Board of Governors 2010-2012   

To contact an officer, please call the office or send email to the general office address. Your email will be forwarded to the appropriate person. Please be clear to whom you would like the email to be forwarded.

Position	Who
President	Brian Lass
Vice President	Eli Dadouch
Vice President	Bev Lyons
Treasurer	Benny Osher
Secretary	Michael Mills

Position	Who
Parnass	Mendy Maierovitz
Gabbai	David Wm. Brown

Begun, Dov
Bessin, Hyim	My name is Hyim Bessin and I look forward to serving on the Board of the shul where I grew up. Currently, I serve as the assistant Gabbai of the downstairs minyan, where I have always davened. Diversifying the Board's membership to include younger shul members ensures that fresh perspectives and various opinions will be discussed in a cordial atmosphere. I would be honoured to receive your vote and represent you. Thank you.
Burger, Alan
Craig, Randall	I have been a management consultant, a senior vice-president of a public company, and an entrepreneur.  I am the author of six books, host a weekly video interview show, and run a strategy consulting firm. In all, I have helped over 100 organizations with their toughest challenges.  I have served a number of community organizations at the board level, including Torah in Motion and Associated.  I currently sit on the Associated board and chair their marketing committee.  I am also the President of the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers Toronto chapter. Shaarei Shomayim has tremendous potential, but requires people who can think strategically - and will roll up their sleeves.  I did that five years ago as a member of the religious committee, and during the last three years as chair of the membership committee. In addition, I have co-chaired the marketing for the Rabbi Installation Dinner, worked on the last few Purim Shpiels, volunteered at many youth events, and have been involved in the shul's fundraising.  If elected, I would continue to contribute my expertise in the areas of marketing and fundraising.
Goldman, Barry	We've been members of Shaarei Shomayim since 1988 and care passionately about our shul and its future. I served on the Board in the mid-1990s and had the privilege of Co-Chairing the Constitution Committee at that time. I have again had the honour to serve on our Board for the past three years, the last two of which I was a member of the Executive, holding the position of Treasurer.  I was once again the Co-Chair of the Constitution Committee, together with Donna Shiff, and, with a terrific committee, we authored numerous important amendments to the Constitution that were approved by the Board and by the membership at large.  There is much work left to do, and I would be honoured to continue to serve on the Board and to see Shaarei Shomayim continue to serve our community as the centre for Modern Orthodoxy.
Hakimi, Farokh	Farokh Hakimi was born in Iran in 1948. He came alone, to the U.S.A. in 1966 and attended the University of Massachusetts, where he received his BS and Princeton University where he received his Masters and PhD degrees. He has been in Chemicals and Mining and Minerals businesses and his last corporate position was with INCO as its Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Currently he is involved in private investments in natural resources. Farokh and his wife Dalya have four grown children. They lived in Chicago for 5 years and Denver for 20 years prior to moving to Toronto in 2000.  Farokh’s history of Jewish community involvement goes back to his university days, but in more recent years he has served on the boards of Jewish day schools in Denver (Hillel Academy) and in Toronto (Or Chaim/Ulpana high school). He also served on the Board of Directors of the East Denver Orthodox Synagogue and was president there for three years. The Hakimi’s joined Shaarei Shomayim upon coming to Canada in the year 2000.
Hirshberg, Haim
Kauffman, Wendy	Wendy Kauffman became a member of Shaarei Shomayim Congregation eleven years ago after moving to Toronto from Israel with her husband, Natan Treitel. Together with their two children they are an active part of the weekly shul community. Wendy has been volunteering for several years helping the shul achieve its marketing and communications objectives, solidify its messaging and secure media coverage to increase its profile. Professionally, she is the Vice President of Brown & Cohen Communications & Public Affairs Inc., a leading public relations and public affairs firm. Wendy specializes in building the public profiles and managing the reputations of clients through dynamic communications programs. Prior to working in public relations, Wendy led an exciting career as a journalist working for CTV News as their Middle East Bureau Producer. She also worked for CNN, UPI and ARD in the Israel.  Wendy has also worked closely with the Jewish community conducting marketing and public relations campaigns for UJA Federation, Zareinu Moveathon, MAZON Canada as well as several Jewish schools and camps.
Korman, Katy	I have been a board member of Shaarei Shomayim since 2006, and for the past 3 years, I have centered my attention on the shul office.  From maintaining and storing shul archives to team building and providing weekly lunches,  the shul office is, literally, my home away from home! I co-founded and continue to co-chair the Office Committee and presently act as liaison between the office and the board of governors. In the past, I have worked on various shul projects, including the Brotherhood Casino Night. Aside from my volunteer work at Shaarei Shomayim, I am a senior board member of the Association for the Soldiers in Israel. I am an activie participant in their fundraising opportunities. My husband Clifford and I, together with our sons Aaron and Noal have been members of Shaarei Shomayim since 1998.
