Staff & Shlichim

         Young Judaea Staff
   Alana Cooper-Manager of Alumni Relations
   Amanda Jonat - Registrar YJ Israel Programs
   Andrew Fretwell - Manager of Youth Leadership and Education
   Bob Church - Assistant to the Director of Operations
   Casey Baker – Senior Manager/Long-Term Israel Programs
   Danielle Rubinstein - Southeast Hadassah & Israel Programs Regional Representative
   David Weinstein – Director/Camp Tel Yehudah
   Debbie Cohen - Manager of Marketing & Recruitment 
   Diana Diner – Manager Short Term Israel Programs
   Emma Duran - Assistant to Israel Programs
   Frank Silberlicht – Director/Camp Young Judaea Texas
   Gabe Meyerson - West Coast Israel Programs Regional Representative
   Haidi Appel - Young Judaea Alumni National Chair
   Helene Drobenare – Director/CYJ Sprout Lake
   Jamie Maxner – Assistant Director of Camp Tel Yehudah
   Jessica Suckerman – Registrar/CYJ Sprout Lake
   Jessica Trosterman – Manager of Logistics/Israel Programs
   Josefa Michaelson - Director of International Programs
   Korin Goren - West Coast Shlichah
   Marcia Gabrilove Ladin – National Chair for Young Judaea
   Miriam K. Aron - Hadassah Shalem Liaison
   Meital Fischer - New England Shlichah
   Meytal Ozeri - Midwest Shlichah
   Noah Gallagher - Director/CYJ Midwest
   Phyllis S. Berlow – Chair, Young Judaea Communications
   Rachel Comstock - Year Round Programs Associate
   Renee Albert – Young Judaea Operations Chair
   Risa Epstein - National Executive Director of Canadian Young Judaea
   Robin Anderson - Associate Director/CYJ Midwest
   Roni Schwartz – Young Judaea Development Chair
   Sara Chamama - Manager of Registration, Israel Programs
   Sharon Schoenfeld – Young Judaea Director of Operations
   Sue Mizrahi – National Chair/YJ Impact!
   Talia Horan–Block - Associate Director/Camp Sprout Lake
   Tzvika Gottlieb - Southeast Shaliach
   Yael Libedinsky – Manager of YJ Impact!    

Young Judaea Staff

Alana Cooper-Manager of Alumni Relations

I am excited to return to Young Judaea both personally and professionally, as a YJ alumnae it is an honor to have the chance to work with every other YJ alumni out there. After Year Course ('92-'93) and a few years spent at Union College in Schenectady, New York (with summers as staff at CJ and as a Machon in Israel Madricha), I received my law degree at the University of Pittsburgh in 2000.

While in law school while most of my classmates were spending summers clerking at law firms, I lead Israel summer programs, while they clerked for judges during the year, I taught Hebrew School and when they went to work drafting briefs and filing claims - I was recruiting for Birthright Israel and serving as the Hillel director at Goucher College. It's very possible that I should have seen what career path I was heading down...

After stints at the Union for Reform Judaism and the Anti-Defamation League, coming home to Young Judea is wonderful. I am ready willing and able to assist in coordinating alumni events, reunions, reconnecting you with lost friends and so much more!

Amanda Jonat - Registrar YJ Israel Programs

Amanda Jonat was born and raised in White Plains, NY and grew up surrounded by a supportive Jewish community. After attending Solomon Schechter High School, Amanda continued on to the University of Cincinnati: College Conservatory of Music where she studied Classical Guitar and Judaic Studies and spent a summer studying abroad in Istanbul, Turkey. While in Cincinnati, Amanda founded and was President of the student group Bearcats for Israel and was very involved in Hillel as the Chair of the Israel Committee. After graduating University, Amanda was a participant on the WUJS Israel Hadassah Program in Jerusalem and was an intern at the Michael Levin Lone Soldier Center in Jerusalem. After the program, Amanda stayed in Jerusalem and worked at Young Judaea as the Health Coordinator for Short Term Summer Programs. Amanda is now back in New York and loving her position as Israel Programs Registrar!

