Gala Honorees

Helene Reisler

Rachel & David Milner Gillers

David and Rachel Milner Gillers initially visited Ohev Sholom during the First Aliyah of the shul’s revitalization.  Their brother and sister-in-law had just moved to the neighborhood, all services were held in the chapel, and strollers were few and far between. They had lived in Massachusetts for nearly eight years and, as organizers of a lay-led minyan for most of that time, were ready to be part of a “real shul.”

Rachel grew up in the Beth Sholom congregation in Potomac, an eclectic, warm community that today is one of Ohev’s strongest sister synagogues. David was born in Tuscon, AZ, and after moving to Boston at age eight got some funny looks when he showed up to shul in a bolo tie and cowboy boots. They are perpetually inspired by their parents’ commitment and dedication to their respective Jewish communities.  

Rachel teaches at Georgetown University and consults in the areas of mediation and negotiation, and David is a lawyer for a Senate Committee. When not in shul, Rachel and David are chasing their spirited boys, Yedidya, Ami, and Cole.

The Milner Gillers' talents can be seen throughout the Ohev community. Rachel heads the Women's Tefillah Committee organizing davening and leyning opportunities for women and girls. She shares her love of music (and her skills on the drums) with our youth programs, musical performances and women's choir. In addition to serving as a regular Baal Tefillah, David helped start the Ohev Cub Scout Pack, served on the inaugural Beltway Vaad Lay Advisory Committee, and advocates for the Shepherd Park neighborhood. 

They feel so fortunate to live in a place of radical chesed where we celebrate and embrace difference, where the longtime unofficial chazzan is a world-renowned immunologist, and where the Makom founder cultivates future Maharats and statespeople. Although they haven’t yet recovered from the disappearance of the Blairs pool, this is the community of their dreams.