Site Name

Rabbi Dave Siegel

Rabbi Dave Siegel grew up in Massapequa, New York in Long Island. As a teenager, he was an active member and officer of METNY United Synagogue Youth (USY). After graduating Massapequa High School, he received his BA in Politics, Philosophy, and Law/History from Binghamton University and has received masters degrees from both New York University's Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service and the Jewish Theological Seminary's William Davidson Graduate School of Jewish Education. Before attending JTS, Dave worked as the Director of Special Projects at the 92nd Street Y. During his time in Rabbinical School Dave focused on leadership and professional development in the Jewish community.  He has also served in leadership positions at Camp Ramah in the Berkshires, the Foundation for Jewish Camp, and United Synagogue Youth.  Dave is currently the Executive Director of Hofstra University Hillel and lives in Forest Hills, New York with his wife Nicole and children Jake and Anna.

Rabbi Meir Mitelman

A native Houstonian and proud alum of the University of Texas, Rabbi Meir (“Rabs”) continues to be an enthusiastic Longhorns fan.

He loves hiking in the national parks out west and taking lots of pictures of their mountains, lakes, waterfalls, and wildlife.  Rabbi Meir also enjoys tossing a Frisbee around, playing volleyball and guitar, and shmoozing with students.   

He earned his M.S. in Education, Masters of Social Work, and rabbinic ordination from Yeshiva University and was recently honored with the Advisor of the Year Award by Hofstra’s Student Government Association.

Mara Ganz

Rabbi Lyle Rothman

Rabbi Lyle Rothman, a native Long Islander, was raised in East Meadow, NY, and graduated from Hofstra University with a B.A. in Jewish Studies and a double minor in Philosophy and Religion in 2004.  After college, Rabbi Rothman lived and worked in Israel as a madrich (counselor) and social activities coordinator on Carmel, a first-year college program with the Reform Movement at the Leo Baeck Education Center and University of Haifa. During his time as a rabbinical and education student, Rabbi Rothman was privileged to serve as a rabbinic intern at Columbia/Barnard Hillel, a teacher at Congregation Rodeph Sholom in Manhattan, a student rabbi at the Har Tikvah Congregation in Brampton, Ontario, and the rabbinic intern at Hofstra Hillel.  He spent a summer as a chaplain intern at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, and spent two summers as the rabbinic resident at Temple Emanu-El of East Meadow.

As part of Rabbi Rothman's commitment to interdenominational and interfaith work, he has participated in Rav Siach, an interdenominational rabbinical student seminar in Jerusalem and traveled to Israel with Auburn Theological Seminary and the American Jewish Committee on a Protestant/Jewish seminarian dialogue trip.  He was selected to be part of the 2011-2012 CLAL Rabbis Without Borders Student Fellowship, an interdenominational fellowship which trains clergy to be more creative in teaching and preaching Jewish wisdom.

In May 2012 Rabbi Rothman was ordained from Hebrew Union College-JIR and received his MA in Religious Education.  He currently serves as the Director of Youth Engagement / Rabbi at Congregation Rodeph Sholom in New York City.  When not learning or working, he can be found watching Fringe, Glee, British comedy, and even cooking.  He loves to meet new people and talk about Shabbat, Jewish life at Hofstra and just about anything.  Rabbi Rothman is so excited to remain connected to the Hofstra Hillel community.