Rabbi Ed Snitkoff - Director
Over the past 30 years Ed has served as a congregational rabbi, teacher, religious school principal, camp educator, and Israel tour educator/guide. Ed studied at Columbia University, The Jewish Theological Seminary of America, Hebrew University, Teacher’s College, and the Jordan Valley College. He has degrees in Anthropology and Jewish History, and advanced degrees in Rabbinic Literature and Jewish Education. Ed is also a licensed Israeli tour guide.
After being ordained at JTS he served for 6 years as a congregational rabbi and religious school principal in Harrisburg PA. When they made Aliyah in 1992, Ed and his family settled on Kibbutz Lavi and lived there as members for 8 years. After moving to Jerusalem in 2000, Ed served as the Educational Director of the Young Judaea Year Course, and Educational Coordinator for North America at the Department for Jewish Zionist Education of the Jewish Agency for Israel. Ed's relationship with Ramah began in 1983 when he was a Rosh Eida at Camp Ramah in California, and continued when he served as a teacher at Camp Ramah in the Berkshires in the years before making Aliyah. Ed joined the staff of Seminar in 2007. He is married to Minda and has 4 children and a baby grandson (born in Jerusalem during the first Shabbat of Seminar 2010- the first Snitkoff Sabra in 2000 years!).
Dr. Joe Freedman - Director of Ramah Programs in Israel
Joe holds an M.A. in Jewish Education from the Jewish Theological Seminary and an Ed.D. from Teacher's College, Columbia University. Before coming to Ramah, Joe served as Director of in-service training at Hebrew University's Melton Center for Jewish Education in the Diaspora. Joe served as director of the Ramah Israel Seminar from 1986-1999, during which time he also earned the prestigious tour guide license issued by Israel's Ministry of Tourism. Joe has produced numerous educational and hadracha materials, going all the way back to his days with the Jewish Theological Seminary's Leader's Training Fellowship beginning in 1971. Joe has also worked extensively with Camp Ramah in Wisconsin and served as Summer Director of Camp Ramah in New England in 1988. He came on aliya in 1980 with his wife. They have four children and live in Jerusalem.
Michal Chacham - Assistant Director
Michal is currently completing her degree in Land of Israel Studies in Bar Ilan University. She has many years of experience with Ramah as a family educator with Ramah Programs in Israel, and was also a madricha on TRY 2005 (Tichon Ramah Yerushalayim), Ramah’s Jerusalem High School. Michal worked for six summers at Camp Ramah in the Berkshires from 2003-2008, where she served as Rosh Edah and rosh mishlachat. Michal also works with the Jewish Agency Shlichut Department, selecting and training Shlichim to work in Jewish summer camps in North America. Michal grew up in Tiberias, and currently lives in Jerusalem. This is going to be her 2nd summer as Assistant Director of Seminar.
Betsalel Steinhart - Rosh Chinuch BaShetach / Field Education Supervisor
Betsalel was born in London, England, and made Aliyah as a teen with his family in 1986. After his army service, he earned a B.A. in Psychology from Bar Ilan University, and is currently studying towards an M.A. in Jewish Education at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Betsalel has worked with a number of Israeli institutions involved in educating Diaspora youth, joining Ramah in 2000. He has worked in all of Ramah's departments in many educational and logistical capacities, and is currently teaching the ICC (Israel Core Course) on TRY. He is blessed to live in Jerusalem with his wife and four sons.
Judy Greene - Israel Program Coordinator, National Office
Judy Diamond Greene has an MSW from the Wurzweiler School of Social Work at Yeshiva University and received Certification as a Family Educator from Hebrew College, University of Hartford. Judy is the co-author of the new curriculum, “Sacred Choices”, published through the Union for Reform Judaism. She is also a Founder of Mayyim Hayyim, the Community Mikveh and Education Resource Center in Newton, MA. Judy lived in Massachusetts for 27 years before moving to New York. While in MA, she was Director of the Teen Initiative sponsored by the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, Outreach Coordinator for the New England Region of Conservative Judaism, teacher at Solomon Shechter Day School in Newton, and Gann Academy/New Jewish High School in Waltham. She also spent 16 years working at Camp Ramah in New England. Judy is married to Rabbi Gary Greene and has four sons; Amichai, Hillel, Roni, and Asaf. She is currently residing in Douglaston, NY.
at the ramah programs in israel we know that the members of our staff are crucial for the success of our program. here is some information about the people involved in ramah israel seminar
Ilan Bloch - Kvutzat Ramon
Ilan has guided three Seminar groups (and six TRY groups) and can't wait for Seminar 2010. He is a Ministry of Education-authorized Tour Guide, and is currently completing grad school in Jewish Education and Non-Profit Management. He has been working at Ramah in various roles since he made Aliyah from Australia more than five years ago. He got married to Yael last November and they live together happily in Jerusalem.