Andrew Fretwell - Manager of Youth Leadership and Education

Andrew grew up in Randolph, NJ and has been a part of Young Judaea since becoming an active member of the Morristown Club as a high school freshman. Since then, he has served and led Young Judaea in multiple capacities: local, regional and national mazkirut (youth board), Year Course participant, and staff at Camp Tel Yehudah from 2002-present, and is currently the education director.

Andrew graduated from UMass Amherst in 2007 magna cum laude with a double degree in Political Economics and English, and worked for the UMass Writing Center as a collegiate tutor. He has also spent significant time as a full-time volunteer for multiple political (including presidential) campaigns. Andrew currently is a Brooklyn resident and enthusiast and claims to be a dodgeball extraordinaire. Andrew has also been selected to the Project inCite Fellowship, for professional Jewish educators, sponsored by the Jewish Education Project (formerly BJE - NY).

Bob Church – Assistant to the Director of Operations

Bob spent his formative years as an “Air Force Brat” traveling to and living in several places around the country and abroad, which afforded him the opportunity to experience many cultures and people. He has tried to bring those experiences to play in all that he does. He has been with Young Judaea since April 2010 and is happy to be part of a dedicated team of energetic, passionate, creative, fun and smart people.
After moving to New York, he worked at the Gay Men’s Health Crisis as a counselor and developed an Acupuncture Clinic for Stress Reduction. His love for cooking and baking is widely known (“Chef Bob” at Broadway U.C.C. on the Upper West Side for many years and still counting!) and his talent for awesome baking has won both praise from many a sweet-toothed friend and scorn from many calorie counters.

Casey Baker – Senior Manager/Long-Term Israel Programs

Casey has a very long history with Young Judaea, both as a participant, youth leader and a professional. A native of the West Coast, Casey grew up in regional Young Judaea, attended CYJ West and Camp Tel Yehudah and participated on Young Judaea’s Summer Programs and Year Course. After several summers as a staff member at Camp Young Judaea Sprout Lake, Casey began his professional career with Young Judaea as an Area Supervisor of Year Round programs for New England. He caught the Israel programs bug and after a successful year as New York area recruiter, Casey took on the challenges of Year Course Manager of Logistics, a position for which he proved perfect. Now as the Senior Manager of Long Term Israel Programs, Casey is looking forward to growing the program and providing you with the best gap year experience.

Danielle Rubinstein - Southeast Hadassah & Israel Programs Regional Representative

Danielle Rubinstein grew up in Young Judaea and was the Mazkira/President of Or Hadarom, the Florida and Puerto Rican region in 2001. She started in 1993 as a chanicha/participant in her local club at Beth David Congregation in Miami, Florida and grew to be a madricha/counselor at Camp Judaea in Hendersonville, North Carolina and Tel Yehudah in Barryville, NY for several years. Danielle is a graduate of the University of Central Florida, has a Masters degree in Non-Profit Management and professional experience in Advertising/Public Relations/Event Planning, working at a PR world, as well as working for several years at the Jewish Federation and for BBYO in Orlando, Florida before joining Young Judaea. She is an alumna of Young Judaea Israel programs, going on Young Judaea’s Machon, summer program in Israel, in 1999. Danielle also lived in England for six months where she was active with FZY, Young Judaea’s sister movement in Britain. She lives in Hallandale Beach, Florida, and recruits across the state of Florida to send young people ages 15-35 on Young Judaea’s programs in Israel.

