Slate of Board Officers for 2023-2025

President: Marla Frank-Davis       

Serving as President of since 2020, Marla grew up at Temple but attended many services at Beth Jacob where her grandparents were members. She is a busy mother, and Medical Radiation Technologist of 34 years, currently practicing at Hamilton General Hospital, in Cardio-Vascular.

Marla has felt a need to be involved in Temple life not only for her children, but for her love of community. She has been involved in and led many fundraising events at Temple and raised significant funds to help sustain our congregation.

For 10 years straight, Marla co-led the Going for Green golf tournament for the Temple and they also partnered the Temple with Camp Trillium to help kids with cancer have a camp experience. Marla handily led the team for the 170th Past Presidents Future Gala through COVID which required pivoting from an in person LIUNA event to a live online TV streaming event that raised $140,000 and much pride amongst members for being a part of such an important legacy of Reform Judaism. Marla also serves as the Executive representing the TAS Board for the Hamilton Jewish Federation (HJF) Board, and for the HJF annual Campaign.

 

First Vice-President: Ettan Romm

Originally from Toronto, Ettan moved to Ancaster in 2018 with his wife Natasha (Waldenberg), a former Hamiltonian, and their three children, Emma, Alexander, and Mia.  Since moving, the Romm family joined TAS in 2020, and Ettan joined as a Member at Large in 2021.  This past term, Ettan established and chaired the Marketing Working Group, which increased the Temple and Religious school’s visibility through Google Ads, Social Media (Instagram and Facebook), and Print Advertising (Hamilton Jewish News) with the goals of attracting new members, and increasing awareness of our importance in Hamilton’s Jewish community. Ettan will continue as Chair of Marketing and will take on the role of Chair, Income Generation as First Vice President.

Ettan was also vital in the recent establishment of the President’s Discretionary Fund and he participated in various other committees.  “TAS is an integral part of my family’s life,’ says Ettan, “as we most recently celebrated our daughter’s Emma Bat Mitzvah, our children attend the Religious School, and Natasha joined the Education Committee.  We look forward to celebrating future simchas.” In his day job, Ettan works as a Product Management leader in the technology industry. The Romm’s two dogs, Chloe and Charlie, complete this family unit.

 

Second Vice-President: Tami Rotman Martino

As a Member at Large on the TAS Board since 2022 and a member of the HR group, Tami has helped this group transition from a Task Force to an ongoing Working Group. Tami has also been instrumental in bringing the Momentum Journey, a global Jewish sisterhood for women with school-aged children, to TAS.

In her daytime job, Tami is a Professor at the University of Guelph’s Ontario Veterinary College, Department of Biomedical Sciences, where she teaches human physiology to undergraduate students and leads a graduate research program focused on innovative cardiovascular disease treatments. Additionally, she holds leadership positions as Director of the Centre for Cardiovascular Investigations, and as the Distinguished Chair in Molecular Cardiovascular Research at the University. Tami has also Chaired various Senate Committee’s, overseeing academic administration and policy. Contributing as well to the broader community, Tami serves as a member of the Scientific Executive of the Heart and Stroke Foundation, as President of the Canadian Society for Chronobiology, and as a Guelph Y Women of Distinction. Above all her many endeavors, Tami’s greatest source of pride and accomplishment are her family, which include husband Kevin Martino, and her young adult children Nicholas Martino and Rachel Martino.

