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JCDS is a place where our kids are known, challenged, and celebrated. Giving back is our way of helping strengthen a community that has given our family so much.

— Jenn Kaufmann, Parent

2025-2026 BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Officers

Nicole Lieberman Gann, President

Richard Bennett, Clerk

Mark Ravera, Treasurer

Liora Altman-Sagan ’12

Eyal David

Rachel Fish

Robin Friedman

Joshua Herzig-Marx

Natty Hoffman

Rabbi Dan Judson

Liz Levin

Hila Ganor Schindel

Lisa Wasserman Sivan

Rose-Jane Sulman

Arnee R. Winshall, Founding Chair

ZOE ZAK

As the year is over And we all get ready for high school, There’s a feeling that lingers over us. It floats gently over our heads, Creating enough wind to notice, But not enough to address it. We choose not to talk about it, But through long speeches

And eyes pricking with tears, It pronounces itself. It weaves between our interlaced arms

As we rock side to side, It hangs in our goodbyes, Knowing that each one is closer to the last. It flashes in the shutters of our last school photos, It cracks our voices as we sing one last song. It seeps into the carefully painted murals, Tracing its way down the halls

And into a place you didn’t realize was home. This is its final goodbye.

“

JCDS encouraged me to push myself, share my poetry, and submit my work to magazines. It empowered me to express my feelings in new ways and pursue opportunities I never imagined.

— Zoe Zak, Class

of 2025

ONE LAST GOODBYE BY

Letter from Shira Deener, Head of School

During the formative years of a child’s development at JCDS, we witness, every single day, the profound impact of nurturing habits of both heart and mind. Our students grow into problem-solvers and empathic listeners, curious thinkers and people of integrity, young leaders who can hold multiple perspectives and navigate a complex world with confidence and humility. These qualities take root over time, and they flourish because we invest deeply and intentionally in their learning and in their growth.

Creating a culture of philanthropy in our school community is no different. It requires intention, vision, and a belief that the investments we make today will transform the lives of children and families tomorrow. Building this culture means putting strong structures in place, systems that integrate fundraising into our everyday work, and cultivating behaviors that help each of us share the story of JCDS with pride. It also means tending to the hearts and minds of our community, nourishing the belief that giving is an act of partnership, impact, and belonging.

We are profoundly grateful to the many individuals who have devoted their time, talent, and treasure to JCDS. Every gift matters. Every gift, large or small, enables us to offer the extraordinary educational experience our families have come to expect. Your generosity allows us to stretch the children who are ready to soar, support those who need alternate pathways toward understanding, and sustain a state-of-the-art Hebrew program that empowers our graduates to speak with confidence and live fully in our bilingual, bicultural world. Your support ensures that our students learn to walk through life grounded in who they are, proud members of a diverse and pluralistic Jewish community.

There is a famous Talmudic story of Ploni planting a carob tree. When asked why he would plant something that will take seventy years to bear fruit – fruit he himself will never enjoy – Ploni responds with love for the next generation

and joy in knowing that his children and grandchildren will someday benefit from what he planted. This is the essence of philanthropy at JCDS.

To those who have given so generously, we thank you. To those considering joining us, we invite you to plant alongside us, knowing that together, we are nurturing a future of learning, leadership, and lasting impact.

At JCDS, we nurture habits of heart and mind so every child grows into a confident, compassionate leader. Your generosity makes this extraordinary learning possible and strengthens our community for generations.

Letter from Nicole Lieberman Gann,

Board President

JCDS has been around for 30 years! That feels really great to say.

We first got to know JCDS during year 12 (or so). It was fall 2007, and our oldest was entering kindergarten. At that time, I didn’t actually think about how long JCDS had been around. JCDS exuded (even in its mitzvah year) intellectual rigor, joyful expressions of Judaism, and a thriving community.

In this fourth decade of JCDS being on the greater Boston scene, I knew that I wanted to serve as board president and work with the board to help ensure the longevity and reach of a JCDS education. Every time I’m in the building, I’m reminded anew about what a special place JCDS is (something that I admittedly took for granted when I was busy rushing our kids to school, or nagging them to do their homework).