David Weinstein – Director/Camp Tel Yehudah

David Weinstein started in Young Judaea as a camper at Camp Young Judaea - Sprout Lake the year it opened in 1976. He was a camper, madrich and merakez at Camp Tel Yehudah as well as the former National Administrative Vice President and Education Director of Young Judaea. During his 17 year vacation from YJ, David was a high school teacher, family educator, curriculum developer and educational consultant. He graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in Judaic Studies and Political Science and has a master’s degree in education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. He met his wife, Amy, at Sprout Lake in 1976 and their two children, Mikaela and Kira, are now Judaeans as well. David returned as director of Tel Yehudah in 2007.

Debbie Cohen - Manager of Marketing & Recruitment

After spending time traveling throughout Israel and the rest of the world, Debbie began her work with Young Judaea as the Israel Programs Recruiter for Southern California. Over a year was focused on encouraging teens and young adults to make the important decision of spending a significant amount of time exploring Israel. In 2008, Debbie began working as the Manager of Marketing and Recruitment with an extraordinary team of Recruiters and Shlichim across North America. She recently staffed Israel Now!, Young Judaea’s Taglit- Birthright Israel program and continues to find great joy in supporting programs that encourage volunteering, education, and global consciousness.

 

Diana Diner – Manager Short Term Israel Programs

Born in New York to Russian Jewish parents, Diana Diner was raised in Fair Lawn, NJ. After graduating from Rutgers University in 2005, she went to Israel for the first time on a Birthright trip. Diana worked first in New York and then LA, but the pull of Israel was too strong to resist, and in 2007 she took part in a 6 month volunteer program. Upon her return, she wanted to find a career where she could share her love of Israel with others. She found a job working with Birthright Next, which lead to working as an intern with MASA Israel Journey, which brought her to Young Judaea. Diana was never part of a youth movement, so she is extremely excited and thrilled to be considered a Judaean!

Emma Duran - Assistant to Israel Programs

Emma Duran was born in Manhattan, New York, and has always loved Israel. When she learned there was an opportunity to work at Young Judaea she eagerly grabbed it. She loves to sing, act and help needy people. She is so happy to be part of the Israel Programs team!

Frank Silberlicht – Director/Camp Young Judaea Texas

Frank Silberlicht has been the director of Camp Young Judaea – Texas since 1998. Raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma, he has always believed strongly in the Jewish and Zionist traditions that are the foundation of the Young Judaea movement. His career with Young Judaea began in 1995 when he served as the Assistant Regional Director for the Texas/Oklahoma/Louisiana Region. From 1996-1998, Frank was the Assistant Camp Director at Tel Yehudah, YJ's senior leadership camp in upstate New York.

Frank holds a degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management from Oklahoma State University. His first career as a restaurant manager included being a managing partner of a restaurant in the US Virgin Islands. Frank is a graduate of the inaugural ELI Course (Executive Leadership Institute).
Frank and his wife Simóne believe in giving back to the community. They are members of the board or are involved with UOS Goldberg Montessori Playground Committee, Beth Yeshurun Board of Trustees, Seven Acres Carnival of Fun, and Super Sunday at the Federation. Frank and Simóne and their children Elan, Jacob, and Rebecca live in Houston, Texas.

Gabe Meyerson - West Coast Israel Programs Regional Representative

Gabe was born in Seattle, WA and attended Emory University in Atlanta, GA. At Emory, he studied Middle Eastern Studies, Jewish Studies, and International Relations. After graduation he spent a year in Russia on shlichut with the Jewish Agency for Israel. Following that Gabe moved to Israel where he lived for five years, serving in the army, studying, and working most recently at the Middle East Media Research Institute. He has been working with Young Judaea since November 2010 and lives in Los Angeles with his wife and son. In his free time he enjoys cooking, running, and spending time with his family.

Haidi Appel - Young Judaea Alumni National Chair

Haidi Appel is a lifelong member of Hadassah, part of a four generations of life members and three generations of associates. She was also involved with Young Judaea from the age of 8 years old. Haidi attended Camp Young Judaea West and Camp Tel Yehudah. She participated in the National Hadracha program in Israel and Year Course ’79-80. Haidi is married to her husband Jerry and all three of their children have attended Young Judaea camps and Israel programs. Her two daughters also served on the National Mazkirut at Ofie/Tsofie Programmer. Haidi is active in her local chapter, on the DMR Region board and is an elected member of the National Board of Hadassah.

