Staff bios

Joan Schoenfeld (Founder & Principal) has been the principal of the Downtown Jewish Community School for over thirty years and was the founding board chairperson of the school in 1978. She holds a Principal’s Certificate from the William Davidson Graduate School of Jewish Education, The Jewish Theological Seminary of America, a Masters in Educational Administration from the University of Toronto (OISE), a State of Ohio Teaching Certificate, an Ontario Teaching Certificate Letter of Standing and Ontario Special Education Certificate from the Faculty of Education, University of Toronto, and an American Montessori Institute Teaching Certificate from the Toronto Montessori Institute.

She is a past president of Jewish Educators Assembly, Canada Region and an active participant in the UJA Federation Centre for Jewish Education professional committees. During her 1996-97 sabbatical, Joan was a Senior Educator at the Melton Centre for Jewish Education in the Diaspora Graduate School of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem where she conducted research on cooperation between Jewish Community Centers and Jewish Schools.

She participated and chaired numerous Jewish educational planning committees and runs workshops for teachers on Jewish Education

Joan is proud that both of her daughters, who graduated from DJCS, have continued in professions in the field of Jewish Studies.

 

Rachel Anderson (JK & Hebrew 3 Bet) holds a BA from McGill University in Humanistic Studies and Education and is currently pursuing a Masters degree in Child Study at the University of Toronto OISE.  Rachel brings a lot of experience working with young children.  She is kindergarten teacher’s assistant at Bialik Hebrew Day School. Before that she had a variety of positions including: being an ESL teacher for students ages 5-8 in Italy; teaching art at Annie’s Art House, being a camp counselor at Zodiac Camp, and being the Childcare supervisor at Cleveland House Resort.

 

Rebecca Dalfen (Art Specialist) is both a professional artist and teacher. She has been with DJCS since 2005 as the Art Specialist.  Rebecca holds a Bachelors of Fine Art from York University and a Bachelors in Education from OISE. She taught Special Education, Kindergarten, and was as a teacher librarian at the Toronto District School Board.  She is currently teaching grade one at a Downtown Alternative School.

 

Elaine Gold (Rikudiya Israeli Folk Dance teacher) has been teaching Rikudiya at DJCS since 1990. In addition to being a dancer she holds a PhD in Linguistics and teaches Linguistics at the University of Toronto. Elaine studied a variety of dance forms – ballet, modern, jazz, and flamenco – as well as folk dancing.

 

Marina Golovanevsky (Hebrew 4 Alef) has been at DJCS since 2008.  She holds a Bachelors in Education, a Masters in Linguistics from Russia and a teaching certificate from the Tel Aviv Levinsky College of Education.  She has taught at Beth Torah and Beth Tzedek schools and worked with special needs children at Associated Hebrew Schools. She has recently completed a Certificate in Professional and Technical Communications from York University. She has extensive experience in tutoring children and adults in Hebrew and ESL.

 

Poly Greenberg (Hebrew 4 Alef) moved to Toronto from Israel.   She holds a M.A in Learning Disabilities, a Teaching certificate in special education and B.A in Psychology and special education from the University of Haifa.  She has taught children at the Etgar Centre and Alliance-Kol Israel in Haifa, Israel, tutored children with learning disabilities as part of the Perach project and has diagnosed learning disabilities in children and adults at the University of Haifa, Israel.  Poly is currently working with children at Bialik doing second language research through the auspices of OISE, U of T.

 

Michele Kahn (Hebrew computer teacher, Drama teacher) has been with DJCS since 2008. Her passions in life are the arts, Judaism and children, and she loves to integrate the three. Michelle taught Hebrew, Jewish Studies and Drama to third grade students at the Danforth Jewish Circle.  She is an award winning filmmaker (two of her films were in the Toronto International Film Festival), an Engagement Intern for Hillel of Greater Toronto, President of Chabad on-campus at York University and runs her own production company, “Oy-Oy Productions.”

 

Beth Komito-Gottlieb (Grade 7 & Hebrew 2 Bet co-teacher) has been involved in the field of special education and Jewish education in Toronto since 1976. She holds a BA (Psychology) from York University, has done post graduate work in Child Psychotherapy at the Lowenfeld Institute of Child Psychology, and is trained in Cognitive Behaviour and other therapies. She was a special education consultant, supplementary school educational consultant, teacher coordinator, teacher mentorship coordinator, autism consultant and teacher, special needs therapist, and bar/bat mitzvah tutor.   Beth has given numerous professional development workshops for teachers, including DJCS staff, on topics related to differentiated classroom strategies and creating an inclusive community in the classroom. In addition to teaching at DJCS and her private practice, Beth will be the Bar/Bat Mitzvah Coordinator at the First Narayever Congregation.

 

Heidi Larman Brown (Grade 1 teacher) has been at DJCS since 1986 and is proud to have been a part of this inspiring community for so long. Heidi holds a Bachelor of Education from Queens University and a B.A from York University. She also taught commercial food preparation at Thistletown Collegiate. Heidi is also a DJCS parent with two children at the school.