Recently, I had the chance to peek into a first grade engineering lesson (and hear their brilliant unexpected questions). I listened to a group of middle schoolers openly sharing their concerns about antisemitism in this post-October 7th world. Finally, I spent a delightful and meaningful lunchtime with JCDS grandparents and special friends, who all wrote letters to their JCDS students about one of their family photographs. I pulled out a photo of my grandparents, and thought about how their legacy of giving was part of why I was sitting in the Sifriyah at that moment.

I’m inspired by the learning and community that goes on at JCDS everyday. My hope is for every family in our greater Jewish community to have the same chance for their children to receive a JCDS education. I am grateful to have the opportunity to give back to a school that has given so much to our family.

JCDS is a place of joyful learning, deep community, and lasting impact. I love knowing that our school’s legacy continues to grow — and that more families can experience the gift of a JCDS education.

Letter from Shoshanna Goldberg, Director of Development and Communications

תרושקתהו

As Director of Development and Communications, I have the privilege of witnessing the heartbeat of JCDS every single day. Over the past year, our students and teachers have demonstrated the values that define this community: curiosity, compassion, and connection. Your generosity makes this possible.

This past fiscal year, your support of the JCDS Annual Fund and across all of our philanthropic initiatives strengthened every corner of our school. You helped ensure that JCDS remains a place of inspired teaching, joyful Jewish learning, and financial accessibility for families across our wide and diverse community.

We are especially grateful to those who extended their commitment in remarkable ways this year. Some community members quietly invested in essential campus improvements, helping us enhance the spaces where our children learn and grow. Others chose to deepen the school’s long-term strength by supporting our endowment or by establishing meaningful legacy gifts that will benefit JCDS for generations to come. These contributions, offered with humility and deep devotion to our mission, will have an enduring impact on our school’s future.

To all who gave during the 2025 fiscal year: thank you. Your partnership sustains our work and ensures that JCDS continues to thrive. Because of you, our students walk into school each day supported by a community that believes in them, and in the future they will help build.

As we look to the year ahead, we hope you will continue to stand with us. Your ongoing financial support ensures that JCDS remains strong, accessible, and forward-thinking. Together, we can continue building a vibrant, resilient, and joyful Jewish day school for the generations to come.

Every day, I see how your generosity fuels joyful Jewish learning, inspired teaching, and accessibility for all families. This is what makes JCDS vibrant, resilient, and worthy of our deepest investment.

Financial Highlights

In our 30th year, JCDS continued to grow from strength to strength. We achieved record philanthropic participation across the annual fund, endowment, and planned giving. Nearly 90% of families participated in the parent campaign, underscoring strong parent engagement in our milestone year.

Donor support empowered us to attract and retain exceptional faculty through robust professional development, advance innovative programming, and maintain tuition affordability. Major capital improvements included new windows, a replacement roof, and upgraded electrical switchgear.

Beyond campus, 8th graders embarked on their first trip to Washington, D.C., supported in part by a Facing History and Ourselves grant, and Lower School students enjoyed live theatre experiences — from a one-man show about Theodore Herzl to a visit to Library Lion at the Boston Public Library.

We are deeply grateful to our alumni, parents, grandparents, and friends for making this transformational year possible.

Report of Gifts

JCDS is profoundly grateful for the generous support of parents, alumni, parents of alumni, grandparents, trustees, friends, and businesses. Their philanthropy strengthens our academic programs, supports robust professional development for faculty and staff, and sustains the flexible tuition fund that helps us welcome a diverse range of families to our community. The donors listed below made gifts to the JCDS Annual Fund between July 1, 2024, and June 30, 2025.

