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Rabbi Yonah Levant has been the spiritual leader of the Young Israel of Sunnyside since the spring of 2006 and has spearheaded its spiritual and communal growth by instituting an Eruv, a night Kollel, and encouraging the quiet and focused davening that has become the shul’s trademark.

Rabbi Levant grew up outside of Calgary, Canada. He began his college studies in the University of British Columbia, Canada. For his second year of studies, Rabbi Levant enrolled at the Overseas Student Program at Hebrew University, where he became a ba'al teshuvah, and eventually enrolled in Yeshivas Ohr Somayach. Rabbi Levant completed his degree in Vancouver, and then enrolled in Yeshivah University's Rabbinic program, RIETS.

Rabbi Levant learned full time in RIETS for ten years, and received Semichah. He was accepted as a member of the competitive Wexner Kollel Elyon, and has published several chiddushei Torah, Torah articles.

His wife, Debbie grew up in Bergenfield, NJ, and attended Darchei Binah seminary and Stern College for Women where she got her B.A. She then went to graduate school for Social Work at Fordham University where she earned her MSW, and currently works as a social worker for children and teens at Queens Hospital. The Levants married in 1999 and are the proud parents of four children: Esti, seven and a half, Aharon Tzvi who is nearly six, Tehilla, three and a half, and Rivka Aliza who is just a few months.

Rabbi Levant was awarded the National Council of Young Israel Young Rabbinic Leadership Award in April of 2007, and Rebbetzin Levant was awarded the National Council of Young Israel Eishes Chayil award in November, 2008.

The Levants are known for their warm hospitality, dynamic personalities and commitment to the community. They are very approachable and can be contacted at ylevant@verizon.net