Board of Directors

Debra Aronson is the parent of two Viewmount graduates and joined the Bialik Board in 2023. She chaired the Board’s ad hoc Master Space Planning Committee, looking at the space needs at both branches. She previously served as a Board member at TanenbaumCHAT. She is a member of UJA's Israel Engagement Committee and the Chair of UJA's Diller Teen Fellowships. Debra's background is in electrical engineering and project management.

“Just as families need to stick together and support each other through both joyous and hard times, this community must work together to fulfill one of Judaism's core mitzvahs — educating our children. I am grateful to have the opportunity to participate in this community and pray for the strength to see past our differences and to embrace our unique individuality with the ultimate goal of strengthening the future of the Jewish People.”

Moran Eichler is the parent of three Himel students and previously represented the Himel Parent Association on the Board. She volunteers with the Jewish Family and Child Service food bank and has served as a PTA exec at Solomon Schechter Boston. She is an entrepreneur, running a multinational business in activity engagement and entertainment booking.

“My mission is to foster a vibrant and inclusive school community where every member feels valued and respected for their unique understanding and expression of Judaism. Together with fellow board members, through collaboration, understanding, and open dialogue, I will work to ensure that we enrich the sense of community and the lives of our school family.”

Tina Erlich serves as the Co-President of the Bialik Board, having been a Board member since 2017. For a number of years, Tina contributed to the Board in the role of Chair of our Development Committee. She has previously served as a Board member of Greater Toronto Federation Board and UJA Young Leaders Chair.  Tina is the parent of both a current student and a Bialik graduate. She works as the VP of Account Service in marketing services.

Jared Goldlust is the parent of three Viewmount students. He serves as a Board member at Canadian Young Judaea and is also a member of UJA’s Jewish Engagement Committee. He previously was the Director of Camp Kadimah and is a graduate of the Hornstein Jewish Professional Leadership Program from Brandeis University. He works as the Chief Operating Officer of Joyride Technologies Inc.

Bernie Gropper is a parent of four Bialik graduates, and is a current JK grandparent. He previously served on the Bialik Board for 10 years, including a term as President. Bernie served for many years on the boards of Camp Ramah in Canada and Beth Tzedec Congregation. He has also served the community in various leadership capacities for UJA, as a chaperone for March of the Living, and a long-time convenor at the Avenue Road Hockey Association. Professionally, Bernie is a corporate and real estate lawyer.

Adam Hummel is the parent of two Himel students. He presently holds the position of Vice President and chairs the Bialik Board's Governance Committee. He has extensive community leadership experience, previously sitting on the boards of The House, JIAS Toronto, CIJA, and Hillel Ontario. He has also served on UJA’s Committees for Israel Engagement and Holocaust Education and is currently a member of the Jewish Diplomatic Corps of the World Jewish Congress. Adam is an immigration lawyer at Hummel Law PC, counsel at Donovan Kochman LLP, and Vice-President of My Charity Fund. He is also the author of the Catch: Jewish Canadian Ideas substack.

Gershon Hurwen, who serves on our Board as the Treasurer, is the parent of three current and two future Viewmount students. He is on the Board of Directors at Shipfusion, Abacus Agency, Camp Arrowhead and the CAMA (Canadian Vending Association). He also is a member of the CIJA Toronto Leadership Council and UJA Security Committee. He works as the Managing Partner of Vitality Capital and CEO of portfolio companies: Loyalty Markets, Heather’s Kitchen and Elle Dee Cakes Ltd.

Michael Kaufman is a Bialik (Montreal) alum and parent of two Viewmount students. He has served as a member of a Bialik finance sub-committee since 2022. He has extensive experience in raising capital, structuring complex financing agreements and managing corporate budgeting and Board approval processes. Michael currently works as a Senior Director of Structured Finance at Aypa Power.

Jenna Kellner Izraelski’00 is a Bialik alum and the parent of one current and two future Himel students. A passionate community builder, she has extensive Jewish community leadership experience including serving on UJA's Board of Directors and co-founding UJA Genesis, JNF Toronto’s Board and co-leading JNF Future, The House board, among others. Professionally, Jenna serves as VP of Marketing at Workleap.

Melissa Kramer is the parent of two Viewmount graduates. She has served as a Bialik Board member since 2021. She was the Co-Chair of the Bialik Annual Campaign from 2018-2021, and volunteers at Women’s College Hospital. She spent the prior 20 years practising corporate law.

Barry Kuretzky is a former Bialik parent and current grandparent to seven Viewmount students. He returned to serve as a Bialik Board member in 2021 after previously being a Board member, the Chair of Bialik’s former Personnel Committee and a member of Bialik’s previous Head of School Search Committee. He works as an Employment and Labour Lawyer and Partner at Littler LLP.

Judy Naiberg holds the position of the Secretary of the Bialik Board and has served as a Board member since 2021. She is the grandparent of seven Viewmount students. Judy has extensive community volunteer and fundraising experience and has worked as a Museum Docent at the Neuberger Holocaust Education Centre.

