Irv Siegel - President and Chairman of the Board

Originally from Montreal, Irv moved to the GTA in 1986 with his wife, Isabel. Irv is a physician currently practicing as a hospitalist. He has been a member of Beit Rayim since its inception in 1993. He was a Board member, VP and eventually held the position of president at Beit Rayim from 1997-1999. Irv was also a Board member of Tanenbaum CHAT from 2004-2006. He has also volunteered Camp Ramah, York Region Special Olympics, Jewish Youth Conferences, Markham-Stouffville Hospital Foundation and others.

Irv has been immersed in the field of clinical research for the past 13 years. He first started as a research investigator establishing a Clinical Research Organization then co-founded a biotech company which eventually achieved IPO status.

In the biotech industry he has served as President, VP Clinical Affairs and VP Regulatory Affairs. Prior to his career in clinical research he was an Emergency Room Physician and Family Physician for twenty years.

Irv can be identified at the synagogue as the guy who is preparing l'chaims for the Kiddush Club.

Irv and Isabel have 3 daughters, two in university and one at Tanenbaum CHAT. They are proud members of Beit Rayim where they have established many of their long-term friendships. The Siegel family lives in Richmond Hill within walking distance of Beit Rayim's future home.

Bill Mandelman - Immediate Past President

Bill was born in Toronto and is a Chartered Accountant practicing in Markham. He is married to Ruth and they have two daughters, Dana and Erin. They joined Beit Rayim in 1996 as they were looking for a shul to celebrate Dana's Bat Mitzvah. They celebrated Erin's Bat Mitzvah at Beit Rayim in 2000. He became a Board member in 1997, later became the Treasurer, and became President in 2006.

The years that he has spent at Beit Rayim have been very enjoyable and he has established many friendships. Beit Rayim has truly been a house of friends for Bill.

Kenneth Gutman - Treasurer,Team Leader of Finance and Director

Ken was born and raised in Calgary Alberta, where he attended Hebrew Day School at the Calgary Hebrew School. He moved to Toronto to attend York University in 1979. He met his wife Marna in 1987 and they were married in 1988. They have two daughters, Sari and Rebecca.

Ken's parents always urged their children to join a synagogue to "give yourselves roots in a community". Ken and Marna joined Beit Rayim in the fall of 2000, just in time for the High Holy Days, when they decided it was time to look for a synagogue in which to celebrate Sari's Bat Mitzvah. Until then they were the "Wandering Jews" and participated in High Holy Day services at Garnett Williams Community Centre, York University, and various other synagogues in York Region. However for other holidays they always seemed to go to the services in the synagogue where their children went to school – United Synagogue Day School at Beit Rayim. They were a little apprehensive about "egalitarianism", as they had both grown up in traditional Conservative synagogues, but after attending a Shabbat service, they concluded this would become their spiritual home.

Beit Rayim has become so familiar to Ken's family; there is always a friend to say "hello" on Shabbat or on the High Holy Days. Beit Rayim "House of Friends" really hit home on Sari's Bat Mitzvah, when the "regular shul goers" were so delighted to have been with them and to share their simcha with their family and friends. Sari's Bat Mitzvah was truly a special moment in their lives, made even more special by the members of Beit Rayim.

Ken joined the Board of Directors in 2001 to give back to his community and has been involved in various committees ever since. He was Chairman of the Membership Committee for several years, and is now on the Executive.

Ken and his family have truly enjoyed becoming part of such an active, caring community that truly reflects its name – Beit Rayim, "House of Friends."

Stephen C. Cohen, PhD, MBA -Director

Stephen was born and raised in London, England and came to Canada in 1965. He has worked for Petro Canada and at a chemical company near New York City, before retiring in 2006. While originally a member of Temple Har Zion, Stephen and his wife Janice became members of an egalitarian Conservative synagogue while working in New York State in the late 1990s.

When the family moved back to Canada, Cohen says  "it seemed natural that we join Beit Rayim." Besides attending Shabbat services, Cohen is active in Hazak, the synagogue group for over 50s, as well as going to theatre, reading, and fishing and travel. Between them, they have four children, Geoffrey and Suzanne and Stuart and Stephanie.