Helene Drobenare – Director/CYJ Sprout Lake

Helene Drobenare, MSW, has been the director of CYJ Sprout Lake since 1999. She lived in Israel for four years after making aliyah. In Israel, she worked for TRACKS Adventures as the Director of Operations and Overseas Marketing.

Helene is currently at work on a MA/PhD at The New School in Organizational Change Management. She is also an active community volunteer, working closely with the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Jamie Maxner – Assistant Director of Camp Tel Yehudah

Jamie hails from Stamford, CT and started her Young Judaea career at the age of 10 when she spent her first summer at Camp Young Judaea Sprout Lake in 1992. Since then, she was hooked and continued on to attend Camp Tel Yehudah, Machon in Israel, and ultimately spent a year in Israel on Young Judaea’s Year Course.

While pursuing a degree in Industrial and Labor Relations from Cornell University, Jamie couldn’t break from her love of camp and returned to Tel Yehudah as a staff member each summer. After graduation in 2004, Jamie’s planned move to Atlanta, GA coincided perfectly with an opportunity to work as an Area Supervisor for Young Judaea’s Southeast District. While she enjoyed her stint as a southerner and tested out a lot of sweet tea and barbecue, she was excited to return to NYC to assume the role of TY’s Assistant Director in 2008. Through her work, Jamie was selected to and recently completed the Foundation for Jewish Camp’s Yitro Fellowship for Assistant Camp Directors. She also enjoys cheese tastings and playing with the Dodgeballsamic Vinaigrettes, the current defending dodgeball league champions.

Jessica Suckerman – Registrar/CYJ Sprout Lake

Jessica Suckerman, Registrar at CYJ Sprout Lake. I have a B.A. from Rutgers University with a major in journalism and a minor in psychology. Before coming to CYJ Sprout Lake, I worked with young adults to find them rewarding long-term Kibbutz programs in Israel. I live in Manhattan with my husband and dog, and grew up in New Jersey. I'm so excited to work here at YJ and can't wait to hear from you to discuss all the great things we have to offer! Please e-mail me at jsuckerman@youngjudaea.org

Jessica Trosterman – Manager of Logistics/Israel Programs

Jessica was raised in the Riverdale section of New York City, where she was regularly involved in the North American Reform Movement. She received a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Administration from Boston University. While Jessica has worked in nearly every facet of restaurants and hotels, her specialization lies in conference/event management and recruitment. She has extensive experience planning events in both the hotel and corporate environments, and on local and national levels. During her career in hospitality management, Jessica has been a world traveler, gaining experience in Australia, England, New Zealand, and the United States. Participating in a Taglit-Birthright Israel trip allowed Jessica to combine her passion for travel with her connection to Judaism. Jessica gained a strong connection to Israel and is very excited to be part of the Young Judaea team.

Josefa Michaelson - Director of International Programs

Josefa Michaelson, Director of International Programs, "I was born and raised in the beautiful town of Markham, ON and started at Camp Shalom as a Lower in 1989. I moved on to Camp Kinneret for LITs and went to Biluim 1994. In 1995 I had the summer of my life in Israel with my closest friends. In 1996 I started my staff career at Camp Kinneret and switched to Camp Biluim Canada the following year. In total, I worked at Biluim Canada for five summers, where I ended my years there as Program Director in 2002. I moved on to Biluim Israel in 2003 and retired from running it in 2010. My favourite camp memory was when I was at Biluim 1994 and was Program Director on Yom Kinneret. A strange man holding a hatchet over one shoulder came out of the forest behind the Kinneret cabins asking who was in charge. All of the other Biluim campers who were also Kinneret staff pointed at me.