$100,000 AND ABOVE

Anonymous (2)

Combined Jewish Philanthropies

Claudia Davidoff

Rosalyn and Richard z’’l Slifka

Arnee R. and Walter A. Winshall

$50,000-$99,999

Anonymous (3)

Joseph and Rae Gann Charitable Foundation

Paul E. Singer Foundation

SKECHERS Foundation

$25,000-$49,999

Anonymous

Nicole and Josh Gann

John Hunt

Sari Korman

$10,000-$24,999

Anonymous (2)

Elovitz Family

Simon B. Gottlieb Charitable Foundation

Phyllis Hammer

Dorit Harverd and Richard Dale

Betsy Hecker and John Barter

Joan and Peter Hoffman

Gayle Klusky

Lizbeth and George Krupp

Jaka and Gad Saarony

Rose-Jane Sulman

Diane Troderman and Harold Grinspoon

$5,000-$9,999

Anonymous

Jayne and Harvey Beker

Galit and Lior Div Cohen

Yukiko and Eran Egozy

Deb Gaffin and Richard Bennett

Carol Harris and Bob Kann

Carol Hirsh

Onir Leshem and Jeffrey Spiegel

Peggy and Marvin Menzin

Suzanne Priebatsch

Raffaella Sadun and Vito Levi D’Ancona

Shiri and Ilan Segev

Nancy and Chris Winship

$2,500-$4,999

Julie Altman and Alex Sagan

Marti and Ed Black

Rena and Robbie Fein

Robin and David Friedman

Leslie and Mike Gaffin

Amy Gerson and Louis Grossman

Winnie Sandler Grinspoon and Steven Grinspoon

— Claudia Davidoff, Former Trustee

Esther and Elliot Israel

Shoshana Jacobs and David Charytan

Stephanie Karger

Sharon and Ken Kaufmann

Devra Lasden

Sharon Levin and Rabbi David Lerner

Sarah Luria and Thomas Schwarz

Lia Meisinger and Alexis Borisy

Shira and Mark Ravera

Susie and Howie Rodenstein

Judith and Jay Rosenstein

Diane Schuster

Nancy Sommers and Joshua Alper

Liz Waksman and Darren Orbach

$1,000-$2,499

Anonymous (2)

Susan and Aron Ain

Liora Altman-Sagan, ‘12

Deena and Michael Baker

Sheree and David Boloker

Sara and Steve Brown

Claire and Dan Caine

Ada Beth and Chuck Cutler

Fiona Epstein and Jon Pollack

Renee and Steven Finn

Rachel Fish and Dave Cutler

Zelda and Elkan Gamzu

Dena and Jason Glasgow

$1,000-$2,499 (CONTINUED)

