Rabbi Aaron Flanzraich Named Chair of Israel Bonds Rabbinic Advisory Council
Rabbi Aaron Flanzraich of Beth Sholom Synagogue in Toronto has been appointed the 21st
chair of the Israel Bonds Rabbinic Advisory Council (RAC). Notably, he is only the second
rabbi from a Canadian synagogue to lead the RAC, following the late Rabbi Reuven Bulka
z”l (Congregation Machzikei Hadas, Ottawa) over two decades ago.
In his new role, Rabbi Flanzraich will guide a distinguished group of more than 80 rabbis
from the U.S. and Canada. The two-year chairmanship rotates among Reform,
Conservative, and Orthodox rabbis, reflecting the diversity of the council. Rabbi Flanzraich
succeeds Rabbi Rosette Barron Haim (Celebrating Jewish Life, Cleveland), who made
history as the first woman to chair the RAC.
Founded in 1953, just two years after the establishment of Israel Bonds, the RAC continues
to unite spiritual leaders in their commitment to supporting Israel's growth and resilience.
Rabbi Aaron Flanzraich was born in Brooklyn, New York and is a graduate of Bar Ilan
University in Tel Aviv where he was also admitted to the University's Advanced Talmudic
Institute. During this time, the Rabbi became the first undergraduate in the university's
history to teach an accredited course. In 1992, Rabbi Flanzraich received a dual ordination
from the Israeli Chief Rabbinate and Yeshivat Sha’ar Ephraim. The Rabbi has been the
Senior Rabbi of Beth Sholom Synagogue since 1998 and over this time has been a part in
instituting a Kosher Food Bank for the needy, a summer work program for Jewish teens,
providing help for the homeless with the Out of the Cold program, re-imagined how
afternoon Hebrew School delivers education and, with Cantor Moses, redesigned our
Shabbat morning experience with “Shabbat Beth Sholom” and the music of our world-
class Ruach Singers.
Rabbi Flanzraich is a past President of the Toronto Board of Rabbis, past President of the
Rabbinical Assembly - Ontario Region, and the current chair of Israel Bond's International
Rabbinic Cabinet. He authored a book on Jewish fundamentalism called, "The Small Still
Voice”, has been seen on TVO’ s Interfaith programming and as a guest on CTS’s
“Passages”, and is a frequently requested speaker to Christian and Muslim groups
throughout the country. Additionally, Rabbi Flanzraich is a member of the Zacharias
Frankel Rabbinical College’s teaching staff in Berlin, Germany.