Meet The Leadership Team

Margo Hassan

Margo Hassan began her term as the new president of MRT in July 2025. Prior to becoming President, Margo served on the board for several years. Margo and her husband John are retired attorneys who live in Monmouth Beach. Margo worked for over 30 years in the securities industry as a regulatory attorney. John and Margo have one daughter who lives in Washington DC with her husband and several pets!

Stu Tuchband

If you have a question about financial funds at Monmouth Reform Temple, chances are Stu Tuchband, Treasurer, will have the answer. Since joining MRT in 1969, Stu and his wife of 66 years, Cora, have been involved in a variety of activities, but for Stu, the primary focus has been finance.

Priya Fox

Priya Fox was born and raised in north Jersey, then settled in Monmouth County after meeting her husband at Rutgers University where they were both students. She holds a master’s degree in epidemiology and works for the NJ Department of Health. She converted to Judaism in 2001 and is committed to raising her family in the Jewish faith. Priya and her family love the welcoming environment at Monmouth Reform Temple!

Karen Seligman

Karen Seligman rejoined the board in 2025 with a special focus on temple communication. Previously Karen served as the chair of the Religious Education Committee from 2016-2020. As a writer and editor of literary fiction, Karen has a deep and abiding respect for the ways in which language shapes how a community sees itself. Although her husband, Peter, was raised in a local conservative congregation, as a Jew-by-choice and native Midwesterner, Karen was drawn to MRT for its welcoming atmosphere, commitment to social action, and embrace of interfaith families. She and Peter live in Little Silver with their two high school-aged children, Lyra and Teddy

Peter Zaslowe

After a long career in Commercial Real Estate my wife Nancy and I retired and moved to Long Branch from Bergen County in 2013 and joined MRT shortly thereafter. We were drawn to this caring and inclusive temple shortly after our friend from our sailing club invited Nancy to a Book Group. This was our introduction to MRT and our commitment continues to deepen. Now 6 years later I am a vice-president of the board and Nancy is co-president of the sisterhood.

David Siegel

I am thrilled and honored to be a member of the Monmouth Reform Temple family and one of your MRT Board members. I aim to bring my passion, energy, and work experience as a senior executive at the Federal and state levels of government to help continue the vibrant life that is and always has been MRT. I also want to bring my experiences on non-profit boards in the DC area to sustain MRT as a beacon to the local area.

Alexis Spektor

Alexis Spektor joined the Monmouth Reform Temple in 2019 and the MRT Board in 2024, serving as a Member at Large. A former New York City school teacher, she is now the Adult Program Director at Family in Red Bank, NJ, where she creates and manages programs that enrich the lives of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Monmouth and Ocean counties.

Debbie Green

Fay Szakal is new to the board in 2025 after serving as a member and co-chair of the Religious Education Committee for the past 4 years. During the day she works as a partner in the Corporate Law department of a midsize New Jersey law firm engaging in mergers and acquisitions, general business transactions, and representation of various nonprofits and for-profit enterprises. The light of Fay’s life is raising her pre-teen twins, Graham and Tilly, who keep her wildly entertained with their love of puppetry, magic, music, and history. The trio lives in Tinton Falls just around the corner from MRT and have been attending MRT since the twins were in Bagels & Blocks at the age of 2! 

Stephen Gaudette

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