Google Matching Gifts Program

Rabbi Susan Harris

Ranella Hirsch Saul and Daniel Saul

Jenn and Ari Kaufmann

Sally and Rabbi Ira Korinow

John Langell

Ruth Langer and Jonathan Sarna

Stephanie and Yair Listokin Mastercard

Tracy McGinnis and Dani Rimoni

Arthur Novakoff

Elizabeth and Bob Pressman

Ellen and Michael Rubin

Sharon and Jimmy Schwarz

Carol Seitchik and Alan Feldman

Becca and David Sendor-Israel

Nancy Shaich

Lisa and Ezra Sivan

Ruth Weinrib and Paul Weiss

Eveline Weyl

Jasmine and Rabbi David Winship

Judy and Albert Zabin

$500-$999

Anonymous

Rabbi Jordi and Seth Battis

Wendy and Jonathan Bernays

Urit Chaimovitz and Jonathan Bloch

Tamara Charm and Oren Weisberg

Chelsea Hebrew Free School Endowment Fund

Shira Deener and David Chodirker

Elisa Deener-Agus and Michael Agus

Talia and Yoni Engelhart

Sharon and Louis Feiman-Nemser

Jane and Edward Foster

Rabbi Elisha and Sam Gechter

Sarah Gross and Jesse Lempel

Rabbi Claudia Kreiman and Rabbi Ebn Leader

Esther and Josh Langer

“Judith and Ariel Marks

Lisa and Bruce Micley

Jordan Namerow and Idit Klein

Adele and Andrew Newman

Matthew Olarsch

Anita and Ken Rabinoff-Goldman

Ina and Jerry Regosin

Rabbi Michelle and Michael Robinson

Susan Rodgin and Warren Manning

Laura and Guy Shechter

Steinberg Family

Heddy and Rafi Stern

Rivka and Alex Strelnikov

Rachael and Jeffrey Susser

Mia and Ethan Tavan

Richard and Ann Tavan

Joseph Weinstein

Jennifer and Amiel Weinstock

Ophra Weisberg

$259-$499

Beth and Adam Badik

Joanne Baker

Michelle Barmazel and Kevin Steinberg

Barbra Batshalom and Moshe Cohen

Randi Berkowitz and Jonathan Regosin

Marina Bers

Katya Brezgunova and Igor Gomberg

Allison Cook and David Hirsh

Elana Fein and Doron Korinow

Becca Feldman and Alon Lewin-Epstein

Lynda Fink and Maury Lederman

Helen and Martin Flusberg

Rachel and William Foster

Lauren and Jonathan Garlick

Rachel Goldberg and Brian Sokol

Ellen Golub and Steven Sass

Jenny and Tim Gomeringer

Hillel Gray

Carol and David Greenfield

Rabbi Naomi Gurt Lind and Bill Lind

Nate Hayman

As a Day School graduate, I know firsthand how Jewish education shapes identity.

I love JCDS for its creativity, high standards, and joyful Judaism, and proudly support its work and our Generations community.

— Devra Lasden, Former Trustee

Judith and Chayim Herzig-Marx

Sue Hirsh and Charles Glick

Anna and David Kanarek

Marcia and Rabbi Alvan Kaunfer

Alice and Shai Kivity

Andrea and Aviel z”l Klausner

Kimberly Marks

Anne and Rabbi Rim Meirowitz

Rebecca and Amram Migdal

Shira Novack and Raanan Korinow

Mira and Uri Nurko

Hila Romi and Akiva Leibowitz

Emily Rubenstein

Michelle and Isaac Rubenstein

Ifat Rubin-Bejerano and Yaniv Bejerano

Emma Savitz

Michal Schoenberg-Taz and Yaniv Taz

Jeff and Nancyellen Seiden

Natalya Shnitser and Yan Epelboym

Paula and John Sinclair

Nancy and Howard Smith

Margery Sokoloff and Jeffrey Shoulson

Irina Vovnoboy and Alexander Spektor

Avia and Nathan Weinberger

Dorit and Ofer Zmiri

UP TO $249

Anonymous (26)