In between all of that camp I went to school: first at Leo Baeck Day School, followed by the Community Hebrew Academy of Toronto. I went to the University of Toronto for undergrad and am currently in the final stages of the Graduate Diploma in Jewish Studies at York University.

I love working at CYJ because every day is different and we have amazing opportunities presented to us to be creative, interesting and engaging. We work in an area of Jewish Education where the hours are endless, we work very hard but laugh a lot and have great fun.

In my spare time I take boxing, like to wander around the city and still sing camp songs with all my friends.

Korin Goren
206-774-227
kgoren@youngjudaea.org

Based in Seattle, WA

Marcia Gabrilove Ladin – National Chair for Young Judaea

HI! I am Marcia Gabrilove Ladin, National Chair for Young Judaea. I live in Rochester, New York (yes cold and snowy Rochester) with my husband, Scott and cherished shih-tzu, Duke. We have 2 daughters; Melissa, 21 (just graduated) and Sarah, 19 who attends Ohio State (go Buckeyes!). I have owned a stationery business for over 25 years – that started as a gift and stationery storefront but recently moved to a home studio – giving more time to devote to my love of Young Judaea. When I am not doing YJ – I love to cook and bake, do crossword puzzles (only the easy ones) and travel. My husband, an avid 100 mile bicyclist, has even turned me into one – only with much shorter rides.

My earliest connection to Young Judaea was trying to start a club in Rochester as a teen. While that never happened, my love of Israel brought me to Hadassah as a young adult and stayed with me for many years. As a parent, I wanted to give my children a Zionist experience and sent Sarah to Sprout Lake at the tender age of barely 7. Not many camps would take a kid going into 2nd grade! What other program would I trust with someone that little? Only YJ!

Both of my daughters went to Israel as teens with YJ – Melissa on Birthright and Sarah on Ma’apilim. Sarah also spent the December break junior year in New Orleans on Alternative Winter Break. And I cannot forget that Scott was a participant on the 2000 Bike Ride in Israel for Young Judaea. We have made it a family affair.

I believe in what Young Judaea stands for and want to do what I can for its continued success. My job today is to help families who would not otherwise be able to send their kids on a YJ program, to let them experience what many of us have been through.

Miriam K. Aron - Hadassah Shalem Liaison

I am a total product of a Zionist upbringing. I was made a child life member by my mother, past National President, Deborah Kaplan. My father and mother met at a Young Judaea convention where both were attending as leaders of the YJ movement. My two older brothers had both been active in Young Judaea clubs and went to Camp Tel Yehudah. I too was active in YJ and went to Tel Yehudah for four summers, going through all the sections of camp. Beginning in my senior year of high school and throughout college, I led different Young Judaea clubs around the state of New Jersey. During my sophomore year of college, I participated in the Hamagshimim (YJ) Semester Program at Hebrew University.
After graduating from Rutgers College (first class with women!), I went on to Rutgers Graduate School of Management where I received an MBA degree. I worked for five years as a market research analyst but left when I had my first child. (Soon after, I started working more locally as a bookkeeper/business manager.) In the meantime, I had become active in the Bat Sheva Chapter of Hadassah – which later merged with the Paramus Chapter. I held various positions there including the presidency and then worked my way up through the ranks of leadership in the Northern NJ Region. From 2006 through 2009, I served as region president. I began working in the YJ Division - specifically with Shalem – in the Fall of 2009.

Noah Gallagher - Director/CYJ Midwest

Noah Gallagher spent many summers as a camper and staff member at CYJ Midwest. After graduating from the University of Wisconsin with a degree in Philosophy and Hebrew Studies, Noah became the Assistant Director of Young Judaea's National Senior Leadership camp, Camp Tel Yehudah, in Barryville, New York. Noah is very happy to be back home in the Midwest.

Noah is married to Lauren; they met at CYJ Midwest in 1991!

