Rabbi Michael Weiss
Email: rabbimw@anshesholom.ca
Phone: 905 528 0121 ext. 24
Rabbi Michael Weiss is proud to begin serving as rabbi at Temple Anshe Sholom. He is deeply committed to accompanying people on their Jewish journeys and inspiring a love of prayer, study, and acts of kindness and justice.
Rabbi Weiss served as the Associate Rabbi at Congregation Schaarai Zedek, the largest congregation in Tampa, Florida, from 2020 to 2026. He was ordained in 2020 as from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati in May of 2020 after having served as a student rabbi in Richmond, Indiana and Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and as rabbinic intern at Rockdale Temple in Cincinnati. Having been ordained during the pandemic, Rabbi Weiss continues to work hard to find creative ways to use technology to connect with people in learning and prayer. Rabbi Weiss holds a B.A. in Jewish studies from McGill University in Montreal along with an M.A. in Hebrew Letters from HUC-JIR.
Rabbi Weiss grew up with a rabbi and Jewish educator as parents, attending various synagogues in the US and Canada throughout his life, growing his appreciation for the synagogue as a continuing central institution in North American Jewish life. His experience working as Assistant Education Director at URJ Camp George, as Assistant Jewish Life Supervisor at URJ Camp Harlam, and as a frequent religious school teacher helped shape Rabbi Weiss’ commitment to engaging young people in Jewish learning and living. He is an avid reader and learner, a more-than-occasional gamer, a fairly competent cook, and a proud dog owner.
Cantor Paula Baruch
pbaruch@anshesholom.ca
(905)-528-0121 ext 23
Cantor Baruch began our Cantorial Soloist in 2011 and completed her formal studies at Hebrew Union College’s Debbie Friedman School of Sacred Music to be ordained as a Cantor in May 2018. She is a member of the American Conference of Cantors and serves on the Board of the Guild of Temple Musicians as the VP of Education. Cantor Baruch teaches others to help lead services with her Shaliach Tzibbur class. She oversees and guides our choir and expertly designs services that speak to the heart of meaningful worship. Our members join in the worship singing with full voices thanks to her encouraging manner. Cantor Paula Baruch provides pastoral care and counselling to our members and in the larger community through the McMaster University Spiritual Care and Learning Centre. She also offers sessions in Spiritual Direction, Hebrew learning, Torah and Haftorah chanting skills at our Temple. She is studying with the Pluralistic Rabbinic Seminary with the goal of being ordained in December 2026.