Melinda and Danny Abelman

Alyson Abramson

Karen Abramson

Emily Almas

Loen Amer

Barbara Appelbaum

Ann and Daniel Asnes

Mimi Asnes and Lior Shachaf

Danielle Azani, ‘30

Deborah and Asher Azarzar

Barbara Bach

Erin Barnes

Jo and Doron Ben-Atar

Sharon and Jerome Berkowitz

Rabbi Allison Berry and Mark Feldman

Eric Bloch

Nancy and Jacob Bloom

Amalia and Rabbi Sam Blumberg

Jonathan Bresman

Linda Brodt and Paul Katz

Mel Brown

Cali Burstein

Elizabeth Chadis

Martha Chase

Hilla and Ziv Conen

Catherine Connor

Yoninah and Michael Cramer

Karen Cummins

Yaara and Eyal David

Rachel and Behzad Dayanim

Christine Eddis

Sandy Falk and Rabbi Dan Judson

Jo-Ann Figueroa

Susan and Neal Fineman

Julie Fins

Steve Gamm

Leah Gann, ‘16

Nancy Ganz

Melisa Gerber

Catharyn and Mike Gildesgame

Ruth Gold

Shoshanna and Andrew Goldberg

Atara and Amir Goldshtein

Sandy Goldstein and Michael Buonaiuto

Amy and Steven Gortler

Sarah Gottfried and Josh Fialkoff

Sarah Grafman and Ben Abrams

Bambi and Bob Granovsky

Marcie Greenfield Simons and Richard Simons

Ghenya and Jonathan Grondin

Lior Halperin-Hai and Yaniv Hai-Halperin

Sigalit Hoffman

Marilyn Horen

Muriel Horowitz

Shira Horowitz and Maurice Karpman

Jacqui Horwitz and Philip Mason

Sue and Robert Housman

Jeanne Howard

Linda Hsu and Marc Steinberg

Jo Icaza

Jewish Federation Foundation

Rabbi Jane Kanarek and Andy Halpert

Rabbi Gita Karasov and Dan Buonaiuto

Shiri Katz-Gershon and Yaniv Gershon

Rachel and Oren Kaunfer

Lisa Kempler and Bruce Weinstock

Orit Kent and Meir Lakein

Janet and Lawrence Kessenich

Becky and Alex Khitrik

Inna Khitrik

Yevgenia Khodor Tolan and Michael Tolan

Judith and Andrei Klein

Rabbi Margie and Jeremy Klein Ronkin

Lee and Dan Kraft

Rachel Krause-Grosman, ‘22

Carol and David Krentzman

Debra and Ricky Kurzman

Shani Kushchi and Yoni Shafrir

Ellen Laderman and Steven Tavan

Meg and Eli Lederman

Liz and Avia Levin

Sharon Levine and Alex Golub-Sass

Shari Levitz

Steven Lewis

Gloria and Dmitri Mamokhin

Sarah Markovitz and Jacob Pinnolis

Rabbi Sara Meirowitz and Rabbi David Finkelstein

Mark Meridy

Judy and Harold Meyer

Morton Meyerson

Molly and David Micley

Ashley Miller and Jon Landis

Isaac Moellman, ‘23

Lisa and Mark Moellman

Deborah Mutrie and Josh Troderman

Carla Naumburg and Josh Herzig-Marx

“Honoring my father with a JCDS Day of Learning became a meaningful tradition for our family and others. It’s a beautiful way to remember loved ones while supporting the school and sustaining Jewish learning.

— Elisha Gechter, Parent

Jennifer and Joel Newman

Miriam Newman and Michael Pinnolis

June Nislick

Gali and Uri Offenbacher

Dalit Parsser and Benny Sharoni

Kathleen Petersen and Richard Baum

Amberly Polidor and Rabbi David Curiel

Lily Rabinoff-Goldman and Rabbi Hillel Greene

Lee Redel

David Rhodes

Alisa Rodny and David Etlin

Joan and Ron Rogers

Shanee Rosen and Michael Simkin

Judith Rosenbaum and Or Rose

Staci Rosenthal

Charlotte Ross and Matthew Katz

Ephat and David Russcol

Diane and Fred Russcol

Susan and Robert Scherr

Yaeli Schwartz and Asaf Gaon

Sue Schweber

Li-or and Noam Sharoni

Alan Shuchat and Alix Ginsburg

Elaine and Joe Siegel

Andrea and Michael Silton

Deborah Simonds and Stuart Kolodner

Carol Singer and Daniel Bricklin

Morton Sinkoff

Marsha Slotnick

Karen Smilowitz

Glenda and John Speyer

David Spiekerman

Laura Spiekerman

Karen and Eran Spira

Ellen Stein

Yaeli and Kfir Steinbuch

Tamar Szendro and Ori Hassin

Neena Tenney and Paul Gross

Donna and Harvey Thalblum

Judi and Art Tischler

Tair and Oshri Vaknin

WE HAVE TRIED TO BE AS ACCURATE AS POSSIBLE IN OUR LISTINGS. WE APOLOGIZE FOR ANY ERRORS OR OMISSIONS THAT MAY APPEAR. PLEASE CONTACT THE DEVELOPMENT OFFICE AT 617-972-1733 WITH ANY REQUESTS FOR FUTURE LISTINGS.