Mark Nightingale’79 is a Bialik alum and parent of three Bialik graduates, with extensive entrepreneurial experience, having built a company from infancy into a multinational publicly traded organization. He rejoined the Bialik Board in 2019 after serving as a Board member from 2003-2013 and as President from 2007-2011. He led the Bialik Board through the decision to create the Himel Branch and chaired the 2002 expansion of Viewmount and 2012 construction of Himel. He served as a Board member of the Toronto Public Library and The York School. He now works in investment management as a partner at Nightingale Group. 

“Bialik founder's vision, embodied in Bialik’s Four Pillars, resonate as much as ever: Academic Excellence, Ahavat Yisrael, Jewish Values & Menschlechkeit, and Accessibility. Only decades after my own Bialik education did I come to understand how these ‘north stars’ have powered my life and created deep meaning. By restoring institutional focus on these Pillars, thousands of students will receive that gift, and then foster the vibrancy of their own Jewish community tomorrow.”

Mark Skapinker is a parent of three Bialik graduates and a grandparent of three current Bialik students. He previously served on the Bialik Board for almost 20 years, including as Board President. He is co-founder of the Upside Foundation of Canada. Mark works as managing partner of Brightspark Ventures, a venture capital investor. Before immigrating to Canada in 1982, he was active in Habonim South Africa, a Labour Zionist youth movement, and lived in Israel for six years.

Jessica Smuskowitz is a parent of three Viewmount students. She works as a municipal lawyer and partner at Brown Dryer LLP, specializing in land use planning and development. She has acted as legal counsel on over 150 development applications and has represented clients at various provincial tribunals. Jessica is also a partner in Calmco Inc., a land assembly and development company in Toronto.

Errol Tenenbaum is the Co-President of the Board and the parent of a Bialik graduate. He has been a Bialik Board member since 2021, most recently serving as the Treasurer and the Chair of the Finance Committee. He was formerly a member of the Governance Committee and the Nominations Committee. He also serves as a Director at United Jewish Appeal (UJA) and as Chair of the UJA Audit Committee, and is a Director at JIAS Toronto. Errol works as a tax lawyer at Robins Appleby LLP.

Michael Valo’98 is a Bialik alum and the parent of three Viewmount students. He has served as a Bialik Board member since 2021 and chairs the Board’s ad hoc Response to October 7 Committee. He is a lawyer in international construction arbitration and partner at Glaholt Bowles LLP, an Adjunct Professor of Construction Law at the UofT Faculty of Law and the Ontario Regional Director at the Society of Construction Law.

Leah Zilnik’94 is a Bialik alum and parent of one Himel student and a Himel graduate. She has served on the Bialik Board since 2019, most recently as Board President, and previously as Vice President, Chair of the COVID Committee, member of the Governance Committee and member of the Finance Committee. She has also served as the Chair of the Young Leadership Division for Calgary UJA. She works in Corporate Strategy in the municipal and private sectors.

“I will serve Bialik with gratitude for everything it has given and continues to give to my family and community. I will strive to provide an open and positive environment for all Board members to work together to steward the school for future generations.”

Danielle Zucker-Levy’98 is a Bialik alum and the parent of two Viewmount students. She chairs Bialik’s Head of School Support and Evaluation Committee (HOSSEC), previously chaired the ad hoc Head of School Search Committee, and has served on the Nominations Committee. She is a seasoned human resources professional, with broad experience in recruitment, employee relations, compensation, consulting and enhancing performance culture. She works in the role of Vice President, HR Business Partner and Talent Acquisition at Chubb Insurance.

Sandy Brown is the parent and grandparent of 11 Bialik alumni. She previously served as the Board President and as a member of the Board; in 2023, she was appointed as an honorary life member. She served as President of the Jewish Federation of Greater Toronto from 1996 to 1998. She chaired the Toronto’s Board of Jewish Education, worked locally and nationally with the Canadian Jewish Congress, and is a former President of Jewish Vocational Services, one of UJA Federation’s beneficiary agencies.

Elsa Chandler is the parent and grandparent of three Bialik alumni. She served on Bialik’s Board of Directors from 1979, and was appointed as an honourary life member in 1999. Elsa served as an elected School Board Trustee for 20 years and is the former Chair of the North York Board of Education. 

Mary Richmond is the parent of four Bialik graduates and grandmother of four Bialik students. She has served on the Board of Bialik for over 30 years and was appointed an Honorary Life Member in 2025. She has served as the Board’s Chair of the Public Relations Committee, member of the Tuition and Subsidy Committee and member of the Education Committee. She also served on the Education Committee at TanenbaumCHAT. Mary has worked for over 30 years as a part-time instructor in the School of Legal and Public Administration at Seneca College, teaching Business Mathematics and Business Grammar.

Deanna Peranson is the parent of two Bialik graduates. She has been a member of the Bialik Board since 1977 and a life member since 1994. She has served as Board Vice President and Chairman of the Education, Public Relations and Communication Committees and as a member of the Executive, Education, Personnel and Admissions and Tuitions Committees. Deanna has been a Bialik classroom volunteer in Grade 2 and 3. She has worked as a Psychoeducational Consultant for the TDSB and Jewish Vocational Services. 

“Having served on the Bialik Board for many years, I look forward to ensuring that Bialik continues to grow and develop as an outstanding education institution — as a school whose guiding principles remain true to its mission and philosophy based on its Labour Zionist roots.”