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Darkhei Noam is led entirely by a group of lay leaders including its co-chairs, board members, gabbaim, laining and davening coordinators. We strive to make Darkhei Noam a warm and inclusive spiritual home and encourage everyone to introduce him or herself to our lay leaders at kiddush on Shabbat.
Allie Alperovich has been a member of the Board since 2007 and served as co-chair of the minyan from 2010-2012 and 2019-2020. Allie is partner in the New York office of Ropes and Gray. She and her husband, Yuri Simon, are the parents of two wonderful daughters. Allie also serves on the executive committee of JOFA (Jewish Orthodox Feminist Alliance).
Rabba Wendy Amsellem is a long-time member of Darkkhei Noam and joined the Board in 2020. She teaches ‬Talmud and Halakha at Maharat, is the Director of the Beit Midrash Program, and is the Editor of Yehivat Maharat's Keren Journal. She is the former Director of the Dr. Beth Samuels Drisha High School Program, was the Rosh Kollel of the Drisha July Kollel, and is an alumna of the Drisha Scholars Circle. She has been a Wexner Graduate Fellow and a Mandel Jerusalem Fellow.
Emmanuel Bloch has been a member of Darkhei Noam since 2012 and joined the board in 2020. Emmanuel is married to Sarah Bloch-Elkouby, who heads the Hospitality Committee, and they have three children - Tsofia, Liorah, and Oren. Emmanuel is an attorney-at-law and a doctoral student in Jewish Philosophy.
Phil Gassel joined the Board in 2015. Phil was present and helped lead Darkhei Noam's first service, and never left. In recent years, he helped to organize and currently serves as co-chair of DN's Chevra Kadisha. Phil is married to Molly Pollak who served as a member of the Board from its inception for more than a decade. They have three grown children and one granddaughter, Claire, who frequently attends Darkhei Noam.
Bruce Goldberger served as Co-Chair of Darkhei Noam from 2011-13 and currently chairs its Space Committee and is a member of its Bar/Bat Mitzvah Committee. Before joining the Board in 2009, he coordinated children's programming for the shul. Bruce is a compensation and benefits attorney with the law firm of Paul Weiss and is married to Esther Sperber, an architect, and they have two daughters.
Ozzie Haller joined the board in 2016. She is involved with the DN Shiva Committee and an ongoing supporter of the Scholar In Residence program. Ozzie is a psychologist in private practice in New Jersey.
Talia Hurwich (Co-Chair) joined the board in 2018. She serves as a gabbai, is a member of the hospitality committee, and former davening coordinator. During the week, Talia works as a Doctoral Candidate at NYU in Education and Jewish Studies. There, she researches and has published several works on comics, graphic novels, and game design in the educational setting (including, but not limited to, Jewish settings) and teaches philosophy to undergraduates. In her spare time, Talia enjoys reading fiction, playing games, and spinning fire.
Abby Knopp has been a member of Darkhei Noam since 2005 and joined the board in 2012. She served as co-chair from 2014-2016. Abby is married to Fred Slomovic and has three boys - Etan, Ari, and Noam. Abby is Chief Operating Officer at The Jewish Education Project.
Michelle Kraus has been a member of Darkhei Noam since 2015, joined the Board in 2020, and is serving as the chair of the Bikkur Cholim committee. Michelle is a social worker who provides advocacy services for children and adults with disabilities in a public interest law firm.
Tali Rosenblatt-Cohen joined the board in 2016. In addition to her service to Darkhei Noam, Tali also serves as Chair of the Board of Trustees for Beit Rabban Day School.
Rabbi Mikey Stein joined the Board in 2020. He is a faculty member at the Abraham Joshua Heschel High School and received ordination from YCT. He and his wife, Shevy Baskin, are parents of Ezra.
Naomi Steinberger has been a board member since 2020. She has been a member since the inception of Darkhei Noam. Naomi is co-chair of the mix and match lunches/dinners, is a member of the scholars in residence committee and the COVID-19 planning committee. Naomi is Director of Library Services at The Library of The Jewish Theological Seminary. She is married to Chaim, who served on the board and was co-chair in 2009-2011. They have two grown children and two grandchildren.
Sara Timen has been a member of Darkhei Noam since 2014 and joined the Board in 2019. Sara is a middle school teacher at the Abraham Joshua Heschel School. She and her husband, Seth Wolfman, are proud parents of two amazing daughters. Sara coordinates children's programming for the soul.
Paul Wachtel (Treasurer) joined the Board in 2018 and serves on the space and by-laws committees. He has been a Professor of Economics at the Stern School of Business at NYU for over 45 years, is married to Claire, has two grown children and four grandchildren.
Avi Zollman (Co-Chair) has been a member of Darkhei Noam since 2009 and a member of the board since 2018. He's married to Sarah, and neither of them were involved in the shul's move to their block of 85th Street, though they both deeply appreciate it. Professionally, he works on large-scale communications and engagement strategy.