RABBI DANIEL MIKELBERG

Senior Rabbi

Rabbi Daniel Mikelberg (he/him) prides himself on being a homegrown Canadian rabbi. He serves as spiritual leader of Temple Israel of Ottawa in Canada's capital. His previous pulpits include Temple Sinai Congregation of Toronto and Temple Sholom of Vancouver. Rabbi Mikelberg is a CCAR board member and serves as the chair of the Reform Rabbis of Canada. Growing up, he was active in NFTY Northwest and URJ Camp Swig-Newman (now URJ Camp Newman).

Rabbi Mikelberg is a strong voice for tikkun olam, progressive Zionism, and inclusion. He is proud of his work with the Indigenous communities of Canada and the LGBTQ+ community. He has excelled in exciting people of all ages about their Judaism, dedicating his energy to innovative programming for young families and next-generation initiatives.

Rabbi Mikelberg is married to Zachary Paul, a high school teacher. Together, they have a young son named Jacob.

Contact Rabbi Daniel Mikelberg

RABBI STEVEN GARTEN

Rabbi Emeritus

Rabbi Steven Garten became Temple’s Rabbi Emeritus in June 2014. He retired as our longest-serving spiritual leader after nineteen years as Senior Rabbi. During his tenure, he oversaw all worship experiences, the direction and curriculum of the Religious school and the expansion of the Temple’s commitment to Tzedakah projects. Rabbi Garten championed interreligious dialogue and programming which strengthens the relationship between Temple members and the State of Israel. The ongoing commitment of members to Jewish study, either through traditional Jewish texts or modern Jewish literature is a source of great Nachas to Rabbi Garten.

Rabbi Garten continues to lead regular adult Torah and Talmud study at Temple Israel. He teaches widely in the community and since 2015 has been the Director of the Florence Melton School of Adult Jewish Learning at Ottawa’s Soloway Jewish Community Centre. He is active in Ottawa’s interfaith dialogues and hosts Jewish Faith and Facts, a weekly radio show on CHRI radio in Ottawa. https://www.chri.ca/home/on-air-mainmenu-31/shows-mainmenu-33/jewish-faith-facts. Rabbi Garten has led many congregational trips to Israel and travels to Eretz Yisrael as often as possible. All members of our sacred community have helped Rabbi Garten continue his journey to greater belief and understanding of the Divine experience in our lives.

Rabbi Garten was born in New York City but has lived in Canada for over forty years and is now a proud Canadian. He is married and is the father of two university graduates, both of whom celebrated B’nai Mitzvah at Temple Israel and served as president of FROSTY. Rabbi Garten is Zayde to two grandchildren living in Ottawa and praying for more. He is an avid player of the game of golf hoping one day to become a golfer.

Contact Rabbi Steven Garten ( Rabbi Emeritus)

Part-Time Cantor David Malecki