Board of Directors

The Board of Directors is the managing body and trustee of the Congregation and is responsible for assuring the financial health of Rodef Shalom.

The Board of Directors and committees at Rodef Shalom are vital to the health and growth of the congregation. There are currently over 20 committees covering everything from membership, marketing and finance to ritual, education, programming, and social action. 

The Rodef Shalom culture is one of cooperation, collaboration and community input. Through participation on the board or committees, our members have an opportunity to share their voices concerning plans, programs and policies of our synagogue and to participate in its future.

The board and committees, in partnership with our staff, help accomplish the mission of our congregation.

Rodef Shalom Board of Directors

David Seligman 

I grew up in Denver, but I did not attend Rodef as a child. When I moved to Massachusetts for college and law school, I was convinced that I would never move back. But after my wife Izzi and I had our first daughter (Ruthie, 8), while I was working as a consumer protection lawyer in Boston, we began to see the benefits of being closer to home. In 2015, we moved back to Denver, where we had two more daughters (Miriam, 6, and Dalia, 3). I am a worker and consumer rights lawyer and the Executive Director of Towards Justice, a non-profit legal organization that principally represents workers in impact litigation across the country to address systemic injustices in the marketplace and abuses of corporate power. I also advocate for policy reforms at the city, state, and federal levels. I love the Buffalo Bills, the Colorado Rockies, ice cream, and whitefish salad—but more than anything, I love my family and our three energetic, curly-haired, little daughters. Even if you haven’t met me yet (and you will!), you’ve likely seen them around shul.

Aviva Pearlman

My husband and I moved from Chicago to Denver in 2008. We intended to stay for only one year, but quickly grew to love Denver and decided to put down roots. Denver’s warm, welcoming community, sunshine, and easy mountain access captured our hearts. I live in Hilltop with my husband, Nosson, and our two daughters, Gila and Tova. I studied Environmental Science at the University of Michigan, and earned my MSEd from Northwestern University. I’ve taught middle school science for the last two decades. I also enjoy downhill and cross-country skiing, biking, hiking, great music, and travel.  I’m at Rodef most Shabbat mornings with my family. I’d love for you to come over and say hello.

Adam Gilden

Adam is a physician at CU Medicine. His parents have been members of Rodef since 1985 and he had his bar mitzvah at Rodef in 1986. He joined Rodef in 2018 and both his daughters had their bat mitzvahs at the shul. He served as treasurer of Congregation Kol Tzedek in Philadelphia from 2005-2008.  He volunteers on the security committee at Rodef and also is very active doing education and advocacy work in his professional field of obesity medicine. He enjoys coming to Rodef because of the incredible dedication of the clergy and staff and of the many volunteers who help lead services, do social action, and organize holidays and other events at the synagogue. 

Traci Bekelman 

Traci is an anthropologist and a professor in the Colorado School of Public Health. She joined the Rodef Shalom community in 2008, and the Board of Directors in 2022. She has been an active member of the Education committee and the Disability, Awareness and Inclusion committee. Traci and her husband joined Rodef Shalom because they love the haimish atmosphere and strong sense of community. All of her children attended preschool and had their B'nai Mitzvah at Rodef.

Ariella Assouline

Ariella  (she/her) is honored to be a part of the Board at Rodef Shalom. She is the Manager of Programs & Operations at It Gets Better, where she manages the organization's largest grant opportunity distributing funds to schools across the country for LGBTQ+ youth empowerment. She has her B.A. in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and Film, Television, and Interactive Media Studies from Brandeis University. Ariella is very active in the LGBTQ+ Jewish community in Denver, including sitting on the committee for LGBTQ+ inclusion at the JCC. She is passionate about the intersection of media, LGBTQ+ culture and advocacy, intersectional feminism, and Jewish values and culture.

Rena Dulberg

Originally from Albuquerque, Rena now considers Denver home. Rena received her BA in Psychology from Occidental College and an MA in Conflict Resolution from University of Denver.  After nearly 10 years in higher education as both faculty and administrative leadership, she served as VP of Community Engagement at ThinkImpact, an international social enterprise. Later, she worked as Innovation Lead of Entrepreneurs & Ventures at UpStart Labs. She became a certified Design Thinking facilitator through the Stanford D School and in 2017 and later founded BOOSH LLC, where she serves as Lead Consultant. BOOSH supports nonprofit organizations with innovation through Human-Centered Design. Rena currently serves as Education Committee Chair and sits on the Board of Trustees for Congregation Rodef Shalom. In her spare time, she and her husband are designing their dream home and wrangling two kids, ages 9 and 6. 

Nathaniel Edelman

Nate is originally from Memphis, TN and moved to Denver with his wife Anna and son Sam in 2022. He earned his PhD in genomics studying butterflies, but later transitioned to humans and now works at Children's Hospital Colorado as a Genomic Data Scientist. New to Denver, Nate and his family have found a home at Rodef Shalom where Sam now attends preschool and loves parading with the Torah on Shabbat. 

