Yarchei Kallah Speakers

RABBI KEN SPIRO

Rabbi Spiro graduated from Vassar College with a BA in Russian Language and Literature and did graduate studies at the Pushkin Institute in Moscow. He has an MA in History from The Vermont College of Norwich University and Rabbinic Ordination from Yeshiva Aish HaTorah in Jerusalem. Born and raised in the U.S. Rabbi Spiro has lived in Israel since 1982. He served in a combat infantry unit in the IDF. A father of five children, he currently lives in Jerusalem.
 

DAHLIA FARKAS

Dahlia Farkas is originally from New Jersey, USA. After completing a degree in history, Dahlia moved with her husband Rabbi Moshe Farkas to Montreal, Canada. In Montreal they served as a rabbinic couple and co-directors of OU-JLIC working on multiple college campuses for four years.

Dahlia recently completed her master’s degree in Jewish education from Azrieli at Yeshiva University. Dahlia has been teaching at Torah Day School since 2018. Together with her husband Moshe Farkas they are proud parents to four children: Reuven, Tani, Eliezer and Shoshana.

RABBI ZISCHA SHAPS

JET was founded by Rabbi Shaps in 1992. Originally from New York City, Rabbi Shaps moved with his family to Ottawa for a year or two back in 1989 to teach at the Ottawa Torah Institute. His knowledge of sports and Torah made him a much loved teacher at  OTI and later at Hillel Academy, now the Ottawa Jewish Community School.

Rabbi Shaps is the director of JET.  Rabbi Shaps received his Rabbinic Ordination from the Rabbinical Seminary of America-Yeshiva Chofetz Chaim in New York and has a Masters in Education from Adelphi University. Rabbi Shaps and his wife Lauren are the proud parents of five children.

RABBI MICHAEL ALTONAGA

Michael Altonaga ( aka Rabbi A ) grew up in California with a passion for exploration and truth-seeking. He wandered the wilderness of Yosemite as an Eagle Scout, trekked across the cities of Europe, and finally found meaning when he arrived in the Land of Israel. After studying Neuroscience (with a minor in Video Game Design) at the University of Southern California, he devoted seven years to study Jewish wisdom at Aish HaTorah Yeshiva in the Old City of Jerusalem, where he received Rabbinic Ordination. Rabbi Altonaga loves learning, deep discussions, board games, and apple pie!

He is also the proud father of adorable sons, Yosef, Binyamin, and Aharon Meir.