Officers
Jeff Denaburg
Co-Chair
Jeff held the position of Vice President, Communications at ARZA Canada for many years. He has been Co-Chair of the Israel Committee and Chair of the Worship Committee at Holy Blossom Temple, where he also served as a Teacher, and is currently a Shaliach Tzibur.
When not pursuing his Israel-related interests, Jeff works as a Project Manager in Information Technology at CIBC. Jeff is married and he and his wife Phyllis have two children.
Judith Wiley
Co-Chair
Judith Wiley joined the ARZA Canada board in 2017 and became secretary to the board shortly after that. As a representative of one of the smaller Reform congregations – Temple Israel in London, Ontario – Judith has been pleased to be part of the extraordinary efforts to engage congregations across Canada.
Judith has worked in the voluntary sector for most of her career, as CEO of various organizations at the national and international level and is known for her expertise in non-profit governance and community development. She is currently CEO of the Central Community Health Centre in Elgin County.
Judith is a member of the executive committee of the Canadian Zionist Federation and a member of the Board of Directors of Temple Israel, London.
Shirley Hyman
Vice Chair
Shirley, although a relative newcomer to ARZA Canada, is pleased to join the current executive. She and her husband reside in Vancouver, where she is active in Jewish life and has held executive positions with several organizations, including NCJW as Vancouver Section president. Currently, she helps steer Temple Sholom’s Israel Engagement Committee. When not involved in Israel-related activities, she can be found enjoying her three children and six grandchildren.
Valerie Whitefield
Treasurer
Valerie joined the ARZA Canada Board in 2008, soon became the volunteer bookkeeper and is now serving as Treasurer of ARZA Canada. She has been a member of Temple Sinai Congregation of Toronto since 1986 and has served on the Pulpit & Services, Adult Education, Membership and Festivals committees, as well as serving the community as a Shaliach Tzibur.
She currently works as a freelance bookkeeper and a volunteer at Toronto Rehab. Valerie and her husband Brian have two children. They are volunteers and avid supporters of The Toronto Jewish Film Festival. Their shared love of Eretz Israel has taken them there on many missions and personal vacations.
Ruth Naomi Livingston
Secretary
Ruth is a retired inner-city teacher with years of experience in equity work with the Manitoba Teachers’ Society. Ruth is immediate past president of Temple Shalom in Winnipeg with several terms as president. She is a regular lay service leader. Ruth sits on the Board of Directors of the Canadian Zionist Federation as an ARZA Canada representative.
Ruth is a parent and doting grandparent, a watercolour painter and quilter as well as a ‘retired’ 40-year volunteer with the Winnipeg Folk Festival.
Board Members-at-Large
- Tina Azarin
- Naomi Cohen
- David Dewitt
- Carl Ehrlich
- Cheryl Englander
- Mark Madras
- Dorothy Millman
- Miriam Pearlman
- Les Rothschild
- Monika Simon
- Lee Weisser
- Ex-officio with vote: Len Bates (RJCC)