Our Team
Rabbi Ariana Silverman
Ariana Silverman became the rabbi of IADS in 2016. A native of Chicago, she graduated from Harvard University, was ordained by the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, is an alumna of the Wexner Graduate Fellowship Program and CLAL’s Rabbis Without Borders Student Fellowship, and is currently a fellow in the Shalom Hartman Institute’s Rabbinic Leadership Initiative. She has served as a rabbi at multiple congregations and has worked for the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, the Sierra Club, Hazon, and the Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR). In addition to her social justice work in Detroit, she was a CCAR delegate on the Commission on Social Action of Reform Judaism. She has published on topics including food justice, Jewish parenting, theology, and mental health. She has served on multiple boards in Metro Detroit and teaches extensively both locally and nationally. She has lived in 12 cities, but her home in the City of Detroit is where she has lived the longest. She and Justin are the proud parents of Rebecca and August, and the whole family enjoys camping, exploring Detroit, and eating ice cream on Shabbat.
rachel rudman, executive director
Rachel became the executive director of IADS in January 2022. Before coming to IADS, Rachel worked at Temple Beth El in Bloomfield Hills for six years. She holds a Masters from New York University in Jewish Studies, a Bachelors from the University of Michigan in Jewish Studies and Women’s Studies, and a second Masters in Nonprofit Management from Gratz College. She has studied at the Jewish Theological Seminary, Yeshivat Hadar, and Pardes Institute for Jewish Studies. Outside of work, Rachel enjoys spending time with her family, staying active, and obsessively playing NYTimes’ Spelling Bee.
Jaime Bean, Associate Director of Building operations
Jaime joined the IADS team in January 2023. Before joining the IADS team, Jaime spent five years working at the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit, most recently as the Associate Director of the Israel and Overseas Department. She holds a Masters in Social Work from the University of Michigan, where she studied Organizational Change and Non-Profit Management, and was part of the Jewish Communal Leadership Program (JCLP). Jaime is passionate about relationship building, programming and is always available for a coffee date! Jaime loves spending time with her husband Ethan, their daughter Josie, and their dog Zeef, as well as cooking, being outdoors and playing board games.
Jeremy Soper, program & engagement coordinator
Jeremy became the Program & Engagement Coordinator of IADS in May 2024. He holds a bachelors in Marketing and Global Supply Chain Management from Wayne State University. While at WSU, he was active at Hillel of Metro Detroit including as the president of Students for Israel. In his free time, Jeremy enjoys making ceramics, finding new bread recipes to try, collecting vinyl records, and hanging out with his cats.
Nicole Ellefson, Dor Hadash Director
Nicole Ellefson is a native Chicagoan. Since 1993, she has lived in East Lansing, MI and has continued her work in the field of education, attaining an elementary education teaching certificate and a master’s in curriculum and teaching from Michigan State University. Her interest in progressive, child-centered ways of teaching started with her work as an assistant teacher at a Montessori school and continued through her public school teaching, and later through research and program development work at MSU. Nicole’s research in education has focused on how to best support educators in changing their practice. Her educational program development work includes the educational model of a bi-cultural, bi-lingual Chinese immersion program that has centers in both Lansing and Beijing. Nicole served as director of her small reconstructionist community’s religious school from 2015-2025, where she has included aspects of Montessori. Nicole is delighted to join the Dor Hadash team. When she’s not working, Nicole takes classes to become a Jewish spiritual guide through the Aleph Ordination Program, reads, walks her dogs, and dreams about the next time she can swim in Lake Michigan.
HEATHER GALE, Associate Director of Office Management
Heather became the Associate Director of Office Management in February 2024. She has been working in Jewish education for over a decade and is excited to bring her experience to the Detroit Jewish community. Heather was previously the Director of Youth Education at Beth Israel in Ann Arbor, and at Machar in Washington, DC. Heather loves Judaism and is passionate about passing along that joy and excitement to the next generation. She holds a MS in Law Enforcement Intelligence & Analysis from MSU and BA from MSU in International Studies. In her free time, Heather enjoys fostering dogs, traveling, and trying to find the best restaurants in Detroit.
Mara abramson, cantorial soloist
Mara joined IADS as cantorial soloist in June 2024. Mara grew up attending Beth Israel Congregation in Ann Arbor, obtained a degree in Women’s and Gender Studies from Michigan State University, and subsequently moved to New Orleans to serve with Avodah: The Jewish Service Corps. Mara’s Judaism is rooted in the tradition of Tikkun Olam and she views the act of sharing music and song as part of her service to others. Mara has previously worked with Temple Beth El in Flint as their high holiday cantor and is elated to join the team at IADS and continue with this line of work closer to home. When she’s not at IADS, Mara can be found writing/recording/performing her original music, schmoozing with friends at Belle Isle, attending live shows and supporting local artists, and catching up on the newest episodes of The Real Housewives.