Camp Judaea prides itself in breeding and recruiting strong leaders to make everyone’s camp experience as successful as possible.  The MASH team consists of the merakzim (unit heads) and activity directors.  Camp Judaea is confident that this team will undoubtedly lead the entire camp for a fun, safe, and educational summer!

Avi Kessler
Rishonim Merakez

I am the Rishonim Merakez and will be helping show the first time campers a taste of what CJ has to offer. I am from Caldwell, NJ and currently a student at the University of Massachusetts studying Sports Management. I enjoy all sports and am a huge fan of the New York Yankees. This is my 3rd summer as a part of the CJ staff, and I was a camper at both Sprout Lake and Tel Yehudah in New York. I love coming back each summer and seeing old friends and making new ones. I can’t wait for the campers to come and to have an amazing summer. My hobbies include playing baseball and basketball.
Fun fact: I love Israel a lot and attended Young Judaea Year Course back in 2013-2014!

Isabelle Morris
Offarim Merakezet

Hi! My name is Isabelle Morris and I am the Offarim merakezet this summer at Camp Judaea! Offarim is the second youngest age group in camp (and the cutest if you ask me :)) I couldn’t be more excited. I am from Little Silver, New Jersey, and currently am a junior at the University of Miami where I am studying broadcast journalism. In my free time I enjoy running, reading, being with friends and family, and traveling. This will be my 4th summer as a Camp Judaea staff member and will definitely be the best summer yet. Can’t wait to meet you all!
Fun fact: Even though I went to Camp Young Judaea in Sprout Lake, I am totally a CJ girl!

Samuel Prieto
Oranim Merakez

I’m Sam from Clearwater, FL. I am a student at the University of Pennsylvania. This will be my third year as a staff member at Camp Judaea. My favorite CJ memory so far was stargazing last year with the staff and campers on the Kesher overnight. I am most looking forward to creating an exciting and joyful summer for my campers and staff.
Fun fact: I have been to 44 of the 50 states.

Amanda Shames
Sayarim Merakezet

I am the head of the Sayarim age group which consists of 10 and 11 year olds that are going into the sixth grade. Since I worked with Oranim last summer, I’m very excited to be the merakezet for the same kids this year. I am from San Juan, Puerto Rico, and this year I will be a junior at Syracuse University majoring in social work. I hope to one day work with children with disabilities. Before becoming a supervisor, I was an Offarim and Oranim madricha (counselor) and I loved it! I’ve had an incredible time working closely with campers and staff. Every camper I’ve had has taught me a lot, and I hope that I taught them as well. I loved being a Bikkurim captain last summer because I was able to explore my creativity and get the campers to challenge themselves and support one another. This summer I am looking forward to watching the campers enjoy the fun activities we have planned for them…and eating the delicious food from the new chefs!
Fun fact: this is my 11th summer at CJ!

Sydney Levy
Tsofim Merakezet

I am the Tsofim merakezet! I am the head supervisor of the kids going into the 7th grade; most of the chanichim are 12 years old. I am from Miami, FL but am attending the University of Maryland. This is my fourth summer working at CJ. My favorite memory from CJ was completing 10 days of outward bound during Chalutzim! I am most looking forward to getting to know my campers, Bikkurim, and for the overnight.
Fun fact: I’m celebrating my birthday at camp for the first time this year and I am very excited about it!

Jonathan Burger
Kesher Merakez

I’m the supervisor for campers going into 8th grade. I am from Miami, Florida and an incoming senior at the University of Arizona where I am double majoring in Middle Eastern studies and political science. This is my 13th summer at Camp Judaea and my 5th year on staff. I am a second year merakez; last year was my first year in upper staff as Chalutzim merakez. I am looking forward to going to New York and leading my Kesher campers and staff!
Fun fact: I am the biggest Miami dolphin fan you will ever meet (this is our year) and I am a nationally ranked Super Mario bros player on the Nintendo 64!

