The Young Adult Division (YAD) builds an inclusive and connected community of young Jewish Coloradans (aged 21-45) through fun, relevant, and meaningful volunteer, social, educational, and philanthropic activities.

Meet the newest members of YAD Executive Committee!

JEWISHcolorado’s Young Adult Division Executive Committee is the leading voice for young Jewish adults between the ages of 21 and 45 throughout Colorado. By using our LIVE, GIVE, LEAD structure, Executive Committee Members work closely with the YAD Chair and JEWISHcolorado staff to guide YAD’s objectives, steward our community, and serve as representatives of both YAD and JEWISHcolorado in the greater Colorado Jewish community. 

Tamara Berkman

After serving as a YAD Ambassador in 2022-2023, Tamara Berkman joins YAD Executive Committee as Shabbat Chair. She is a Colorado native with a passion for community engagement and a gift for inspiring others through her voice and creativity. When it comes to socializing Tamara fits the Denver-vibe enjoying activities like walking around all the local parks, drinking flights at breweries, hiking, enjoying a meal at a restaurant, or chatting in a coffee shop. At home, you will most likely find Tamara working on a craft project with her dog, Sheba, cuddled up beside her, in the kitchen trying out a new recipe, or contemplating the best lighting for the plants she amassed during pandemic life. Tamara’s goals involve tuning into her passions to create a well-rounded life where she can have a fulfilling career, a healthy lifestyle, strong relationships, and make a difference in her community.

Nate Shull

Nate Shull joins YAD Executive Committee as Volunteers Chair after serving as a YAD Ambassador in 2022-2023. He made Colorado his home back in 2012 when he moved from Florida to attend UC Denver’s Master of Urban and Regional Planning program for graduate school. Heavily involved in Jewish activities throughout his upbringing, Nate found it an easy transition into the Jewish Colorado Community, taking on such roles as YAD Shabbat Ritual Chair in 2013 and 2014, YJP/Chabad Volunteer in 2016, and most recently YAD Ambassador in 2022. Now an Economic Development Specialist down in Colorado Springs, Nate is looking to branch out and begin a new chapter of his life. His passions include travel and adventure, playing piano, staying active, and rooting for the Denver Broncos.

Meet your 2023-2024 YAD Ambassadors!

Our Ambassadors cover a broad spectrum of demographics from single professionals to young parents and all sorts of other identities. They’re planning some super fun activities just for you! Look out for these get-togethers throughout the year on our YAD Facebook page, YAD’s newsletter, and in JEWISHcolorado’s weekly Upcoming email. You can sign up for our digital communications here.

Jack Brooks

Jack Brooks is originally from San Francisco, California, and has made Boulder his home since the Fall of 2021 after moving from Tel Aviv. Jack manufactures Turkish Delights for his confectionary business, Shmelke’s, and is excited for its fast-approaching launch. In his free time, Jack enjoys cooking (he once did so professionally), weightlifting, learning new songs on his guitar, and adventuring with his dog, Floppy. He’s looking forward to partnering with YAD and facilitating connections among Jewish Coloradans from all walks of life.

Zack Flagel

Zack Flagel is originally from Atlanta and moved to Denver in June 2023. He is a sports lawyer by day and an adventure junkie by life. In his free time, you can find him hiking, camping, attending country concerts, and watching Survivor. Zack is excited for a great year ahead with YAD!

Avital Jacobs

Avital, sometimes known as Ava, has been living in Denver since 2018. She grew up in Seattle, Washington and spent five years living In Israel, half of which she spent serving in the IDF in the Combat Search and Rescue Brigade. Avital is passionate about the Jewish community and her Jewish identity and feels her best when she is busy and able to help others. Some of Avital’s hobbies include working with animals, camping, live-music, and snowboarding!

Ike Mamiye

Ikey Mamiye has been a proud Denver resident since May 2020. Originally from Brooklyn, NY, he has accepted that crowded ski slopes replace crowded subway cars. He’s deeply involved in the Jewish community and is constantly looking for new opportunities to help people connect. Ikey is always up for an adventure, watching sports, live shows & gaming. He is thrilled for an opportunity to play a bigger role in bringing the Jewish community together, fostering a sense of unity, belonging, and shared purpose.

Daniel Pitrone

Daniel Pitrone was born in sunny San Diego but grew up in cloudy Ohio. In mid-2007, at 20 years old, he relocated to Colorado Springs and a year later met his now wife, Ronit, and they got married in August of 2011. Daniel and Ronit now have 4 children, are expecting their 5th in September of 2023, and attend Temple Shalom in Colorado Springs. Daniel is the Temple Shalom Next Generation Coordinator, and while the group is affiliated with Temple Shalom its purpose is to create community for the younger Jewish community in Colorado Springs and Southern Colorado regardless of their community affiliation or involvement. Daniel has been a licensed Realtor in Colorado since 2011, a field he absolutely loves and is grateful to work in each day and year. Family, work, and Temple life occupy most of his time but beyond that, Daniel likes to work in his yard, travel, hike, camp, ski, and check out craft breweries. Daniel is excited to continue growing the SoCo young Jewish community and collaborate with YAD and JEWISHcolorado to build meaningful relationships up and down the front range and across Colorado in the Jewish community.

Omer Shachar

Omer is originally from Israel and has been living in Denver for the last 2 years, after 4 years in NYC. He decided to move to Denver to be closer to the mountains to enjoy all that Colorado has to offer: hiking, climbing, biking, and rafting in the Rocky Mountains or as a skydiving coach above them. When he’s not out on an adventure, Omer might be found practicing Capoeira. He works in tech as a business operations consultant. Omer is grateful for the friends he has made in the Denver Community and is excited to bring others together as a 2023 YAD Ambassador.

Lauren Stern

Lauren, originally from Houston, Texas, traded in her cowboy boots for hiking boots when she moved to the mountains in 2022. She’s now proudly calling Denver home, where she’s making waves as the founder of a successful tech consulting group and local real estate investor. While climbing and biking might not come naturally to her, she’s determined to embrace the outdoors with a dash of humor and a whole lot of adventure. Outside of work, Lauren’s adventurous spirit takes flight as she jet-sets across the globe, having explored over 30 countries and counting. A culinary aficionado, she not only loves cooking but finds immense joy in hosting open invitation Shabbat dinners, bringing people together to celebrate and connect.

YAD would like to thank our 2022-2023 Ambassadors: Jason Atkins, Tamara Berkman, Nathan Docter, Brynne Elozory, Josh Levy, Sydney Levy, Nico Lewis, Genna Morton, Sofi Pechner, Nate Shull, Eduardo Sigal, and Naomi Singer.