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About Us

We are KINS of West Rogers Park

Welcome to Congregation K.I.N.S. of West Rogers Park. Congregation K.I.N.S. is a warm and vibrant shul dedicated to meaningful tefilla, engaging Torah study, community involvement, and support of Israel.

About Our Rabbis

Rabbi Leonard A. Matanky

Rabbi Leonard A. Matanky has served as the Rabbi of Congregation K.I.N.S. of West Rogers Park since 1994, and Dean of Ida Crown Jewish Academy since 1995. A native Chicagoan, he was ordained and received a Masters degree in Religious Education in 1981 from the Hebrew Theological College, a Masters degree in Educational Administration from Loyola University in 1982, and a Ph.D. from the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, New York University, in 1989. 

Currently serving as co-president of the Religious Zionists of America, co-Chair of JUF’s Rabbinic Action Committee and Chairman of the Kashruth Commission of the Chicago Rabbinical Council, Rabbi Matanky is also a past president of the Rabbinical Council of America and the Chicago Rabbinical Council. Rabbi Matanky is the associate editor of the new RCA siddur, “Avodat HaLev,” (2018), the editor of a forthcoming Koren Siddur for the House of Mourning, and the author of numerous articles including his most recent “To Represent and to Inspire: The Role of a Sheliach Tzibbur,” in Ennoble and Enable: Essays in Honor of Richard M. Joel (2018).

Rabbi Matanky is married to Margaret (Novick), and the father of seven children, Yaakov, z”l, Chani (Rabbi Yehuda) Isenberg, Raanana (Reuven) Stein, Shoshana (Benjamin) Neikrug, Yitzchak (Aviva), Avi (Sarah) and Elisheva (Sammy) Gershon; and the grandfather of nineteen.

Rabbi Yechiel Bresler

Rabbi Yechiel Bresler grew up in St. Louis where he attended local day schools and yeshiva high school.

After high school he studied at Yeshivat Sha’alvim for two years and then was a student at Yeshiva University, where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in accounting, and received semicha from its Rabbi Isaac Elchonon Theological Seminary (RIETS) and was awarded a Master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling from the Ferkauf School of Psychology.

Prior to coming to Chicago, Rabbi Bresler was a rebbe and guidance counselor in both MTA (YUHSB) and TABC, two prominent Modern Orthodox boy's high schools in the New York area. Rabbi Bresler also served as  rabbinic intern at Congregation Rinat Yisrael in Teaneck, NJ and together with his wife, Davina, they were OU-JLIC fellows at Rutgers University, where they led programming for students and learned first-hand about Jewish life on campus. 

Rabbi Bresler and Davina are the proud parents of two sons Tani and Tzachi. The Breslers are honored and excited to join our K.I.N.S. community and hope to bring their enthusiasm for Jewish community and Jewish living to synagogue!

In addition to his devotion to family and Jewish community, Rabbi Bresler is a lifelong Cardinals fan - which should make for interesting "opportunities" in Chicago!

Rabbi Aaron Liebtag

Rabbi Aaron Leibtag serves as Associate Rabbi of Congregation KINS.   Previously, Rabbi Leibtag was the Rabbi of Congregation Kehillath Jacob Beth Samuel (KJBS) in Lincolnwood/Peterson Park for 12 years. 

Originally from Baltimore, Maryland, Rabbi Leibtag attended Yeshivat Shaalvim, received Semicha from Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Seminary of Yeshiva University while simultaneously earning a Masters of Education from the Azrieli School of Education and Administration.  He served as Rabbinic Intern at Congregation AABJ&D in West Orange and at Keter Torah in Teaneck.  Following his position in Teaneck, Rabbi Leibtag was selected to be part of the first cohort of Kollel Fellows  at the Yeshiva University Torah Mitzion Kollel in Chicago, where he spent time both learning and teaching throughout the community. 

In August 2009, Rabbi Leibtag assumed the position of Rabbi at KJBS in Peterson Park and LincolnwoodIn his position, he oversaw education and programming for both youths and adults and worked to create a vibrant and energetic atmosphere through the various shiurim, programs and events he facilitated in the Shul.  Rabbi Leibtag is also a Middle School Gemara Rebbe and 8th Grade Boys Advisor at Hillel Torah North Suburban Day School where he oversees the Talmud and Dinim curriculums and is involved with the spiritual and Ruach programming for the entire middle school.  Rabbi Leibtag is the recipient of the ATT Hartman Educator of the Year award and maintains close relationships with his students long after they have left his classroom.  Rabbi Leibtag is a member of the RCA Executive Committee; Treasurer of the cRc (Chicago Rabbinical Council) and sits on the Geirus Commision of the cRc.   

Ayelet (nee Feinberg) is a native of Queens, attended Stern College, received her RN degree from Beth Israel School of Nursing and is a Kallah teacher.  They have an open home and enjoy hosting Friday night tisches, youth onegs, teen learning and much more.  They have 6 children: Akiva (16), Naftali (14), Sruli (14), Daniel (12), Azi (8) and Miriam (5).  

Board Of Directors

Officers & Executive Board 2019
  • Chairman, Board of Directors
    Lev Katz
  • President
    Richard Silverman
  • Executive Vice President
    Sheldon Aberman
  • Vice Presidents – Ways and Means
    Jeremy Amster
    Rabbi Larry Feder
    Dr. Stephen Karesh
    Dr. Yigal Yahav
  • Vice Presidents – Building and Grounds
    Kenny Landsman
  • Vice President – Membership
    Michael Perl
  • Vice Presidents – Ritual
    Alan Gershman
    Hillel Shapiro
    Alan Sorscher
  • Vice Presidents- Cemetery
    Eli Jacobs
    Robert W. Matanky
  • Treasurer
    David Shiner
  • Recording Secretary
    Naomi Samber
  • Financial Secretary
    Sherwin Schneiderman
  • Special Events Liaison
    Rachel Neikrug
  • Board of Directors
    Dr. Harvey Abramowitz
    Sara Silvestri-Bernstein
    William Coleman
    Susan Feuer
    Tzvi Frankenthal
    Elise Glassenberg
    Sonia R. Goldberg
    Yoel Goldberg
    Rabbi Ryan Gottesman
    Neena Holley
    Rabbi Yehuda Isenberg
    Levi Kahn
    Sam Medow
    Daniel Peikes
    Shoshi Ross
    Joseph Samuels
    Dr. Dov Shapiro
    Ethel Shiner
    Kalman Shiner
    Vivienne Sklar
    Devora Sorscher
    Edward Stopek
    Shelley Stopek
  • Past Presidents
    Shmuel Brandman
    Ari Engelhart
    Rabbi Larry Feder
    Dr. Eli Jacobs
    Dr. Stephen Karesh
    Judge Erwin Katz
    Lev Katz
    Neal Stein**
    Oscar Wasserman**
    Dr. Yigal Yahav
  • ** Deceased
Wed, May 31 2023 11 Sivan 5783