JPro Award Winners
Mark Baranek
Jewish Communal Professional Lifetime Achievement Award
A native of Toronto, Canada, Mark attended the Associated Hebrew Day School of Toronto followed by the Community Hebrew Academy of Toronto. He completed his undergraduate work in International Relations at York University in Toronto. Later, he achieved his Master’s Degree in the Horenstein Program from Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts.
In 1983, Mark launched his career as Assistant Director of Education at Temple Emanu-El. He then spent eight years as Director of Education at Temple Samu-El or Olom. In 1997, Mark joined Temple Beth Sholom as the Director of Education and Youth; encompassing education programs from “birth to college.” He has served as Director of Congregational Engagement since 2014.
Mark has been active in the community for many years. He has been the Chair (and Co-Chair in 21-22) of JPRO Miami since 2017. He was a member of the Coalition on Advancement of Jewish Education since 1988 and served on the national board for two years as the Southern Regional Representative. Mark holds a permanent principal’s license from JESNA and a continuing Hebrew teacher’s license from the Miami Board of License. He has been on the National Board of Programming and Engagement Professionals of Reform Judaism since 2016.
Mark has visited Israel many times and has chaperoned numerous teen and adult groups. He lived in Israel in Jerusalem and on Kibbutz Tel-Yitzchak. Since 1992, Mark served 21 times as a Bus Captain on the March of the Living, a two-week journey to Poland and Israel. He's been a volunteer basketball coach at Miami Senior High School since 1988 and his teams have won 8 state championships. Numerous players have gone on to play at the college level and even the NBA including Udonis Haslem, Captain of the Miami Heat.
Mark is lucky to be married to Nava Regev.
Jenine Simon
Jewish Communal Professional of Excellence Award
Jenine Horwich Simon has had a passion for Judaism and education for more than 15 years. From her start in early childhood to her current position as the Director of Programming for the Alper JCC, she has had a Jewish professional journey rich in impact. Growing up as an active member of her USY chapter, Jenine understood how Judaism was not only a religion, but a way of life. With a Master’s Degree in early childhood education from the University of Florida, Jenine returned to Miami to begin her career as a MDCPS VPK teacher, while also working as the Youth Director for her USY chapter.
Since 2016, Jenine has worked at Camp J Miami, served as the Alper JCC ECD Parent Kehillah President, and began working full time as the Director of Youth and Aftercare Programming and Assistant Camp Director. In addition, she was selected as the Jewish Resource Specialist infusing Jewish learning into programs for teachers, students and families in the Alper JCC Early Childhood Development Program. In 2020, Jenine was promoted to her current role as Director of Programming, where she has built multiple community partnerships and engaged new and active families in meaningful Jewish experiences across all denominations of Judaism.
She is also an active member of Bet Shira Congregation, serving on the Executive Board as the Religious School Vice President and on many committees within the synagogue.
Jenine and her husband, Lenny, have been married for almost 15 years and have three beautiful daughters, Ellie, Cassie and Hallie.