Rachel Cohen
Bogrim Merakezet

I am from Raleigh, North Carolina and a junior at The University of Georgia studying Magazine Journalism. I began my summers at CJ in 2002 and this is my 4th year as staff. Last year I was the Sayarim Merakezet. My favorite memory from CJ was writing my Bogrim Hatzagah. This summer, I am determined to give the Bogies their best summer yet!
Fun Fact: I started coming to CJ in Nitzanim! (similar to today’s Rishonim)

Aviv Hoffman
Chalutzim Merakezet and Leader of Teva (nature)

I am Aviv from Israel where I work in a preschool. Soon I will start to study at a university. This is my second summer at CJ— last summer I also worked as the leader of the teva activities. I am really excited to go on outward bound with the Chalutzim campers! My favorite memory from Camp Judaea was making shakshuka with the teva chug last summer.
Fun fact: I have one green eye and one blue eye.

Matthew “Ralphie” Kaplan
Head of Drama

I am the Drama Director of CJ! I will supervising, writing, and running the drama peulot, the hatzegah (play) for Bogrim and Kesher. I will be directing the two summer musicals which are probably going to be Beauty and the Beast and Annie. I am originally from ft. Lauderdale, Florida, but now live in Atlanta, GA. This past semester I participated in the Disney College Program. While there, I worked as a safari driver at Kilimanjaro Safaris at Animal kingdom in Orlando, FL. I will be transferring to University of Georgia this upcoming fall. This is my third summer at CJ! My first summer I was a general mad rich for Rishonim and Tsofim, last year I led drama, and this year I get to continue to run the drama program, but I also have the amazing opportunity to be a supervisor on the MASH team. My favorite memory at CJ thus far was when I realized that being a member of the CJ family meant that I was a part of something a lot more. I am most looking forward to allowing the chanichim to really and truly shine on the stage, making them feel like they are a star!
Fun fact: I’m the biggest Disney fan in the entire world…seriously, I’m the biggest fan.

Maya Boukai
Head of Aquatics

My responsibility this summer is watching over the safety of all campers (and staff) during pool and lake activities and planning instructional and recreational water peulot. I am from Israel. And Indianapolis. Long story— but I’d love to share it with you when we meet. Before coming to camp, I served in the IDF. After camp, I will travel in South America before starting my studies at a university. I have never been to CJ, but I attended Camp Chi in Wisconsin as a camper and worked at Jordan River Village which is a camp in Israel for children with chronic illnesses. I am most looking forward to meeting all of the campers, teaching new skills/games, and making this a summer we’ll never forget.
Fun fact: I have an adorable goldendoodle named Doobie (which means teddy bear in Hebrew), and I love hiking and camping.

Gabi Doobrow
Head of Sports

I am from Weston, Florida and during the year, I study at the University of Florida (Go Gators!). My major is communications, sciences, and disorders with the ultimate goal of being an audiologist. This summer at CJ, I will be supervising all of the sporting activities at camp such as basketball, Gaga, tennis, soccer, and many others. I started attending Camp Judaea my Tsofim summer—when it took me a full 20 minutes to get off the zip-line platform! Since then, I have worked as a Bogrim and Kesher counselor. I can not wait to meet all the new campers and seeing campers from past years!
Fun Fact: I am 6 feet tall (1.83 m).

Yonaton “Yoni” Manor
Head of Ropes

Shalom! I am from Zurit, Israel. This is my first summer at Camp Judaea, though I worked at CYJ Texas in 2009 and 2010 as the Leader of the Tzofim (scouts). When I return from camp, I will start my studies in computer science at Ben Gurion University in Be’er Sheva. I am excited to see the happiness of the campers as they reach the top of the tower and exclaims, “YEAH!” I hope that during my time in CJ, I will inspire campers and their families to visit Israel— see you all there!
Fun fact: I can imitate any accent.

Aurelie Nelken
Head of Sussim (horses)

I’m Aurelie from Jerusalem, Israel. This is my second summer here at CJ. Horses are my passion. The first time I rode a horse was when I was just 18 months old, and now I am a professional horseback-riding instructor and horse trainer! I just spent the last year working in Florida as an assistant trainer in a dressage barn. After camp, I will begin studying at Ben Gurion University. I look forward to having kids who are unsure and afraid learn to be comfortable and confident enough to approach and enjoy horses. I also want to make sure my staff has best experience possible.
Fun fact: My first time in any theme park was last year in Universal Studios, Orlando!