Rabbi Audrey Kaufman

Rabbi Audrey is a long-time colleague of our Religious Leader Eli Rubenstein and Rabbi Cantor Aviva Rajsky, who she will be joining on the Bimah, together with Associate Cantor Kim Doron. She is a strong leader, and we can expect that she will add immeasurably to the Habonim experience. Our members will be impressed by her warmth and her ability to make connections with our entire congregation, starting with our youngest members.

Rabbi Audrey was born and raised in Ottawa, Ontario where she and her family were active members of Agudath Israel, a traditional Conservative synagogue. Rabbi Audrey developed a love for Chazzanut from her family’s beautiful Shabbat z’mirot sung every Friday night, as well as listening to her father lead Shabbat and Yom Tov services at the synagogue.

Rabbi Audrey moved to Toronto to study nursing and has enjoyed a diverse and interesting career as a Registered Nurse. She worked for many years in the Intensive Care Unit at Mount Sinai Hospital which ties in well with her role of pastoral care.

Rabbi Audrey retained her passion for Chazzanut, joining several Jewish choirs when she moved to Toronto, including Beth Sholom Synagogue, which her late uncle, Rabbi David Monson, led for decades. She received her cantorial training from distinguished cantors including Cantors Louis Danto and David Bagley, both of blessed memory.

Rabbi Audrey was affiliated with Temple Sinai Congregation and led cantorial services for 10 years. She also officiated as High Holiday Cantor in Canada and the United States, leading Reform, Reconstructionist and Conservative synagogue services for over 16 years.

Along with Eli Rubenstein, Rabbi Audrey accompanied a March of the Living Toronto contingent as their musical leader of “Expression through Song.” She has performed numerous times at Baycrest Centre, entertaining residents and their families with Yiddish melodies, Cantorial selections, Broadway tunes and contemporary Hebrew pieces.

Rabbi Audrey was ordained by the Mesifta Adas Wolkowisk Rabbinical Academy in New York on June 18, 2019.

She has been affiliated with Am Shalom Congregation since 2004 in Barrie serving in the capacities of Cantor, Rabbi and Spiritual Leader. Rabbi Audrey worked closely with Am Shalom’s Jewish Heritage School as well as the synagogue choir, sharing her teachings and music.

One of Rabbi Audrey’s passions is contributing to building a strong and vibrant Habonim community. Please accept this as her personal invitation: “Come for the service and stay for the community.” She is looking forward to meeting you and your family at an upcoming event.