Phyllis S. Berlow – Chair, Young Judaea Communications

Phyllis Berlow of Burlington, Massachusetts is a member of the Honorary Council of the National Board of Hadassah and currently serves as Chair of Communications for Young Judaea.

Phyllis previously co-chaired Leadership Development for Hadassah Northeast and is a Past President of the Northern New England Region of Hadassah. Serving the Jewish community of the Northern New England area since 1967, she chartered the Shawsheen Valley Chapter of Hadassah and was instrumental in the formation of the Shawsheen Valley Jewish Community Center that later became Temple Shalom Emeth of Burlington. She became its first woman president.

With a background in Broadcast Communications and a degree in Organizational Behavior, Phyllis founded and directed the state-licensed non-denominational Temple Nursery School and worked in the field of Human Resources for several companies. Her first love has always been creative writing that stemmed from her first job as a copywriter of commercials for broadcast radio.

Phyllis and her husband, Michael (of blessed memory), are Founders at Hadassah’s Children’s Pavilion at Ein Kerem, Phyllis has four children and seven grandchildren, all Life Members and Associates. She has been to Israel four times.

Rachel Comstock - Year Round Programs Associate

Rachel Comstock, the newly appointed Year Round Programs Associate, has a long history with Young Judaea, spanning 15 years. Coming from Salem, Oregon, Rachel attended Camp Young Judaea Northwest as a camper.  Additionally, she was a Regional Ofarim-Tsofim Programmer for two years and the Regional Mazkira of the Pacific Northwest Region (PNW) (before the convergence of CNH [California-Nevada-Hawaii Region] & DMR [Desert/Mountain Region] to become West Merchav).

In addition to her local experiences she also attended Camp Tel Yehudah, Machon and Year Course and has worked at Tel Yehudah for 6 summers as well. After Year Course, Rachel graduated from Brandeis University with a degree in anthropology and art history with a specialty in Jewish tattooing.

Renee Albert – Young Judaea Operations Chair

I have been associated with Young Judaea as a Hadassah volunteer for the last 32 years. I served as Israel Programs chair 2 years, Chair Young Judaea Dept 5 years, fund raising chair, operations chair, deputy division coordinator. Yes, periodically I left YJ to perform elsewhere but always returned to YJ as the opportunity arose. I have spent some of my best years with YJ. It’s a privilege to work with idealistic people dedicated to Israel.

I have 3 children and 8 grandchildren. I am a culture vulture: theater subscriptions, concerts ditto, museum aficionado. I attend a conversational Hebrew class. I love to travel and have covered a good part of the world including many trips to Israel.

Risa Epstein - National Executive Director of Canadian Young Judaea

My history with CYJ starts many years ago when I was eight years old and my parents put me on the bus to Camp Shalom. It is hard to believe that was almost 38 years ago. I am happy to say that I went right through the system and spent five years on staff, 3 at Camp Solelim and 2 as program director of Camp Biluim Canada.

It was at Biluim Canada in 1986 where I met my husband Amir to whom I have been happily married for the last 24 years. As history often repeats itself my three daughters Annie, Fay and Ellie have also enjoyed being active members of CYJ. This upcoming summer Annie will be Head Counselor at Camp Solelim, Fay will be a participant on Biluim Israel and Ellie will be a rookie at Camp Solelim.

I am an honors graduate majoring in English Literature and continued my studies in my late 30's doing graduate work in Holocaust and Genocide studies.
For the past 20 years I have been National Executive Director of CYJ and for 8 years the Director of Camp Solelim in Sudbury, Ontario. I enjoy every moment I have the opportunity to educate young people on Judaism and Israel.

Robin Anderson - Associate Director/CYJ Midwest

2011 will be Robin Anderson's ninth summer at camp. She held a number of positions, including counselor, unit head and program director before assuming the position of associate director. She has a BA in Jewish Studies and Sociology from Indiana University and an MA in Jewish Communal Service from Brandeis University. Additionally, Robin completed the first cohort of the Yitro Leadership Program for assistant and associate directors, funded by the Foundation for Jewish Camp.

