Our Leadership

     Edward Yudin

My wife Annie and I have been members at Kol Ami for more than a decade and have made valued friends here. Our son Jeremy had his Bar Mitzvah at Kol Ami while our daughter Hannah actively participates in services and as a volunteer for social action.

I’ve been a board member for a total of six years, including three years on the executive as First Vice-President and for the past six years as Membership Committee Chair. I had a 30-year career in the Ontario Public Service as a communications and public relations advisor. Prior to that, I was a journalist in print, radio, and TV platforms. I am now semi-retired and using my career experience to contribute to Kol Ami.

    Sara Hollander

When I was growing up, my family never belonged to a congregation, and it was always something I felt was missing in my Jewish life. My husband, Brian Elkin and I, first joined Temple Kol Ami in the fall of 2017 to try out the High Holiday services and Hebrew School for our then 5-year-old son. After attending a most inspiring and beautiful Simcha Torah service & celebration led by Rabbi Streiffer, we knew we belonged here and were immediately welcomed by the community. Since then, I have joined several TKA committees and become more immersed in the wonderful events and programs that Kol Ami has to offer.

Outside of Kol Ami, I am a graphic designer with over 20 years of experience working in-house for a variety of industries including healthcare, legal & financial, and real estate.

I am honoured to join the Board and look forward to contributing my ideas and supporting the development of the Kol Ami community.

    Sharon Kohl 
     I've been a dedicated member of Kol Ami since its merger with Neshama. Never having a Bat Mitzvah growing up, I         always wanted to go through this important Jewish event and completed the adult B'nai Mitzvah program at Kol Ami         in 2021. My family and I are active members, my kids attend the religious school and we regularly attend Friday               night services and participate in the vibrant community life Kol Ami offers.                                                      

As an HR professional, I bring a wealth of experience across various functions, including program management, learning and development, and talent management. While this is my first time serving on a board, I'm eager to  contribute my skills and perspectives to Kol Ami.

        Outside of my professional life, I enjoy hiking, reading, and traveling. I deeply value Kol Ami as a warm                              and welcoming community where my children can explore and embrace their Jewish identity, and where they can                actively engage in services and youth group events.

    Sam Frisz

Barbara and I have been members of Kol Ami since 1988. Our family has grown up through Kol Ami and watched it become a vital part of the Jewish community. I am returning to the Board to help guide and sustain this wonderful community.

Professionally, for most of the past 40 years, I have been in the real estate development and property management industry. As a licensed accountant and with my business experience, I look forward to assisting in a stewardship role on the Board.

Marc Flisfeder                                                                                                                                         Our family joined Kol Ami in 2018 and has been active members ever since. My wife was previously a member of the Executive, and our daughter attends the supplementary school program. In addition to being a member of the Board, I am also the drummer in our house rock band, Shtyx.

Outside of Kol Ami, I am a lawyer at a national law firm and an avid baseball fan. I am honoured to join the Board and look forward to helping build a community where young families can be Jewish the way they've always wanted to be!

Lynda Levenstein                                                                                                                                My husband Ralph and I have been members of Kol Ami for over 18 years. This is my second stint on the board. I am chair of our religious school, which suits me well since I am a semi-retired secondary school teacher with the TDSB. I have two adult children, Ari and Esty—both had Bar/Bat Mitzvahs at TKA. They also finished the entire school program, confirming at age 16. We are members of a Chavarah at Kol Ami and have made many friends over the years.

Dot Bernhard                                                                                                                                                                                                            Kol Ami has played a crucial part in my Jewish journey. I reached out to Kol Ami in 2020 when I was ready to take the first step towards converting to Judaism. I was invited with open arms to join Shabbat Services and Torah studies and have been an active participant since day one. Through the love and support of the Kol Ami community, I successfully converted to Judaism.

Outside of Kol Ami, I am in the Digital Leadership team at Best Buy Canada. I manage the Best Buy digital strategy, and I am honoured to share my digital and marketing knowledge to support Kol Ami and the community. I am co-      chair of the Marketing Committee, and I run Kol Ami's Social Media channels. Our work increases Kol Ami's exposure  through our marketing activities and reaches out to those looking for a Progressive, Inclusive, Musical, Reform Jewish community.

    Rich Kowal

When our kids were young, we were looking for a place to send them to Hebrew School (or as Cara, my wife, would say, "Religious School"). Kol Ami was the obvious place for us. We had attended a Bar-Mitzvah at Kol Ami; at the same time, there was a “Baby Naming” for two Chinese girls that had been adopted. The girls were dressed in traditional Chinese dress. The message I got from Kol Ami was “Welcome to Judaism. We accept all, but expect that you always remember who you are.” We joined, our kids Julian and Hanna went through the school and were teaching assistants in the classrooms too. We often (before COVID, that is) come to the Rock Shabbat services. I worked on the education committee for a number of years.

Outside of Kol Ami, I’ve worked as a Software Developer since the Internet was called “Bulletin Boards”. I love to learn and see new things, hang out with family and friends, and get up to “The Kowal Cottage” as much as possible. I have a “Get 'er done!” attitude, and I would like to bring that attitude to the Kol Ami board.

     Annie Papernick

I am honoured to be a member of the Kol Ami board, where I can utilize my skills as a clinical social worker to contribute to the future of our synagogue. I have been Chair and now co-chair of the Social Action Committee of Kol Ami for six years. I was co-chair of the Family Advisory Council at Baycrest in the past few years.

I have belonged to Kol Ami with my husband, Edward, and our young adult children, Hannah and Jeremy, for more than ten years. I have been particularly drawn to Kol Ami because of the warmth of its members and the beautiful component of the music, which intersperses the service. I recognize the importance the congregation continues to have in my life, from celebrating my adult Bat Mitzvah to comforting me on the loss of my parents. I appreciate the opportunity to give back to the congregation as a board member.

     Wayne Haymer

I have been an active member of Kol Ami since 1990, where I experienced much personal growth and made lasting friendships. I have been on several committees, enjoy leading and learning Torah study, have provided accounting support for 16 years, spent 20 years on the Adult Education committee, where I established partnerships with York University Jewish Studies Program, a Muslim community at the Noor Cultural Centre, Beth El Congregation in Windsor, and brought in several Indigenous speakers.

Some of my volunteering outside Kol Ami includes helping over 50 new Canadians obtain their first job in Canada, setting up and running a university memorial scholarship, mentoring university business graduates, teaching college business students in Xi’an China, developing and presenting tax seminars for accounting students, and participating on a committee to organize professional development programs for a consortium accounting firms in Toronto.