 

Betty Lazebnik (Music Specialist) has been with DJCS since 2009. She holds a Bachelors in Fine Arts from York University and the Orff Certification from the Royal Conservatory. Betty is a highly experienced, longstanding music teacher in Toronto teaching students aged 3 to 12.  She continues to be the music specialist for the Elementary Division at the Toronto Heschel School, where she is the Choir Director. In addition to teaching, Betty has a background in composition and arranging, and has composed original compositions and orchestrations for many children’s choral events, including one for Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, a concert with the Canadian Tenors, an evening with Dr. Elie Weisel and many more.  She has received two genie nominations for film.

 

Danielle Levine (Grade SK & Hebrew 4+ Bet) is a graduate of the York University Jewish Teacher Education Program and holds a Bachelor of Education for the Primary/Junior Division, Bachelor of Fine Arts with Honours in Dance and Advanced Certificate in Hebrew and Jewish Studies from York University.  She has been a dance educator at the Vibe Dance and Fitness Studio since 2006 and was the High Holiday Youth Program Coordinator/Supervisor at Beth Tzedec Congregation.  Danielle did her practice teaching in junior kindergarten through grade 4 at Associated, Robbins Hebrew Academy and Zareinu Educational Centre and has supply taught at Robbins Hebrew Academy, Heschel Day School and Associated.  During her summers, Danielle has worked as a camp counselor and Unit Head.

 

Daniel Lowinsky (Grade 4 & Hebrew 1 Bet) is a graduate of DJCS, class of 1995!  Daniel holds a BA from the University of Toronto, a Bachelor of Education from University of Toronto OISE, and a MA in Sociology of Education from the Institute of Education, University of London, UK.  Daniel was a supply teacher in schools in the UK.  He has been a teacher candidate and volunteer teacher in the Special Education Department of Bloor Collegiate, Toronto District School Board, a volunteer English teacher in Honduras and a special needs integration worker for the City of Toronto’s Special Needs Integration Program.
Ruth Schonblum (Grade 3 & Hebrew 2 Alef teacher) has been with DJCS since 2004.  In addition to her teaching degree and B.A. in Jewish Studies, she also studied in Bezalel Art Academy in Jerusalem and Central Tech Adult Art Program in Toronto. Ruth has been teaching Jewish studies to children and adults since 1980 in both Israel and Canada. She lived in Jerusalem from 1976 to 2001 and has been involved internationally in many building bridges for peace projects. Some of these projects took place in Israel and included workshops for students of the many sub-cultures existing in Israel today: Bedouin children, Orthodox Jewish teens, Israeli public school students and Palestinian students. She has participated as a Jewish educator in interfaith meetings in Jordan, Italy, India, Thailand, Malta, Germany and many others.

 

Janis Rubenzahl (Grade 7 & Hebrew 2 Bet co-teacher) last taught Jewish Studies and Hebrew at the DJCS in 2006.  She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from York University, Bachelor of Education from University of Toronto and Special Education qualifications from Queen’s University. She teaches a split grade with integrated special needs students full-time for the Toronto District School Board at Deer Park School. Janis specializes in the Arts and coordinates all large scale arts events at Deer Park. In addition, once a month, Janis runs a seniors’ service at Kensington Gardens Nursing Home as a satellite service of the First Narayever Congregation.  Janis is a past Narayever board member, where she served as the Youth Chair, as well as the Celebrations chair.

 

Debbie Sherman (Jewish Studies Grade 2 Teacher)has been with DJCS since 1985 and holds a B.A. in English Literature from York University and an ECE and Teacher Certificate from OISE.  She has been involved in Jewish Education in a variety of settings for almost 34 years. She was on the Machon L’Madrechai Chutz L’Aretz (Institute for Leadership from Abroad).  She has taught at Leo Baeck Day School and Robbins Hebrew Academy and was the Principal at a Jewish supplementary school in Toronto. She was Supervisor at a private Early Childhood Education Program in North York and is a mentor for new teachers with the Board of Jewish Education. Debbie also tutors young children in Hebrew.

 

Marsha Slavens (High School teacher)teaches DJCS’ exciting once per month Sunday brunch high school program. She holds a B.A. and Bachelors in Education from the University of Toronto. Before inaugurating the High School class in 2007 Marsha taught Grade 7 at DJCS. Marsha brings extensive teaching experience as well as a special love and interest in Israel.

 

Yehudit Shier Weisberg (Grade 5 Teacher and Hebrew 5/6 Alef Teacher) has been with DJCS since 2006.  Yehudit is an experienced Judaic teacher, a storyteller, ventriloquist, musician and music teacher. She has taught at the Florence Melton Adult Mini School (Adult Jewish education) for seven years. As part of The Storytellers School of Toronto, she brings her storytelling programs to many Jewish schools. In addition she is a facilitator for the Jewish Healing Program (affiliated with Jewish Family and Child Services) offering counseling to people dealing with loss or illness. She teaches a prayer adult class at Beth Tzedec Synagogue.

 

Ayala Winkler (Grade 6B & Hebrew 1 alef) has been at DJCS since 2007 and holds a Hebrew Teachers Certificate from the Board of Jewish Education’s Midrasha and a Diploma in Teaching Physical Education from Israel.  She taught for 12 years in Israel.  In Toronto, she was a teacher at Associated Hebrew Day School, Paul Penna Downtown Jewish Day School, and Temple Har Zion Religious School.  Her subjects are varied including Hebrew, Jewish Studies, Bar/Bat Mitzvah preparation and gymnastics.   Currently, she is also teaching Grades 1-8 at UMCA Rich Tree, an independent private day school in Toronto.