Announcing our 2015 Rashei Edah!

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We are excited to announce our 2015 Rashei Edah (Division Heads)!

Kieval.Sarah.croppedRosh Kochavim (Mini Sessions Aleph and Bet): Sarah Kieval — Shalom! My name is Sarah Kieval and I could not be more excited to get kayitz 2015 started. This will be my 13th summer at camp and my second as a Rosh Edah. I am currently a senior at the University of Rochester where I spend time playing Ultimate Frisbee, watching Netflix, and preparing to graduate  in May with a degree in English. Next year I will be moving to New York City to work for Blue Engine, an education non-profit, as a teaching assistant in a public high school. I cannot wait to head to go home to Palmer and meet Kochavim 2015!

 

Sorcher.Jill.croppedRosh Kochavim (Mini Sessions Gimel and Daled): Jill Sorcher —  Shalom! I’m Jill and I am so excited for kayitz 2015! I am currently a senior at the University of Pennsylvania, where I am studying Biological Basis of Behavior and Chemistry. I am planning on going to medical school, but I will be taking a few gap years and will be spending next year in Israel.  I am beyond excited to be back at Palmer this summer! This will be my 10th summer at Palmer. I was a camper for 6 years, spent a year in Israel on Ramah Seminar and worked as a counselor for 2 years.  I cannot wait for Kochavim 2015! We are going to have a great summer!

 

Spitzer.Rafi.croppedRosh Ilanot: Rafi Spitzer — Shalom!  My name is Rafi Spitzer, and I am so excited to be in Ilanot this summer!  I am studying to be a Rabbi at the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York. I have spent many summers on staff at Ramah, and this will be my third summer as a Rosh Edah. I graduated from Boston University, where I studied Anthropology, and then I worked for two years as the Community Projects Specialist at Temple Beth Elohim of Wellesley, MA. I am a certified Mikvah Guide at Mayyim Hayyim, and I currently work at the Atria, an old age home in Manhattan. I love to cook and to travel, especially with my wife, Rachael Besser. I cannot wait to be back in Palmer!

 

Gerstenblith.Judy.croppedRosh Solelim: Judy Gerstenblith — Shalom! My name is Judy Gerstenblith and I am thrilled to be Rosh Solelim for kayitz 2015! This will be my twelfth summer at camp, my fifth on tzevet (staff), and my second as Rosh Solelim. I graduated from the University of Maryland and have spent the last year and a half living and learning in Jerusalem at the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies. After returning to my hometown, Baltimore, Maryland, I joined the year-round Ramah staff! I am interested in merging my two greatest passions — Judaism and neuropsychology — in the near future. I love playing basketball, eating chocolate, singing zmirot (Shabbat songs), and playing with my eighteen-month-old nephew. I look forward to meeting all of you in just a few short months!

 

Brier.KarenRosh Shoafim: Karen Brier — Shalom! My name is Karen Brier and I am extremely excited to be Rosh Shoafim this summer! I am graduating this spring from Brandeis University with a degree in Business and International and Global Studies.  I spend a lot of my time playing Ultimate Frisbee, jumping around my living room, and cooking. This will be my tenth summer at camp, and I’m so happy to finally return to Tzad Aleph (A-Side) to be a part of Shoafim 2015 (hey, that kinda rhymes!). My favorite part of camp is definitely the agam (lake) and eating brownies on Shabbat. Get pumped for endless amounts of fun!

 

Kalender.Aryeh.croppedRosh Magshimim: Aryeh Kalender — 

My name is Aryeh its true
I can’t wait to meet all of you
I love sports and reading, games and eating, and I attend University of Maryland too.

I’m excited to be Rosh Magshimim,
We’ve assembled a spectacular  team
And in all my camping years, (nine to be clear),
This summer will be a midsummer night’s dream.

Soon I’ll meet you all
We’re going to have a ball,
As we sing and dance, play sports and plant plants
By summer’s end we’ll have done it all.

Meister.EmilyRosh Bogrim: Emily Meister — Shalom! My name is Emily Meister, and I am from Potomac, Maryland. In May I will be graduating from the University of Michigan, with a Masters in Social Work and Certificate in Jewish Communal Leadership. Ever since my first kayitz (summer) as a camper in 2001, Palmer, MA has been my summer home.  For the past two years I have been summering on the sunny beaches of the Tzad Aleph agam (lake) as Rosh Shoafim. However, this summer I’ll be checking out the view from Tzad Bet, as Rosh Bogrim! I am so excited for all that kayitz 2015 has in store!

 

Carrus.Scott.croppedRosh Machon: Scott Carrus — Shalom! My name is Scott Carrus and I am super excited to be Rosh Machon for kayitz 2015. I am currently a junior at the University of Maryland studying plant science and secondary education. Gardening, dancing, and spending time outside are just some of the activities I love, but overall having fun is my favorite. This will be my sixth summer on staff, and my fourth summer in Machon, and it is my perfect fit. I am so excited to be spending the summer with all of you; it’s is going to be the best summer ever. Can’t wait to see everyone in just a few months for this amazing endeavor!

 

Buechler.Hillel copyRosh Nivonim: Hillel Buechler — Shalom!  My name is Hillel Buechler, and I am thrilled to be returning to Ramah New England as Rosh Nivonim this summer.  I am a longtime Ramahnik, and I am excited to be spending this summer again on Tzad Bet (B-Side). I’m a graduate of Brandeis University and am currently finishing my masters degree in Bible at the Jewish Theological Seminary. I would say that in hindsight I should have eaten more Rondeau’s last summer, so I’m already working on a plan to make sure my ice cream consumption rate increases for kayitz 2015.

 

Layman.Elisheva.croppedTikvah Assistant Director, Amitzim: Elisheva Layman — Shalom! My name is Elisheva Layman and I am SUPER excited to be back in Tikvah this summer for my seventh summer. This will be my fifteenth summer at camp and my eighth summer working on tzevet (staff). When I am not at camp or talking about camp I am a Special Education teacher at a High School in New Jersey. I live in NYC and love exploring the city, seeing shows, cooking and hanging out with my friends. I am thrilled to see so many familiar faces back this summer and can’t wait to meet those who I don’t know yet. Get ready to have the best summer ever, Amitzim!