How TanenbaumCHAT’s Student Council Fosters the Jewish Leaders of Tomorrow
TanenbaumCHAT’s Student Council plays an exceptionally meaningful role in the life of the school. From building school spirit and fostering a sense of community to planning events and problem solving, Student Council members—especially its Presidents—assume vital leadership roles within and beyond the school, guided by Jewish pride and values.
“At TanenbaumCHAT, we don’t just teach about leadership—we cultivate it,” says Principal Renee Cohen ’96. “Our student leaders are the driving force behind our powerful sense of belonging and community, learning the necessity of teamwork, the art of public speaking, and the profound importance of responsibility as they represent the entire student body with poise and confidence.”
The skills honed on Student Council—whether in team leadership, public speaking, innovation, resilience, grit, or community-building—are the attributes that propel TanenbaumCHAT graduates through university and into the professional world.
It’s something Cohen knows firsthand. After all, she’s an alum, former Student Council Vice President, parent of two graduates, and Principal. Over the years, Cohen has shepped nachas (taken pride) in the students who have made an indelible mark on the school community, both while at TanenbaumCHAT and in the years afterward.
Josh Sable ’90, Co-Director of Student Activities, oversees the robust Student Council programming, including more than 100 school clubs and committees, spirit days, assemblies, carnivals, lunchtime events, fundraisers, and school shows. Sable says the Student Council doesn’t just organize programs; rather, it’s the school’s Memory-Making Machine.
“Each day, our goal is to create positive memories for students and staff through a wide variety of creative programs, special events, and kindness initiatives,” says Sable. “Our overarching objective is to give our student body a reason to want to come back to school tomorrow. It’s the Student Council’s job to ensure that something special, fun, memorable, and meaningful is happening every week of the school year.”
While Council members might arrive with a certain skill set, they also have the opportunity to develop new ones. They learn about budgeting, publicity, program planning, collaboration, and communication. Adds Sable, “They support one another by making choices about when to step up and when to step back. We emphasize the importance of the fine details that make each program unique.”
Council members look forward to attending the Ontario Student Leadership Conference (OSLC) in Niagara Falls, where, along with 2,000 student leaders from across Ontario, they attend workshops led by world-class speakers. “Our Council always returns to school inspired and refreshed,” says Sable. This event helps set the tone for the type of leaders that we hope to have in our school community.”
Current Co-Presidents Rachel D. and Evan U. are excited for the year ahead as they work together to serve their school community. “I love seeing students come together, celebrating our traditions, and finding ways to make everyday experiences at school more meaningful,” says Rachel, who has been involved in Student Council since Grade 9. “Over the years, that love has grown into a passion for creating positive change, building a sense of community, and helping every student feel included and inspired.”
Rachel and Evan care deeply about fostering community, ruach (spirit), and kindness, and they constantly push each other to do their best. They take pride in their roles as Jewish leaders and advocates. The Council works closely with the Shlichim and the Israeli Engagement Committee to plan meaningful programs that strengthen Jewish identity, raise awareness, and inspire pride among students.
This aspect is especially meaningful to Evan. “As a Student Council President, Madrich (leader), and observant Jew myself, I am always looking for opportunities to get TanenbaumCHAT students more involved and to learn more about their Jewish identities.”
“Student Council is an unparalleled way to have a voice, be a voice for others, and have an immediate and lasting impact on a place you love.”
Simon Wolle ‘90
Evan says the Shabbatons, meaningful overnight events that bring students together to share in their values and heritage, are a great outlet for this kind of learning. “The way that Shabbatons allow and encourage students, even those who rarely engage with the religious aspects of their lives, to experience Shabbat is truly spectacular.” He adds, “Every spirit day, fundraiser, or lunchtime event I carry out brings me immense fulfillment, knowing that I am making a difference for students at TanenbaumCHAT.”
With an important year ahead of them, the Co-Presidents are grateful to their many mentors—Sable and former presidents—who show them what it means to lead with care, creativity, and dedication. About 18 past presidents, representing the 1970s to 2020s, recently attended the Past Presidents Breakfast. It was a chance to offer advice and words of wisdom, reflect on how the experience shaped them, and share how being president impacted their future life choices. The event demonstrated the immense sense of pride alumni feel in being part of the school community, even long after graduation.
Adam Kaplan ’02 fondly remembers his time as Student Council President. “It was a truly incredible experience. It taught me how strong and passionate the Toronto Jewish community is, and the impact that we can make together,” he says. One of his proudest accomplishments was helping the school raise money for an ambulance in Israel and uniting all of TanenbaumCHAT’s feeder Jewish Day Schools by creating a science fair for incoming Grade 9 classes.
Kevin Jacobs ’12 remembers learning to take chances as President. “When you’ve got a community like TanenbaumCHAT, it’s easy to take risks and see what happens. We got a bunch of teachers to grow moustaches for Movember and raised about $4,000. It was a little ridiculous and the staches weren’t all the prettiest, but the staff leaned into it and we had a blast for a great cause.” He credits his experience as President with shaping his life afterward. “I’ve pursued a fairly unconventional career path in start-ups and taken on a variety of side quests because Sable and Student Council allowed me to embrace my quirks instead of ignoring them.”
Simon Wolle ’90, now CEO of B’nai Brith Canada, also got his start as a Jewish community leader when he served as Student Council President at TanenbaumCHAT. “Student Council is an unparalleled way to have a voice, be a voice for others, and have an immediate and lasting impact on a place you love,” says Wolle, who loved his time at the school so much that he returned to teach and expand the school’s law program. He says the honour and privilege of serving on the Student Council remains a bond that connects presidents for life.
The legacy of Student Council extends far beyond assemblies and spirit days. It’s where future leaders learn to listen, to take initiative, and to inspire others. Through every brainstorming session, fundraiser, and heartfelt speech, students learn how to turn vision into action, collaborate toward shared goals, and lead with integrity and empathy—qualities that define effective leadership in any field. More than that, TanenbaumCHAT’s Student Council nurtures a distinctly Jewish model of leadership—one rooted in community, compassion, and tikkun olam (repairing the world). No matter what path graduates take, they carry forward the lessons they learned here: that true leadership is service, that success is measured not only by achievement but by the difference one makes in others’ lives, and that a strong, values-driven voice can inspire a generation.