Nicole Dror - Administrative Coordinator
Nicole grew up in London, England, and made aliyah in January 1994. Just three months later she was employed as Ramah's administrative assistant. Nicole worked for Ramah until the year 2000 and held various positions including working as a Trip Coordinator for RII (Ramah Israel Institute) and spent a year working for the Israel Desk in the Ramah New York office. In the
winter of 2008, Nicole returned to the Ramah family! Nicole has a rich background in administration and logistics and has worked
at the Prime Minister's Office, the World Zionist Organization, and most recently at the Jerusalem Foundation as a writer for
Culture Affairs. Nicole is married and lives with her husband and two children in Jerusalem.
Seminar 2011 Staff
Cindy Nathanson - Yoetzet / Guidance
Cindy Nathanson, MSW, LCSW, was born and raised in New York. She graduated from The New York University School of Social Work in 1997 with a masters degree in Social Work. Upon graduation, Cindy began working at Jewish Child Care Association as a social worker in their foster care division, primarily with the teenage population. In 2003 Cindy was promoted to Social Work Supervisor and remained in that role until 2007, when she made Aliyah. Cindy is currently attending The Family Institute at Neve Yerushalayim where she will receive a certificate in counseling and family therapy. Cindy is eager and excited to be part of Ramah Seminar this summer!
Jonathan Madoff - Yoetz / Guidance
Jonathan Madoff MSW, LSW, is a social worker with many years of camping and staffing experience at Camp Ramah in the Poconos, where he served in various capacities, including Yoetz. Jonathan made Aliyah in April, and lives in Tel Aviv.
Seminar 2011 Mehanchim / Educators
Seminar 2011 - Rashei Kvutza
Jaime Salter - Kvutzat Agnon
Jamie Salter is a licensed Tour Guide who has worked in formal and informal Jewish education settings, both in Israel and in the Diaspora. He has a Masters degree in Jewish Education from the Hebrew University. Jamie has made his home in Jerusalem, having moved from England to Israel nearly ten years ago. He enjoys long-distance running and recently ran the Jerusalem half-marathon! Jamie was a Rosh Kvutza on Seminar in 2000.
The staff of counselors and advisors consist of experienced, mature educators who have a love for and a commitment to Israel and Judaism. North American staff members have often had previous Ramah experience, have lived in Israel, and have a knowledge of the country and its people.
In each group, one staff member functions as the Group Leader (Rosh Kvutza), one serves as a tour educator (Mehanech), and three are counselors (madrichim) responsible for the social and individual well-being of campers. Some counselors are North American or from other English-speaking countries, others are "sabras" (native Israelis). All undergo intensive training throughout the spring in Israel.
Adi Koren - Rosh Kvutzt Rachel!
Hi my name is Adi Koren,I live in Neve Ilan, close to Jerusalem. I am doing my MA in Conflict resolution at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. I work at the Yitzhak Rabin Center as a guide in the Israeli museum and I do workshops for school children, soldiers and guests from abroad about the Israeli society. During the summer of 2005-2007 I worked at camp Ramah in New England, in the waterfront staff as lifeguard and swim instructor. During my last summer in camp I was a madricha and sganit rosh edah of the campers ages 15-16. Looking forward to meet my Chanichim from my first summer at camp; excited to show the beauty of Israel and to experience the country and making unforgettable memories.
Shani Almog - Rosh Kvutzat Amichai!
Shani was born and raised in Givaatyim. Ever since she can remember, she was a devout activist in “Hanoar Haoved VeHalomed” youth movement. Has a B.A. in Sociology and Anthropology and Art History. When she isn’t staffing for Ramah Seminar, she works at the Ashdod and Tel Aviv Museums as a special project manager and a museum guide. Shani also spent two years as a counselor in camp Habonim Dror in Maryland, and also worked for the Jewish Agency. Nowadays, Shani is Graduating from her M.A. in Children and Youth Culture, and feels it is extremely important to pass on culture, tradition, and knowledge to the young generation.
