Board of Directors, Israel
Board of Directors, North America
Chair: Dammara Markowitz
Treasurer: Nathaniel Jhirad
Secretary: Mark S. Cohen
Immediate Past Chair:Brad Grob
Alan Adler
John H. Corre*
Michael Gillis*
Brian Glenville*
Hayim Herring
Morlie Levin*
Sherwin B. Pomerantz*
Fern Reiss
Audrey Kaplan Scher*
Jonathan Tassoff
Denis Weil
* Past Chair
Ex Officio Student & Alumni Members
Non-voting members of the Pardes Combined Boards
Rabbi Mike Nash — Alumni Representative (BMP 2011 – 2014, Summer 2013, 2024)
Rebecca Cruz — Student Representative (BMP 2025–2027)
Founder: Michael Swirsky
Legal Advisor: Richard Aron
Chair: Karen Rivo (see bio below)
Vice Chair: Michael Gordon
Treasurer: Jason Kravitz
Secretary: Elaine Hochberg
Immediate Past Chair: Mark S. Freedman
Thomas K. Barad*
Deborah Denenberg
Jessica Fain
Rabbi David Gedzelman
Elaine Hochberg
Daniel Krasner
Jason Kravitz
David Kuney
Mark Levenfus*
Suzanne Wachsstock
Libby Werthan*
Melissa Werthan
* Past Chair
Dammara Markowitz - Chair, Israel
Karen Rivo - Chair, North America

Dammara Markowitz is a dynamic leader and educator originally from Canada, with deep expertise in Jewish education and a passion for cultivating pride in Jewish heritage and knowledge. She serves as Israel Board Chair of the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies, bringing her strategic vision and deep commitment to Jewish learning to the role.
A Wexner Heritage Fellow and a member of JFNA’s National Young Leadership Cabinet, Dammara also sits on the boards of The Jewish Education Project and Mem Global, and serves on UJA-NY’s Jewish and Israeli Committee. In 2023, she was celebrated as Board Honouree at The Jewish Education Project’s Spring Gala for her leadership and contributions to Jewish education.
Dammara earned a Master’s in Jewish Education from Hebrew College and completed the Pardes Day School Educators Program, receiving an Advanced Certificate in Jewish Studies. She previously served as Head of Elementary Jewish Studies in Manhattan and has been recognized as one of The Jewish Week’s “36 Under 36” and a recipient of The Jewish Education Project’s Robert M. Sherman Young Pioneers Award.
Blending educational leadership, governance, and experiential design, Dammara has created initiatives that reimagine Jewish learning in modern contexts. She founded Jewish Cocktails, an innovative project that connects Torah and heritage through mixology, and is launching a fragrance gallery and workshop space in Israel dedicated to exploring scent in Jewish history, ritual, and identity.
Based in Israel and New York, Dammara continues to lead at the intersection of Jewish education, governance, and innovation, ensuring Jewish learning remains dynamic and relevant, and empowering future generations to carry Jewish heritage forward with confidence
Karen serves as Chair of the North American Board of Pardes, bringing decades of leadership in Jewish communal life and a deep commitment to Israel and Jewish learning.
A longtime Pardes supporter and learner, Karen has participated in Pardes Learning Seminars alongside her husband, Marc, and was first introduced to Pardes through her daughter Jessica’s participation in the Pardes Center for Jewish Educators.
Karen previously served on the North American Board of the Union for Reform Judaism, where she founded and chaired its Israel Leadership Network, and as President of Temple Beth Sholom in Miami Beach. A retired registered nurse with a master’s in health administration, Karen is passionate about advancing Pardes’ next chapter and expanding its impact on Jewish communities worldwide.