Robin is married to Michael and they have two sons, Yoni and Noah, who are eagerly awaiting their time to attend camp.

Roni Schwartz – Young Judaea Development Chair

I am a Young Judaean from Camp Young Judaea in New Hampshire in 1962-1963.

My son Josh attended Year Course in 1994.

I am currently the Chair of Development for YJ on the Hadassah National Board as well as a Hadassah national Vice President. I also sit on the Camp Tel Yehuda Board, as well as the JNF Board of Trustees.

I just returned from leading the Year Course Family Mission in 2010, which was a wonderful experience.

Sara Chamama - Manager of Registration, Israel Programs

Sara Chamama, while at heart is a Jersey girl, currently lives in NYC. After living in Israel for a year and a half, her love for Israel grew and that journey continues every day she works at Young Judaea. She started in the Hadassah/YJ family working for Hadassah Magazine, then became the Summer Programs Registrar for Young Judaea and is honored to now call herself the Manager of Registration.

Sharon Schoenfeld – Young Judaea Director of Operations

Sharon was active in Gesher Shalom (Long Island Region) YJ from the age of 12. She attended Camp Tel Yehudah, was part of the regional mazkirut and was elected National Bogrim Programmer in her Senior Year, all the while saving money for Young Judaea Year Course working at McDonald’s. After college and several summer working on the program staff at CYJ Sprout Lake, Sharon studied for a Master’s in Education at Queens College. Immediately following her studies, Sharon joined the National Young Judaea staff as Education Director. After making aliyah, she spent seven years as the Program Director and then Director of Merkaz Hamagshimim Hadassah. Sharon returned to the US and to National Young Judaea in 2006.

Sue Mizrahi – National Chair/YJ Impact!

Born in The Bronx, graduate of The Bronx High School of Science and Adelphi College. Married to Abraham Mizrahi, MD., who was born in Hebron. Three daughters, 7 grandchildren, (5 Judaeans – not too bad). One daughter, one son-in-law and 3 Judaeans made aliyah in 2006.
Positions held in HWZOA – National Secretary, Vice-President, Coordinator LET Center, Coordinator Communications Division, Chair National Convention, Chair Jewish/Zionist Education, Strategic Planning, Leadership Development, Membership-Outreach/Young Leaders, Delegate to World Zionist Congresses.

My formal Jewish Education was skeletal – several years of Sunday School in a Reform Congregation. Jewish Identity/Zionist grounding – a strong sense of “peoplehood” and an uncle who smuggled himself to Israel and fought in the War of Independence.

Who I am as a Jew and as a Zionist, what I know about Jewish history and tradition, how I learned to dream Jewish dreams – all of this came through Hadassah. …..and it doesn’t get any better than living and breathing and loving Young Judaea.

Talia Horan–Block - Associate Director/Camp Sprout Lake

Talia Horan – Block is the Associate Director for Camp Sprout Lake. She went to CYJ Midwest and Tel Yehudah (91-98) as a camper and worked at CYJ Midwest, TY, and Sprout Lake (99-present). Talia went on Machon in 97 and Year Course 99-00. She graduated from University of Michigan undergrad in 2003 and 2009 for her masters. She lives in Riverdale with her husband Dane and daughter Hannah- 13 months.

Tzvika Gottlieb - Southeast Shaliach
305-573-0233
tgottlieb@youngjudaea.org

Based in Miami, FL

Tzvika is a Negev resident who studied Jewish thought & European history in Ben Gurion University. He used to work on diverse social issues in Israel, has two dogs and now lives in Miami for his Shlichut.

Yael Libedinsky – Manager of YJ Impact!

Yael has worked with Jewish non-profits and in the hospitality industry since graduating from UC Santa Cruz. Four years ago she joined the Hadassah family and was thrilled to become a Young Judaean this past April.