UP TO $249 (CONTINUED)

Marlous van Waijenburg and Yannay Spitzer

Nancy Vineberg

Roz Vineberg

Susan Wachsstock

Joyce Wacks

Rebecca Wangh

Rahel Wasserfall and Adam Seligman

Riki Weinberg

Jill and Benjamin Weintraub

Anat and Tommy Weiss-Sadan

Deborah Wieder

Louise Wolfe and Stefan Ahlblad

Vera and Emil Yagudin

Jen Zola

2024-2025 BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Officers

Nicole Gann, President

Richard Bennett, Clerk

Uri Nurko, Treasurer

Liora Altman-Sagan ’12

Galit Div

Rachel Fish

Robin Friedman

Natty Hoffman

Liz Levin

Amram Migdal

Mark Ravera

Jaka Saarony

Hila Ganor Schindel

Rose-Jane Sulman

Arnee R. Winshall, Founding Chair

Founding Board

Naomi Bar-Yam

Yaneer Bar-Yam

Rabbi Susan Harris

Mark Kramer

Vardit Ringvald

Arnee R. Winshall

Walter A. Winshall

Consider the Many Ways to Make an Impact at JCDS:

• SPONSOR A DAY OF LEARNING to honor or remember a loved one while supporting meaningful learning in our community.

• INCLUDE JCDS IN YOUR ESTATE PLANS to create a lasting legacy that strengthens the school’s future.

• VOLUNTEER YOUR TIME to enhance programs, events, and community initiatives throughout the year.

• GIVE TO THE ANNUAL FUND to sustain daily operations and enrich every student’s experience.

• SUPPORT THE JCDS ENDOWMENT to ensure long-term stability and financial strength for generations to come.

Please contact Shoshanna Goldberg, Director of Development & Communications, if you would like to discuss your giving to JCDS.

“Financial aid made it possible for our family to join the JCDS community, giving Noa a nurturing place to grow. My planned gift reflects my gratitude and my hope that future families experience the same belonging and joy. — Nancy Vineberg, Alumni Parent

Thank You for Your Support!

The Moréshet Eytańa Legacy Society recognizes the generosity of those individuals and families who have included JCDS in their estate plans. All planned gifts, such as bequests and deferred gifts providing life income, qualify a donor for membership in this society. Members of Moréshet Eytańa, translated from the Hebrew as “Our Strong Heritage,” have thoughtfully provided for the strength, integrity, and value of the JCDS experience for generations to come.

MORÉSHET EYTAŃA LEGACY SOCIETY

OUR STRONG HERITAGE

Anonymous

Fran Elovitz, z”l

Jonathan Frankel

Joan and Peter Hoffman

Linda Brodt and Paul Katz

TArthur Novakoff

Dr. Susie Tanchel

Nancy Vineberg

Albert and Judith Zabin

he JCDS Endowment helps provide financial stability for the school. Generous donors have contributed to endowed funds that extend the school’s ability to offer flexible tuition. We express deep gratitude to the families and friends, past and present, whose gifts help insure that JCDS remains a diverse and inclusive community. For information on how to establish or support an endowed fund, please contact the development office.

ENDOWMENT FUNDS

Anonymous

Claudia Davidoff

The Catharyn and Mike Gildesgame Flexible Tuition Fund

The Winnie Sandler Grinspoon and Steven Grinspoon Flexible Tuition Fund

The Joan and Peter Hoffman Flexible Tuition Fund

Joseph J. Marbach Memorial Flexible Tuition Fund

Krupp Fund for the Future — Inspired by a leadership gift from George Krupp and supported by:

Anonymous

Sari Korman and John Hunt

Barbara and David Listokin

Stephanie and Yair Listokin

Shiri and Ilan Segev

Richard Slifka z”l

Bonnie z”l and Marty Tenenbaum

57 STANLEY AVENUE, WATERTOWN, MA 02472

“

Being involved at JCDS has given me a deeper appreciation for the warmth, dedication, and joy that define this community. It’s meaningful to support a school that brings people together.

— Tamar Szendro, Parent