OUR TEAM

Shael Rosenbaum
National Chair
shael@yadvashem.ca

Shael Rosenbaum is a notable leader in Holocaust Education and Rememberance and a recognized Community Figure. He was instrumental in the Founding of the Toronto Holocaust Museum and was Chair of the Sarah and Chaim Neuberger Holocaust Education Centre. Shael served as a Council Member on the Shoah Foundation at the University of Southern California, Chair of the Young Adult March of the Living, a Board Member of UJA Federation of Greater Toronto and as a Trustee of the Jewish Foundation. He was a Founding Member of the Next Venture Philanthropy Fund and was a member of The Israel and Overseas Committee, as well as the Governance and Nominations Committee at UJA Federation. Shael currently is a Board Member on the Baycrest Hospital Foundation.

Shael is a past recipient of the Leadership Development Award from UJA Federation, is a graduate of the Joshua Institute and was the Master of Ceremonies at the “We Will Not Be Silent” March, the largest rally combating Anti-Semitism in Canadian History. He was Associate Producer of the critically acclaimed Documentary “The Accountant of Auschwitz” and along with his father, Harry Rosenbaum, are the 2023 Tel Aviv University (CFTAU) Honourees.

Shael is Managing Director of the Rosenbaum Family Office (The Rosenbaum Family are Principals of the Great Gulf Group of Companies-among the most prolific real estate conglomerates in North America) and President of Fremont Street Holdings Inc. 

Shael is the descendant of Four Holocaust Survivors and has made the subject of the Shoah the most pivotal role and cause in his philanthropic work. 

Fran Sonshine is a prominent leader in the Toronto community with a long history of involvement in philanthropy and volunteering. She has held leadership positions in major organizations, with a great deal of experience in fundraising.

Mrs. Sonshine, a child of Holocaust Survivors, is the National Chair of the Canadian Society for Yad Vashem. From 2012-2017, she served as one of five members of the Holocaust Monument Development Council that helped build Canada’s Holocaust Monument in Ottawa.

She is a past Chair of the Toronto United Jewish Appeal/Federation’s Annual $60million Campaign, past Chair of both the Baycrest Board of Directors and its Foundation where she initiated its first Annual Campaign, and was Chair of the 1999 Brazilian Ball, the premier fundraising social event in Toronto. She is also a past member of the North York General Hospital Advisory Board, the Baycrest Campaign Advisory Board, and the ROM Board Governors.

Mrs. Sonshine has received numerous awards for her contributions to the many organizations with which she has been involved. She received the prestigious 2010 International Kipnis-Wilson/Friedland Award as the outstanding woman in the Toronto Jewish community for her philanthropic and volunteer efforts; the 2011 UJA Federation’s Ben Sadowski Award of Merit ; the 2012 Golda Meir Leadership Award from State of Israel Bonds: as well in 2012, she received the Diamond Jubilee Medal in commemoration of the 60th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth’s ascension to the throne. Most recently, in June 2018, Fran was awarded the Key to the City of Toronto by Mayor John Tory, at City Hall, for her philanthropic and volunteer leadership in Toronto.

As a couple, she and her husband Ed have been honoured in 2003 by the Canadian Society for Yad Vashem; were recipients of the International spirit of Jerusalem Award given by State of Israel Bonds; were the 2006 Jewish National Fund Negev Dinner honorees and were one of five couples honored by Baycrest at their 2008 Tribute Gala.

Mrs. Sonshine and her husband are proud parents of three children and nine grandchildren.

Jonathan Allen has been employed in progressively responsible positions in the Jewish community for almost 20 years. Born in New Waterford, Nova Scotia on Cape Breton Island, Jonathan has a Commerce Degree in Marketing from Mount Allison University and a Law Degree from the University of New Brunswick. He was called to the Bar in Ontario in 1994.

Jonathan moved to Toronto in the spring of 1997 to help guide a tech company focusing on the private education sector. He began his Jewish communal professional career in 2002 when he joined the annual campaign team as Assistant Campaign Director at UJA Federation of Greater Toronto. In 2008, Jonathan became the National Executive Director of The Canadian Shaare Zedek Hospital Foundation and in 2011 joined the Canadian Associates of Ben Gurion University of the Negev as its Toronto Region Executive Director.

Alana Saxe has a wealth of professional and volunteer experience in the community at large. Alana has worked for a broad range of Jewish communal organizations in leadership roles including the University of Maryland Hillel, The Toronto March of the Living, the Prosserman JCC/Schwartz Reisman Centre and Camp Kadimah. Alana holds an MSW from the Wurzweiler School of Social Work and a certificate in Experiential Jewish Education from Yeshiva University. 

A grandchild of four Holocaust Survivors, Alana has committed much of her adult life to Holocaust education and awareness and is proud to work for the Canadian Society for Yad Vashem, an organization that supports the highest echelon of Holocaust education internationally.

Elissa holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree and an ECE Diploma. She is a specialist in Jewish education and has taught Jewish culture, values, religion and Hebrew reading in supplemental schools to all ages ranging from preschool to teen. Her passion has been educating teens about the Holocaust. In addition to teaching in synagogue supplementary schools, Elissa has also held administrative positions in various non-profit agencies.

In her current position, Elissa is responsible for the day-to-day administration of CSYV. She also coordinates CSYV’s Twinning Program, working with students and their families.

Elissa has been an active volunteer in the Jewish community, serving on synagogue boards, as well as the URJ Camp George Camp Council. She has chaired Social Action and other committees and worked on projects, including Out of the Cold.

 BOARD MEMBERS

Shael Rosenbaum, Chair
Fran Sonshine, Immediate Past Chair
Miguel Singer, Treasurer
Alexa Feldberg
Joe Gottdenker
Lou Greenbaum
Arlin Markowitz
Israel Mida
Faye Minuk
Jeff Rubenstein
Dr. Faye Sliwin
Howard Sokolowski