“Temple Anshe Sholom (TAS) holds a special place in my heart with a legacy spanning over a century,” says Tami. “My great grandmother’s family sought refuge from Russia/Ukraine and found a home at TAS in the late 1800’s on Hughson Street. TAS became even more meaningful to me as my grandmother, Bertha Minden Sole, served as the talented organist during the 1920’s and 1930’s. There, she met my grandfather, Dr. Nicholas Sole, who later became TAS President (1941 to 1944). The lineage of leadership continued with my great uncles Harold A. Minden (1953-1954) and Louis Minden (1956-1958), along with my cousin Joseph Minden (1965-1967), all serving as presidents of TAS, and all contributing to the establishment our current building on Cline Ave. I’m immensely proud of my remarkable mother, Louise Sole Rotman, who made history as the first female president of TAS, serving from 1993 to 1995, and her incredible journey inspired my own path towards community leadership. While my father Laurence Rotman’s side played significant roles at the Adas Israel Synagogue and the Beth Jacob, TAS has always been my true home. From attending religious school, having my Bat Mitzvah officiated by Rabbi Bernard Baskin, teaching in the religious school, to being the first wedding ceremony conducted here by Rabbi Irwin Zeplowitz, TAS has provided a constant source of comfort and connection, fostering a deep and lasting bond with Reform Judaism. Collaborating with incredible individuals at TAS has been a wonderful experience, and I take immense pride in following in the footsteps of those who came before me and helping to ensure TAS’s enduring presence for future generations.”

 

Treasurer: Gillian Burman

Gillian Burman has been a member of the TAS Board since 2019 and has served as Secretary, Vice President and Treasurer. She is also a member of the Temple Education, Membership, Marketing and Income Generation working groups.

Gillian was raised in Hamilton where she attended Temple Anshe Sholom’s Religious school and celebrated her Bat Mitzvah and Confirmation. Gillian went to school at Cootes PS (George R. Allen), Dalewood and Westdale in Hamilton. She graduated from the University of Western Ontario with a BA in Phys Ed, and then attended York University where she earned her second degree in Social Work.   Later in her working life Gillian went back to school again and earned her a certificate in Adult Education from St Francis Xavier University.

The majority of Gillian’s career was with the Ministry of Community and Social Services in the capacities of Employment and Social Assistance Specialist, Training Specialist and Manager. Gillian’s last full time role was as the Training and Development Leader at Ford Motor Company in Oakville. More recently, Gillian has dedicated her time to volunteering on School Council and for The Compass Food Bank & Outreach Centre. Gillian has been involved in many competitive sports including participating in the Maccabiah games in Israel, she was a Canadian ranked Track and field athlete at university and won Canadian championships in touch football.

Gillian currently lives in Oakville with her spouse, Kim Bildfell and son, Jeremy who attends Temple Anshe Sholom Religious School.

 

Secretary: Aaron Walsh

Aaron Walsh is pleased to be nominated for Secretary, Board of Trustees at Temple Anshe Sholom. Aaron has been involved in Temple lay leadership since 2020 when he joined the Education Working Group. In 2021, he became a Member at Large on the Board of Trustees and in 2022, Aaron was asked to join the Clergy Liaison Working Group, as well as, move up to Co-Chair the Education Working Group. Aaron and wife Jackie’s two children John and Rebecca have been in the TAS religious school since 2017, with his eldest to be Bat Mitzvah next year in April.

Outside of Temple, Aaron is a Registered Nurse, working in an Advanced Practice role as an Anesthesia Assistant. He has been critical at supporting the expansion of Anesthesia services to several Non-Operating Room spaces at the Juravinski Hospital. Aaron and Jackie will be celebrating their 14^th wedding anniversary in September 2023.

Aaron is sincerely grateful to the Temple Anshe Sholom community for their trust and confidence in returning him to a leadership role on the Board of Trustees.

 

 

Member at Large: Sue Passow

Sue is excited to continue to participate on the TAS Board for a second term as Member at Large. Sue has been coming to Temple Anshe Sholom for as long as she can remember.  Besides attended Religious School at the Temple, Sue’s Bat Mitzvah, Confirmation and wedding all took place there.

Sue grew up on her parent’s dairy farm in Mount Hope, Ontario.  Together with her husband Rob, daughters Clarissa and Rebekah, and son Ethan, the family milks 45 Ayrshire and Holstein dairy cows, raise purebred registered Hereford beef cattle, and farm over 250 acres in Haldimand County .  Besides being involved in both her farm and her parents’ farm, Sue is also an Inside Sales Coordinator for the treated division of CanWel Building Materials.  She holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Animal Agriculture from the University of Guelph, as well as, an Accounting and Business Management Diploma from Mohawk College.  Sue is an active screened volunteer in the Haldimand 4-H Association, and president of the West Zone Ontario Hereford Association.  She is also heavily involved in showing their registered Hereford cattle and dairy cattle at fairs and shows.