Cohen says he is "pleased to have this opportunity to serve Beit Rayim and all of you as a Board Member."

Jeff Grosman - Team Leader Facilities Management and Director

Having joined Beit Rayim at its inception, Jeff has held a wide variety of positions within the Synagogue. He has sat on 11 consecutive Boards of Directors. He has held the position of Treasurer, Vice President, Chair of the High Holy Day Committee, Chair of the Comedy Auction Night, Editor of the Beit Rayim Bulletin, Chair of the Building Committee, and Chair of the Membership Committee. 

All of these positions have been very interesting, challenging, and rewarding. However, the one committee that Jeff is most proud to chair is the Fair Dues Committee, a position that he has held since 1999. Jeff feels that this committee is the true embodiment of what a synagogue can and should be. Along with the Chesed Committee, the Fair Dues Committee deals with members and potential members in times of difficulty. Being able to bring some small amount of comfort to members who are experiencing financial hardship and reassuring them that the Synagogue will not abandon them when they most need a "sanctuary" is very gratifying. Jeff also takes great pride in being the author of a number of Synagogue policies, including the Bar/Bat Mitzvah package and the Fair Dues Policy.

Jeff has been married to the most patient, understanding, supportive, strong, independent, and tolerant woman in the world, Carol, for the past twenty-four years. They have two phenomenal children, Jonathan and Laura, both of whom are maturing into young adults who share in Jeff and Carol's commitment to and passion for the Jewish community.

Jeff has worked in the real estate business for the past 25 years and, when not working on Synagogue business, pursues his other passion – golf (although admittedly, not very well).

Helen Smolkin - Director

Bob and I were a young couple in our twenties when we went looking for our first house. On snowy day in January, we ventured from Bathurst and Finch all the way north to Carrville and Yonge in Richmond Hill. Looking at model homes, we were scared, but made our decision regardless. In September of 1973, we moved to Richmond Hill, right behind Hillcrest Mall, and eventually started to raise our family of two sons.

Our first goal was to get Jewish family life and culture together. In December of 1976 a meeting was held at Richvale Community Centre on Avenue Road in Richmond Hill. Ninety-nine families were represented at that initial gathering, and subsequent planning sessions met at various Jewish homes throughout Richmond Hill. From those initial meetings evolved the Richmond Hill Community Synagogue.

Our home housed the synagogue telephone line, and also served as the depot for picking up High Holy Day tickets. People still remember picking up their tickets the night before yontif, while my mom and I were making kreplach for the next day. We were so proud when there was commotion in our hallway! We were like one big mishpocha, in a shtetel called Richmond Hill.

Building a synagogue and school is a memorable and moving experience. My family and I, along with my dear parents Boris and Sophia Gelgor, and all of those who have participated in this extraordinary venture, are privileged to have done so. Yasher Koach to the leadership and organizers, past and present, who consistently provide a compelling environment of friendship and feeling.

Alan Lechem - Director

Alan and his wife Ruth have been members of the Beit Rayim community for over a decade, and have celebrated bnei mitzvot with our children Cobi, Lara and Yaelle and many other simchas with our siblings who are also members. Beit Rayim is one of the main pillars of our Jewish life and provides an enthusiastic and dynamic environment for our family.

During Alan's tenure as co-chair of the Israel Action Committee, Beit Rayim won the prestigious Solomon Shecter Silver award for Israel Affairs. Alan currently serves on the board of the Community Hebrew Academy of Toronto (CHAT). He is a member of the Simon Wiesenthal Centre in Toronto, serving on the advisory board of the Resource Training and Leadership Centre, and co-chairing their Campus Affairs Committee.

Alan has been active in fund raising his entire adult life, and participates regularly in UJA telethons. In addition he has completed the "Wheels of Love" fundraising ride 3 times for the Alyn Pediatric Rehabilitation Hospital in Jerusalem . His wife Ruth Ekstein is also a very active member of the Jewish community, having chaired the UJA Walk for Israel and many other events. It is our hope that Beit Rayim will be the place where we can have an impact with our volunteer work and help provide Jewish continuity.