Jack Shanfield has the distinction of being a member of the Shaarey Zedek Synagogue for longer than any current member; possibly longer than anyone in the history of the congregation. Born in 1923 in Toronto, Jack's family moved to Windsor in 1927 and immediately became members of the congregation. He has been a member ever since.

Mr. Shanfield, a member of the Royal Canadian Legion, proudly served his country as a member of the Royal Canadian Airforce during World War II, and was part of the invasion force that landed in France in June, 1944. While there, he met his wife-to-be Lina in Strasbourg on Bastille Day, 1945. Jack fondly recalls that his civil marriage ceremony was performed by the Mayor of Paris in December, 1945.

Upon their return to Canada, a Jewish ceremony was performed by Rabbi Groner, who was rabbi of the Shaar Hashomayim synagogue.

Jack and his family have long been dedicated to the welfare of the Shaarey Zedek Synagogue, with Jack's father and mother serving respectively as presidents of the Synagogue and Ladies' Auxillary. Lina has also served as president of the Ladies' Auxillary. Jack currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Synagogue.

Jack and Lina have three children who are also actively involved in the Jewish communities of Windsor, London, and Toronto.

Despite their ages, Jack and Lina continue the daily hands-on operation of their successful jewellery shop, which has been operating from the same location since 1946.

Our rabbi, Rabbi Joseph Dov Krupnik, was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1950.  He attended Yeshivas Toras Chaim in East New York, and then Toras Emes when his parents moved to Borough Park.  For High School he went to the Mirrer Yeshiva in Brooklyn, but then switched to Rabbainu Yakov Yosef in the lower East Side of Manhattan so that he could learn under Hagaon Horav Reb Shaya Shimanovitz Z"L.  He continued in R.J.J. and attended Brooklyn College, part of the City University of New York.

In 1968 he left for Israel to study in ITRI where he received his Semicha and BHL and soon became a Rebbe in their beginners division, called the Shalom Hartman College.  After a few years he became the head of its women's division, though by this time it was called "Shappels for Women".

Six years later, he switched to the staff of Dvar Yerushalayim, where he joined with such greats as Rabbis Boruch Horowitz, Eli Munk, Aryeh Carmel, Elchonon Bluementhal etc., as well as Horav Yitzchak Zilber and Horav Yoel Schwartz.  He helped create the musical group Megama during this period.  Again, he was to soon head its Women's division.  It was during this time that he created the Judaic studies program with Paul Lassiter at The Medrisha Hatzvait in Jerusalem, which was meant specifically for officers in Keva from Rav Seren and higher.

He was also the senior lecturer for the department of Conversions in Jerusalem for the most serious candidates.  His next position was in Johannesburg, South Africa where he was the Rabbi of the Adas Yeshurin and the headmaster of the Beth Jacob School.  He also produced a series of four text books - one for each of the four high school years at the King David School system.

He then moved to Montréal where he was the executive director of the Vaad Hoir for six years.

Fourteen years ago he moved to Windsor where he became the Rabbi of our Synagogue, and at the same time is also the director of The Council of Orthodox Rabbis of Greater Detroit, the Mazkir of the Bais Din and teaches in The Akiva high school in Southfield Michigan.

The Rabbi is the father of 8 sons and 3 daughters.

Jack Eisenberg is a relatively new member of the synagogue. Although he attended high holiday services sporadically for a period of several years, he has only been a regular attendee of the synagogue since 2004.

A systems analyst by training, he now operates a computer security business in Windsor.

Jack has volunteered his time to be webmaster and site designer for this website (and yes, I am talking about myself in the third person).