Reuben Joshua Poupko is a Canadian-American Orthodox rabbi. He has served as spiritual leader of the Beth Israel Beth Aaron Congregation synagogue in Montreal since 1986,[1][2] and sits as co-chair of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs' Canadian Rabbinic Caucus.[3]

He has appeared in three films: Schmelvis: The Search for the King's Jewish Roots, a documentary on Elvis Presley's supposed Jewish roots;[4][5] Once a Nazi, on former Waffen SS soldier-turned-professor Adalbert Lallier;[6] and Untying the Bonds ... Jewish Divorce, a documentary aiming to "increase awareness of the Jewish divorce issue."[7]

Controversy

In an interview with the Montreal Gazette in March 2021, Poupko attributed the upswing of the SARS-CoV-2 Alpha variant in parts of Montreal to the Lubavitch and Sephardic communities,[8] prompting Federation CJA and the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs to issue a joint apology.[9]

Personal life

Poupko is the son of Gilda Twerski-Novoseller Poupko and Rabbi Baruch Poupko, rabbi for over sixty years of Congregation Shaare Torah in Pittsburgh.[10] His maternal grandfather was Rabbi Dovid Shlomo Novoseller, and maternal grandmother a descendent of the Twersky rabbinic dynasty.[11]

Poupko is the twin brother of Rivy Poupko Kletenik. He is married to makeup artist Mindy Shear of Montreal, where they reside with her son Shalev.[12] Rabbi Poupko has five children: Adina, Hindy, Tamar, Eliezer and Avi.

References

  1. ↑ "About Us". Beth Israel Beth Aaron. Retrieved October 9, 2023.
  2. ↑ Eisenthal, Bram (October 8, 2004). "Canadian university decision to ban Barak sparks free-speech demonstration". Jweekly.
  3. ↑ "What is the Canadian Rabbinic Caucus?". Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs. Retrieved October 9, 2023.
  4. ↑ Eichler, Leah (April 8, 2002). "Love Him Tender". The Jerusalem Report.
  5. ↑ Stoffman, Judy (April 19, 2002). "All schnook up at Graceland; Search for Schmelvis Presley kicks off Jewish Film Festival". Toronto Star.
  6. ↑ Hewings, Meg (September 14, 2006). "Nazi victim". Hour magazine. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007.
  7. ↑ Singer, David (1998). "Religion". American Jewish Year. VNR AG. p. 204.
  8. ↑ Derfel, Aaron (March 19, 2021). "Analysis: Montreal health authorities reach out to Jewish leaders as variants surge". The Montreal Gazette.
  9. ↑ "Response to Montreal Gazette article". Federation CJA. 2021.
  10. ↑ "History". Shaare Torah.
  11. ↑ "Gilda Twerski-Novoseller dies". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. October 4, 1983.
  12. ↑ Arnold, Janice (January 25, 2018). "Rabbi and his wife don dancing shoes for Montreal Children's Hospital". The Canadian Jewish News.
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