what makes CBTO so special. Their personal attention and care for everyone in our community are inspiring and create lasting memories that our community cherishes for a lifetime.

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Rabbi Aryeh & Rebbetzin Adina Kravetz​

Rabbi & Rebbetzin, CBTO

Rabbi Aryeh Kravetz serves as CBTO’s Mara D’Atra. Along with his wife, Adina, the Kravetz’s are our warm and dynamic leaders who put together a variety of engaging classes and programming for the community to enjoy.

An accomplished Jewish educator of all ages, Rabbi Kravetz is the child of Russian immigrants (and fluent in Russian!) and grew up in the northern suburbs of Chicago, Illinois. Rabbi Kravetz studied at Ner Israel Rabbinical College in Baltimore, Maryland and attained his semicha in Israel from Rav Yitzchak Berkovits of the Jerusalem Kollel.

Rabbi Kravetz has taught in NCSY’s Torah High, was a night seder Rabbi in the Gesher program of Aish HaTorah, and was a 10th grade English teacher at Ner Israel’s Mechina High School. While in Israel, Rabbi Kravetz also served as the rabbi of the Neve Amit senior living community where he gave shiurim in both Hebrew and English. Rabbi Kravetz also served as the rabbinic intern at the United Synagogue in Bushey, UK.

In addition to his semicha, Rabbi Kravetz has a bachelor’s degree in English and secondary education from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a Masters in Jewish Education from a partnership between Middlesex University and the London School of Jewish Studies.

Rebbetzin Adina Kravetz was born and raised in Baltimore. Following high school, she went to Israel to study in Machon Raya seminary where she graduated as the class valedictorian. Adina earned a Masters degree in occupational therapy from Towson University and worked in a geriatric hospital before moving on to the school setting. While in Israel, Adina participated in the Jerusalem Kollel’s Women’s Program and also participated in the United Synagogue internship.

Adina enjoys music and has played the piano since she was 3 years old. She shares her love of music with others by performing and teaching piano, guitar, and “Mommy and Me” music classes.

The Kravetz’s are the proud parents of Chaya Rina and Elisheva. In their spare time they enjoy hiking, cooking, singing, and playing together as a family.

Please feel free to reach out to Rabbi or Adina Kravetz using any of the contact methods above.

Rabbi Howard Finkelstein

Rabbi Emeritus, CBTO

Rabbi Finkelstein was the spiritual leader of Beit Tikvah of Ottawa (formerly Beth Shalom West) from August 1991 to November 2019.

Before coming to us, he served as Rabbi in Kingston, Ontario for 12 years. He is a musmach of the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary of Yeshiva University, and has a Masters of Science in Secondary Jewish education from Yeshiva University as well as a Masters of Arts in Education from New York University.

He has a Principal’s Certificate from the Harvard University Graduate School of Education, and is a licensed teacher and principal with the Board of Jewish Education of Greater New York. Rabbi Finkelstein was the Dean of Judaic Studies at the Ottawa Jewish Community School from 2016 to 2019.

He was the Judaic Studies Principal at Yitzhak Rabin High School from 1995-2015. Now retired, the Rabbi and his wife Rivka hope to make aliyah soon.

Rabbi Howard Finkelstein and his wife have since moved to Harrisburg.

Chazzan Yair Subar

Musical Leader, CBTO

Chazzan Yair Subar has been the cantor at Beit Tikvah of Ottawa since June 2008.

Before joining CBTO, Chazzan Subar served at Beth Shalom in downtown Ottawa, and before that at Beit Tikvah of Montreal. He has also held cantorial positions with congregations in Israel, South Africa and Mexico City.

Chazzan Subar comes from a family of cantors. He studied at several yeshivot throughout Israel and received cantorial training under Dean Cantor S.Z. Rivlin. In addition to his cantorial work, he has managed orchestras and choirs, and been involved in many music related projects. He has received several prizes for his music work.

Chazzan Subar is a member of the Cantorial Council of America, the Council of Hazzanim of Greater Montreal, and the Council of Hazzanim of Ottawa.