Meet Our Rabbis
Rabbi Shaanan Gelman
Rabbi Shaanan Gelman has served as the Rabbi of Kehilat Chovevei Tzion since 2005. Rabbi Gelman was born in Buffalo, NY and grew up in the Bronx. He earned a B.S. in Computer Science at Yeshiva College and Semicha from Yeshiva University’s Rabbi Isaac Elchanon Theological Seminary. He spent three years studying in Israel, two at Yeshivat Hakotel and later on at the Gruss Institute in Bayit Vegan. He was a Kollel Fellow in the Boca Raton Community Kollel, where he served as spiritual leader of the Explanatory Service as well as held the Gimmelstob chair in Education at the local Jewish Federation. Rabbi Gelman is a member of the Rabbinical Council of America, and serves on the executive board. He is currently the President of the Chicago Rabbinical Council, the largest regional rabbinic organization in the United States. He has served on the board of the Associated Talmud Torahs of Chicago. Rabbi Gelman is a fervent Zionist and is active in AIPAC and has conducted a number of campaigns on behalf of our brethren in Israel, including a solidarity mission to Israel.
Since his arrival as the Rabbi of our shul, Chovevei Tzion has witnessed significant growth – from approximately 60 to 200 families. Together with his Rebetzin, Tziporah, the Gelmans are a powerful team providing for the spiritual as well as emotional needs of our community. They have five children, Zerachya, Avraham, Dalia, Shalom and Adir.
Contact Rabbi Gelman: (847) 673-8592, rabbi@skokieshul.org
Rabbi Netanel Isaacs
Rabbi Isaacs has served as the Sephardic Rabbi as well as the Assistant Rabbi for Kehilat Chovevei Tzion since 2017. Rabbi Isaacs was born & raised in Los Angeles, California. He completed his Rabbinic ordination & extensive pastoral training at the Jerusalem Kollel, where he received his Semicha from Rabbi Yitzchak Berkovits. Rabbi Isaacs arrival at KCT has allowed the Sephardic & broader membership to grow significantly.
Rabbi Isaacs is the founder of Morasha, a Sephardic organization committed to providing Sephardic education and heritage across the Chicago metropolitan area.
Sarah, no stranger to the synagogue life, was raised in Atlanta, Georgia and is the daughter of Rabbi Shmuel Khoshkerman of Congregation Ner Hamizrach.
Those who got to know the Isaacs' can to testify their passion and determination for communal and spiritual growth through the exciting and innovative creativity they have brought to our community.
Rabbi and Rebbitzin Isaacs have been blessed with 4 children, Yaakov, Chana, Ovadia, & Nava.
Contact Rabbi Isaacs: (847) 998 - 5411, sephardic@skokieshul.org