Mansell, Naomi
Monson, Joel	Prior to joining Shaarei Shomayim and moving to the area, Joel and his family were founding members of the Temmy Latner Forest Hill Jewish Centre (the "FHJC"). As the first president of the FHJC (2001-2003), Joel was actively involved in many aspects of this new congregation, including assisting with services as gabbai, organizing of fundraising events (e.g. golf tournaments, gala dinners, etc.) and providing other support and input as needed. Joel participates regularly in a variety of charity events relating to organizations like Zareinu and Baycrest. Professionally, Joel is Vice-President Corporate Counsel of Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts. Before joining Four Seasons in 2005, Joel was a senior corporate associate at Goodmans LLP for about 6 years. Joel and his wife, Rochelle, have four young children ranging in age from 3 to 11 who can be seen regularly in and around the shul on Shabbat mornings.
Moskowitz, Sam	Sam has been a member of Shaarei Shomayim since 1972, when he and his wife, Shelly, were married at the shul. Sam brings a wealth of experience, having been involved in almost all aspects of the shul and almost all its committees, including:  Constitution, Decorum, Chevra Kadisha, Minyan, Religious, House, Budget & Finance. He served as President from 2004-2006, and has been Gabbi and Parnas -- on and off -- for about 10 years, and is a regular at the daily minyan. Outside our shul, Sam was very involved with the downtown Minsker Shul.  His home-made herring has a reputation of being one of the finest in Toronto. Sam cares passionately about the shul and looks forward to serving on the upcoming Board.
Rosenblum, Sari	I have been a member of Shaarei Shomayim since 1969.  I have a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from York University. I also am a Certified Dental Assistant and a Licensed Hair Stylist. I have been a member of the board of Shaarei Shomayim for the past two years. I am currently on the Religious Committee and co-chair of the Chessed Committee. I am also currently on the Council of Emunah Women and co-chairing the May 5, 2010 Family in Israel Dinner at Shaarei Shomayim. I am also the chair of the Transportation Committee at Netivot Hatorah Day School and also on the Council of Bnei Akiva of Toronto.  My husband is Dov Rosenblum and I have three children.  Nicole and Robyn attend the Ulpanat Orot High School and my son Adam attends Netivot Hatorah Day School. I currently work with medically induced hair loss at The Hair Prosthesis Centre.
Schwartz, Robbie	After completing a Master of Social Work at McGill University and moving to Toronto in the 1970s, I began to attend Shaarei Shomayim and found it a warm, welcoming and stimulating shul.  My husband Brian and I joined Shaarei Shomayim in the 1980s when we moved into the area with our four children.  For over two decades we have been active members. Our daughters attended Bat Mitzvah classes, and I volunteered my time and conducted marriage preparation workshops for Shaarei Shomayim members both myself and with the shul rabbis. As a marriage and family counselor and lecturer in the Faculty of Medicine I have also been active in the larger Jewish community and beyond both as a professional and volunteer. Over the last 5 years it has been my pleasure to serve as a Board member, including terms as co-chair of the Chesed Committee and member of the Adult Education Committee.  Recently I reinstituted and organized the “greeters” at the main entrance of the shul on chagim and for Shabbat simchas.  It would be an honour to continue to serve on the Board of Shaarei Shomayim.
Shiff, Donna	I have been a member of Shaarei Shomayim since 1985 and a member of the Board for over 10 years.   I am presently Co-chair of the Constitution and Renovation Committees, and have served as a member of the Nursery, Youth and Executive Director Search Committees.  I have also been a very involved parent of Netivot Day School serving as a Board member 1995 to 2008, a Vice President of the school, as well as the Chair of the Personnel, Constitution, Transportation and Strategic Planning Committees, in addition to being a member of other Committees including Ways and Means and Education. I am a lawyer, with three children age 21, 19 and 18.
Silber, Josh
Waks, Fred
Zaionz, Raphi	My wife Ellen and I have been members of Shaarei Shomayim for 12 years. I have an MBA in Quantitative Finance from Shulich School of Business, and a BBA in Strategic Marketing from Shulich as well.   My wife is a teacher at Associated (Posluns). She teaches Grades 3 and 5 English.  She has a Bachelor of Science and a Masters of Education.   We have 3 children who have all grown up in Sh'Sh.  Yoni is 12, Benny is nine and Sammy is almost seven.  All of them have benefited from the great youth programs that the shul has offered.  They all attend AHDS.   I have served on the Board for five years.  I have served in the past on, at various times, as Gabbai, Budget and Finance Committee and Religious Committee.    I am a proud daily attendee of Rabbi Strauchler's Gemara shiur and morning minyan.   It will be my honour to serve on the shul board for the upcoming term as well.

TBA

TBA

Boldes, Myer

TBA

Charlene Arje

Al G. Brown

Alan J. Burger

Jeffrey Cohen

Michael Goldrich

Bernard Green - Chair of the Coucil of Past Presidents

Paul Herbert

Jeff Hertz

Melvyn Kay

Bernard Kleinberg

Sam Moskowitz

Martin Sable

Sheldon Salcman

James Slavens

Louis Zeifman

Board of Governors 2008-2010
Board of Governors 2007-2008
Board of Governors 2006-2007