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Rabbi Zvi Engel is the Rabbi of Congregation Or Torah in Skokie, IL.  In addition to his pastoral, educational, and organizational responsibilities, Rabbi Engel currently serves as the Recording Secretary of the Rabbinical Council of America. He is a former President of the Chicago Rabbinical Council, and former Chair of the Membership Committee of the Rabbinical Council of America. His affiliations include AIPAC, and the Jewish United Fund of Greater Metropolitan Chicago. Before arriving in Skokie in September 2008, Rabbi Engel served as the Rabbi of Congregation Ahavath Achim in Fairfield, CT, for five years. Born and raised in Montreal, Rabbi Engel studied at Yeshivat Har Etzion, holds a B.A. in English Literature from Yeshiva University, and received his rabbinical ordination from the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (RIETS), an affiliate of Yeshiva University, in 2002. Beyond enjoying the benefits of strong mentors within his own family and of various teachers, Rabbi Engel credits a number of formative experiences with shaping his approach to the rabbinate, including working with Jewish youth in Australia, Belarus, Canada, Israel, Poland, Ukraine, and the United States. Over the years, he served as the leader of various programs, such as: Yeshiva University's counterpoint, OU-NCSY's JOLT Program, as as a regional coordinator for OU's Yachad/Re'im Program for Jewish People with special needs. Combining an abiding love for the Jewish People with a passion for learning and teaching Torah, Rabbi Engel strives to connect with people of all ages within the congregation and the wider community. Rabbi Engel and his wife, Laurie, are the proud parents of four children.