Josh Dorsch - Rosh Kvutzat Nachshon!
Josh Dorsch, 25, will be a fourth year rabbinical school student at the Jewish Theological Seminary. He is simultaneously earning his MA in Jewish Education from the Davidson School at JTS as well. Josh graduated from List College in 2008 where he earned a BA. in Political Science from Columbia University, and second one from JTS in Talmud and Rabbinics. Being in Israel this year, spending his third year of school studying at the Machon Schechter Rabbinical Seminary in Jerusalem, Josh is really excited to have the opportunity to prolong his stay by six more weeks and work with Ramah Seminar.
After spending seven summers as a camper at Camp Ramah in the Poconos, Josh returned there on staff where he worked another seven summers - including two summers as a Rosh Edah and one summer as the Ping Pong specialist on sports staff. Originally from Wynnewood, PA, Josh is a former competitive Table Tennis player and enjoys rooting for his favorite Philadelphia sports teams, the Phillies and Eagles. Josh is really looking forward to meeting you and enjoying Seminar with you and the rest of the staff!
Reut Gavra - Rosh Kvutzat Shemer!
I was born and raised in Bnei Brak, Israel. I am the oldest child out of five girls (!) in a warm and loving family.
I got my bachelor's degree in Geography and just recently finished my master's degree in Land of Israel Studies and Archaeology, both from Bar-Ilan University. I got to know Ramah and the Conservative Movement through my close friend Michael Levin, who went to Camp Ramah in the Poconos, made Aliyah to Israel, joined the IDF and was killed during the second Lebanon war. In the summer of 2009, I was part of the Israeli Mishlachat sent to Camp Ramah in the Poconos as a Hebrew Teacher. I also stayed for 'Tikvah', a family camp for children with special needs. Since 2010 I have worked with Ramah Israel, as a Madricha for the short-term programs and Seminar. In the summer of 2010, I was also a Madricha for the Poland Seminar. When I'm not working at Ramah, I work at The Ingeborg Rennert Center for Jerusalem Studies at Bar-Ilan University. I help organize their archeological conferences.
I'm very excited for the summer to work as a Rosh Kvutza and meet all of you. I know we're going to have a fantastic summer!
Shachar Liran - Rosh Kvutzat Ramon!
Shalom everyone! My name is Shachar Liran and I come from a small town in the north of Israel called Givat Ela. Straight after the army I was very fortunate to spend the summer in Camp Ramah in the Berkshires as part of the Mishlachat and as part of "Al Hagova" staff (Hiking, biking and ropes). After such an amazing summer I decided to go on a longer Shlichut and so I spent the last year as a community and youth movement Shlicha in Durban, South Africa. In October, I'm about to start studying Psychology and Education in Ben Gurion University, but until then I'm working in a production company and in an organic coffee shop and looking forward to your arrival and the beginning of an awesome summer here in Israel.
Achinoam Cohen - Rosh Kvutzat Agnon!
Grew up around the green forest of Moshav Mavo-Modiim, Israel. Achi guided with the Israel Nature and Parks Authority and with the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel, (SPNI). This past summer she was a Shlicha at Ramah outdoor adventure in the Rockies- the new Ramah camp in Colorado. This year she is having a great time as staff on Nativ (the best way to spend a year in Israel… college leadership program in Israel). Achi is a big fan of hiking, books, scuba diving, and B&J ice-cream!
She loves the sweet smell of rain and drinking good tea while listening to cool music. She is so so excited to explorer all around Israel with you all summer long!!
Yankale Berkowitz - Rosh Kvutzat Senesh!
I grew up in Bnei Brak and Jerusalem. I graduated from the Hartman High School in Jerusalem in 2004. After high school I studied for one year in Yeshivat Ma'aleh Gilboa, and then served as a combat soldier in the Givati Brigade where I was a commander. I finished my army service in June 2008 and went straight to Ramah New England to which I returned in 2009. I was a counselor in TRY ( Tichon Ramah Yerushalim program) in 2009 . Last summer I was Rosh Kvutzat Esther in Ramah Seminar! I look forward to a lot of exciting, stimulating and fun times this summer. I can't wait to meet everyone!
[Home] [Programs] [What's New] [Educational Materials] [Alumni]
[Photo Album] [Links] [Write to us]
© Ramah Israel, 2011