Our People
RALPH BENMERGUI
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ALEPH CANADA
Ralph is a certified Spiritual Directoe having taken the three year Hashpa’ah (Spiritual Direction) program through ALEPH AOP. Born in Morocco, and raised in Toronto Ralph currently lives in Hamilton Ontario.With a varied career as an award winning broadcaster, Spiritual. Director and author, Ralph has also served as an advisor to Party Leaders, Cabinet Ministers and a College President. Passionate about Jewish Renewal and excited to raise awareness for, and the dissemination of Renewal and the spiritual innovation that so many are yearning for, Ralph is ready to dive deep into conversations and mine the wisdom of Renewal leaders in Canada.
RAbbi Sherril Gilbert
FORMER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, Aleph Canada
Rabbinic ordination: Mesifta Adas Wolkowisk, Queens, NY (2017)
Spiritual Director ordination: ALEPH Alliance for Jewish Renewal (2012)
Rabbinic Chaplain ordination: ALEPH Alliance for Jewish Renewal (2009)
Davennen Leadership Training Institute (DLTI 2002)
M.A., Human Systems Intervention (Concordia University)
B.A., Applied Social Science (Concordia University)
Spertus Institute, Certificate in Jewish Leadership, Chicago (2023)
Former Rabbi Educator, Congregation Dorshei Emet, Montreal’s Reconstructionist Congregation
Co-spiritual leader and co-founder (with Rabbi Schachar Orenstein), LevShul (Montreal, QC)
Spiritual leader and founder, P’nai Or Montreal Community Shul (Montreal, QC)
Spiritual leader and founder, Mishkan HaLev, St. John’s, NL (2005-2011)
Community rabbi with 21+ years of religious, cultural and spiritual community leadership experience
Social scientist with 30+ years experience as an adult educator, facilitator, trainer, and consultant to congregations, organizations and communities
Spiritual director in private practice
Member, Montreal Board of Rabbis
Past-president, Christian Jewish Dialogue of Montreal (2019 - 2023)
Board member, OHALAH Association of Rabbis and Cantors for Jewish Renewal (2019 - present)
Va’ad Member; Co-Director and Director of Studies, Rabbinic Pastor Program, ALEPH Ordination Program, ALEPH (2023)
Lecturer and Content Specialist in Special Care Counseling, Champlain College, 2012 - present (St. Lambert, Quebec)
Passport to Jewish Life Fellow, Federation CJA, Montreal QC (2020-2023)
Certified Prepare/Enrich Facilitator (2023)
RAbbi Daniel Siegel
Rabbinic Director, Aleph canada
Founding Director, Integral Halachah Institute
Director of Spiritual Resources for ALEPH: Alliance for Jewish Renewal
First person to receive semicha/rabbinic ordination (1974) from Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi as rabbi and colleague
Received an additional level of ordination (2003) as a Dayan/Adjudicator from Reb Zalman
BA from Rutgers University, MA from Temple University
Father of three sons, grandfather to two girls
Currently lives on Hornby Island, British Columbia, serving as president of the Hornby Island Residents and Ratepayers Association and past chair of the Hornby Island Community Economic Enhancement Corporation
Tends a garden
For more on Reb Daniel, click here.
Contact Reb Daniel: hornbyrav@gmail.com