“My daughters and son have had their Bat/Bar Mitzvah’s at Anshe Sholom, and both my girls had their confirmations here as well,” says Sue. “The kids and I have enjoyed participating in the Purim Schpiel for several years, and I have been lucky enough to participate in several of the special events put on by the Temple.”  

 

Member at Large: David Rayfield

David has been nominated to serve as a Member at Large and as Chair of the House Working Group where he looks forward to meeting and working with members of our Temple community.

Chances are you will see David at services most Friday nights and Saturday mornings for Torah Study. With an abiding interest in Choral singing, David was cast as Mordecai in this past year’s Purim Spiel and he will be singing as part of a Quartet on the Bimah for three of our upcoming High Holiday services.

David is an applied + fine artist/educator working in theatre as a scenic artist and designer. Along with a BFA completed at the Emily Carr University in Vancouver, David has a MEd from the University of Victoria, where he specialized in curriculum and instruction. Today, David teaches scenic painting and visual communication as Contract Faculty at York University and the Humber Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning.

David has served on the Board of the Condominium where he lives with his husband Ed, and he has participated in Awards Committees relating to the entertainment field. He’s also been past President of his Union Local, IATSE 828, as well as, being a charter member of this Local, founded in 1998.

 

Member at Large: Paul Jaye

Paul Jaye grew up in Toronto and became Bar Mitzvah and was confirmed at Holy Blossom. He went to the University of Toronto for his undergraduate studies, and couldn’t decide between English Literature and Cognitive Psychology, so majored in both, minoring in Philosophy and Anthropology.

He moved to Seattle for graduate school and quickly found himself immersed in the growing technology boom. He currently works at Indeed.com where he serves as the Sr. Director of Research leading a team of 50 researchers investigating how to make the employment process better for job seekers and employers.

Paul, Karen (his wife of 18 years), and their two children Noah and Lila moved back to Canada two years ago, and chose Hamilton as their new home. Lila recently became Bat Mitzvah at Temple Anshe Sholom.

Always involved in Jewish community, Paul became deeply involved in Jewish volunteerism and leadership in Seattle. He taught at the JCC after-school Jewish for four years. Highlights included coaching the debate team to several regional wins and teaching courses on Jewish historiography, philosophy, and ethics. He taught a course on Pirke Avot for the Florence Melton School for Adult Education for two years. He taught grade 6 students at Kol Haneshemah Saturday school for two years, writing plays every week as Divrei Torah that the students would perform for the congregation during services.

 

He was invited to join the graduate student board at the Hillel of University of Washington, and served for two years, focusing on Tikkun Olam and Jewish Education. He then served on the Young Leadership Board for the Seattle Jewish Federation for three years.

 

Member at Large: Donna Sampson

Donna Sampson has been an active member of Temple Anshe Sholom, along with her husband Kevin and three children, Rebecca, Matthew and Alyssa since 2002. Her children all attended Religious school at Temple as well as celebrating their Bar and Bat Mitzvah’s and Confirmations.

Donna has been a Volunteer with Temple in several capacities serving as an Education Working Group Member from September 2012 to the present as well as being a Substitute Teacher within our Religious school from September 2010 to May 2015.

Graduating with honours from Mohawk College in 1987 from the Advertising, Communication, Marketing and Media Studies Diploma Program, Donna further went on to receive her degree through the Certified Advertising Agency Practitioner program in Toronto.

Donna has been in the Advertising Industry as a Media Marketer for approximately 35 years, planning and buying traditional and digital media campaigns across all channels. Working in the advertising agency industry, she has worked with many brands from financial institutions to wineries to law offices to unions and more. Donna’s organizational strengths keep projects on time, on budget and her attention to detail is a must to providing turnkey, successful media campaigns for large and small clients alike.

It is these qualities that Donna hopes to bring to the Temple Board over the next two-year term.