Mollie Gilbert Brody

Mollie is thrilled to be joining the Rodef Shalom board after being so warmly welcomed into the community when her family moved to Denver in 2021. Mollie grew up in Denver and was confirmed at Rodef, before leaving Colorado to spend time in New York, Michigan and Israel. Mollie is now a faculty member with the University of Colorado School of Nursing where she practices as a Nurse Midwife. Mollie lives with her husband, Aaron, and their four children, all regulars at Rodef. Outside of shul and work, Mollie’s interests include exploring the Colorado mountains, attending shows at the DCPA, visiting museums, gluten-free baking and glass blowing.

Ray Merenstein

Ray has over three decades of experience in fundraising, public relations, and advocacy benefiting not-for-profit organizations.  After a decade of health care advocacy in Washington, DC, he served as Vice President at Children’s Hospital Colorado Foundation.  He started RDM Communications in 2005 where he has served as lead fundraising consultant for education, environmental, health, housing, and human service organizations.  He holds a B.A. in American Studies from Tulane University and an M.A. in Mass Communication from the University of Florida.  He and wife, Ilana Steinberg, are Colorado natives with one son and two daughters.  They share a passion for social justice, mental health, travel, NPR’s Sunday Puzzle and desserts. (Ray especially likes lemon meringue and key lime pies.)

Chagit Moriah-Gibor

Chagit joined the Denver community in early 2022 after relocating from Israel, where she led the Innovation Unit for Jerusalem's education district. With a recently completed Master's in Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Education from Hebrew University, Chagit brings a passion for educational advancement to Colorado. Each Shabbat, she can be found at Rodef Shalom with her three children - Naama, Amital, and Uriya, where they're joined by her husband Aryeh for Kiddush. Outside of her professional pursuits and writing endeavors, Chagit finds joy in hiking Colorado's trails, engaging in continuous learning, and connecting with friends.

Aaron Pratt

Aaron Pratt primarily grew up in Louisville, just outside of Boulder. Aaron and his wife met in law school, and they now have full lives raising their two children, attending shul, and being in the company of friends and family. Aaron is an attorney with the Colorado Attorney General’s Office where he has the good fortune of representing clients that have a mission to improve the lives of Colorado’s most vulnerable and needy.  Aaron very much appreciates Rodef Shalom because of its welcoming and warm community. His two children attend the R-school. Aaron is grateful to be part of the Board. 

Rachel Rubinstein

While at the University of Florida, Rachel embarked on her first study abroad to Israel, igniting her love of travel and Jewish connection. She completed a Masters in International Business, launching her to France and Washington, D.C., where she became a Cessna pilot and started a tutoring business. Rachel’s professional career led her to Colorado in 2011. In Denver, she met her husband and earned an MS in Mechanical Engineering specializing in Energy and Environment. She has over 20 years of Program Construction Management experience on government and school projects. Rachel’s family became members of Rodef when their son began preschool. Now 9 years old, you’ll often see him with his guitar after his R-school role as a student lay leader. The Rubinstein family greatly values the shul community and Rachel is grateful to be a part of the Board.

Myles Steiner

Myles has lived in Denver since 2006, after spending a year in Alaska and seven years in California. He grew up in Toronto, Canada. Myles has a PhD in Applied Physics from Stanford University and is a scientist at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory where he develops high-efficiency solar cells. Myles is at Rodef Shalom most Shabbat mornings, along with his wife Amy and daughters Julie and Emily, and has been a board member since 2023. When not working, Myles enjoys biking, hiking and skiing, learning and hanging out with friends and family, or just reading a great novel. 

Elly Valas

I’m Elly Valas and I’m a Denver native. My parents, Harry and Lee Valas, were founding members of Rodef Shalom. My father and some of his friends even laid the tile in what is now the Mizel Museum building. I was a retailer for many years and then became a small business consultant. Since retiring six years ago I have been raising puppies that eventually become service dogs for Canine Companions. As a passionate traveler I’ve been to all seven continents, over 35 countries and 49 states in the US. I just returned from Iceland and Greenland. My next travel goal is to visit as many of the 439 US National Parks Sites as I can. I love the vibrant multi-generational make-up of Rodef. I smile at the young families and their children filling the building on Shabbat and holidays. We definitely exemplify Dor l’Dor—from Generation to Generation.

Seth Weintraub

Seth and his wife, Debre, came to Denver from Los Angeles in 2022 shortly after retirement. Why Denver? Their three adult children are here, including grandchildren. Seth’s long career in finance spanned both for-profit and not-for-profit organizations. He served as Director of Finance at the Wonderful Company, and as CFO for the Jewish Federation Council of Los Angeles, the L.A. Opera, and The Colburn School. His hobbies include fly fishing, hiking, and pickleball.

Past Board Presidents

Myron Wilkoff
Jerome Kesselman
Tibor Stern
Sol Cersonsky
Harry Pells
Robert J. Pells
Jonas  Kiken
Walter Stark
Robert Rottman
Leonard Rivkin
Isadore Katz
Marvin Shamon
Noah Perlis
Richard Martin
Steve Zimmerman
Allan Rosenbaum
Marilyn Bogan
Elaine Tinter
Roni Ogin
Debbie Ginsburg
Barbara Shecter
Della Levy
Barbara Robbins
Andrew Brock
Scott Fisher
Ron Rubin
Carl Boymel
Marty Zimmerman
Chandra Rosenthal
Marcus Oginsky​