Jay is a Queer Black Sea Ashkenazi Jewish Toronto-based graphic designer and conceptual design thinker who also works as a fine artist, mapmaker, educator and occasionally, a drag queen. Their art and design practice creates tools for education and introspection to guide the public to better understand our complex world. Jay has a Bachelor’s of Design from OCAD University and was a two time fellow of The Hillel Emerging Artists Fellowship. 

They were a former Member of the Executive Committee of Kulanu where they worked on innovative events and inclusion and will now be working on strategy, mission and communications for the MNjcc LGBTQ Committee and bringing their Drag Persona Ivanna Russia Shauna to Host Events.

JAY GINSHERMAN

Melissa Green is a videographer and special events coordinator. Melissa is very active in the LGBT and Jewish community and wants to use her skills to bring change and inclusiveness to both communities. Melissa served on the Kulanu Executive Committee and led pride parade for Kulanu for three years as well.  Melissa is excited to bring the skills she learned working with Kulanu to the MNjcc. 

MELISSA GREEN

Daniel recently graduated from Queen’s University, where he co-founded Q+. Q+ is the first LGBTQ+ committee at the Queen’s School of Business – it hosts learning and mentorship events and provides opportunities for students to connect with corporate Pride networks. Daniel currently works in management consulting. He was previously involved in Kulanu, where he helped organize some of Kulanu’s Pride Month events. Daniel is looking forward to being a part of this initiative and working on exciting programming for Toronto’s Jewish LGBTQ+ community.

DANIEL GORDON

Daniel is a new member of the Miles Nadal LGBTQ+ Programming Committee and an active member and supporter of the LGBTQ+ Jewish community. Membership Associate and Founder of the LGBTQ+ Committee at the Schwartz/Reisman JCC.  Daniel has been taking initiatives to ensure that the needs of LGBTQ+ youth and allies throughout the Toronto Jewish community are being met. In his spare time, he is an interior designer, photographer, artist and health nut on the side.  Daniel is determined to implement the J’s vision and mission in the planning and execution of dynamic programing and very excited to be a part of the committee!

DANIEL KATZ

In 2005, Shoshana Pellman, a mature Orthodox Jew became a TransLesbian activist. Over the years she has spoken and presented or co-presented at various workshops and conferences throughout Ontario. She was featured in a 2011 CBC special on The Current entitled Back in The Closet. In 2017, Shoshana was interviewed for CBC’s Out in the Open, during which she talked about her fears of being stricken with Dementia as a Transgender person. Since 2015, she has been a co-facilitator at Bellwood Health Services. At present, Shoshana is a volunteer at Baycrest and a member of the Family Advisory Council. She is a Senior Pride Network member and sings in Singing OUT, an LGBTQ choir in Toronto.

SHOSHANA PELLMAN

Gabby is a Jewish professional, community organizer, advocate, and student based in Toronto. Prior to moving to Toronto, she completed a BSc in Global Resource Systems at UBC while competing as a Varsity Athlete for the UBC Field Hockey team in Vancouver. Gabby moved to Toronto to begin her Master’s degree in Social Work, while completing a Master’s of Jewish Nonprofit Management in Los Angeles. Gabby was a founder of a grassroots Jewish LGBTQ2S+ community group in Vancouver, where she helped organize a number of intersectional community events. She is invested in increasing radical inclusivity for LGBTQ2S+ folks within the Jewish community, and Jewish inclusivity within the LGBTQ2S+ community. Gabby is excited to learn more about the diversity of the Jewish community in Toronto, and bring her community organizing skills to the MNjcc!

GABBY SWITZER

Yonah Sienna is a Jewish artist, educator, and ASL interpreter based in Toronto. Yonah studied ancient history at the University of King’s College in Halifax, where they were the vice president of the King's PRIDE society. Yonah has led many classes and workshops, from basic Hebrew literacy to disability in the Tanakh and the deep roots of High Holiday prayer. Currently, Yonah is co-directing the Varsity Jews, studying Biblical Hebrew with The Israel Institute of Biblical Studies, teaching at City Shul and Makom, and can be found working on poems, songs, and scenes based on Tanakh stories. As a member of the programming committee, Yonah is so excited to bring their passion for Judaism and LGBTQ+ issues to the MNjcc!

YONAH SIENNA