Our Team
Jayson Taller
Executive Director
Dr. Stacy Goldstein
Director of Community Building
Sari Zelenietz
Youth Programming
Coordinator
Ben Shillow
Office Manager
Jennahfer LaFreniere
Head of IT, Marketing & Communications
Jayson Taller - Executive Director
Jayson has been a member of the Machzikei community his entire life. He even had his Bar Mitzvah at Machzikei!
In the years since those days as a kid around Machzikei, he went on to study at Carleton University, earning his B.A. in Political Science and has completed the Canadian Securities Course. For eight years, he worked in the financial services industry, working as a financial advisor with two of Canada’s largest financial institutions.
Jayson is thrilled to be back to his roots at Machzikei, and to be working with the CMH community to build a thriving kehila in the Nation's Capital.
Feel free to contact Jayson anytime at the shul office at 613-521-9700 or via email at jayson.taller@cmhottawa.com
Dr. Stacy Goldstein - Director of Community Building
Growing up in T
oronto, Stacy never imagined she would end up living in the Nation's Capital, and now she can't imagine living anywhere else. Fortunately for Machzikei, life led Stacy to Ottawa, and she has embraced this community with joy and enthusiasm.
A practicing chiropractor, mother, distance runner, and master challah baker, Stacy has a contagious energy and enthusiasm for everything that she does. From 2010-2015, she was the co-founder and co-director of the Glebe Shul, an outreach program in Ottawa with a community of over 750 Jewish young adults.
Stacy's role as Director of Community Building has her overseeing the Shabbat and Yom Tov youth programs, monthly family events (such as Shabbat dinners and holiday parties), and outreach with families who are new to the Machzikei community.
Please feel free to contact Stacy anytime at 613.618.1235, or stacy@cmhottawa.com.
Sari Zelenietz - Youth Programming Coordinator
Sari grew up in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and her first job was teaching the preschool Hebrew School class at her synagogue. She’s excited to return to her roots in Jewish Community life working with children and families at Machzikei.
A genetic counsellor by day, Sari is an active member of CMH, and has served on the board and multiple committees. She is a board member and volunteer with Ten Yad and JET Ottawa. Sari and her family love life in Alta Vista and can be found enjoying one of the neighbourhood’s beautiful parks almost every Shabbos afternoon.
Sari can be reached via email at sari@cmhottawa.com.
Jennahfer LaFreniere - Head of IT, Marketing & Communications
Jennahfer has a very diverse educational backgound. She has a BEd Intermediate/Senior Biology & Music, an Honours BSc in Biomedical Scien
ces, a Minor in Health Sciences, and a BA Specialization in Music. She carries a great passion for nutrition and holistic healthy living as shown by her athleticism as a competitive Ultimate Frisbee player in Ottawa—she even aspires to play for Team Canada. Jen also carries a great passion for music through her private instruction as well as her role as Music Director and CEO of Tonal Eclipse, a vocal group she founded in 2019.
Jen has found an amazing and welcoming home with the community here at Machzikei Hadas. In addition to her regular duties, she enjoys running sound (and eating the delicious food!) at events.
Jen can be reached at jennahfer@cmhottawa.com.