Achva 2008 Summer Staff

Achva Israel and Europe/Israel Staff
(Additional Israeli staff to be added here soon)

Israel Coordinator

Ilan Scolnik

Birthday: June 2nd
Hometown: Toronto, Canada (now Jerusalem)
Achva Experience: Technical Coordinator (TC) on Israel 2005, Counselor on Europe/Israel 2006, TC on Europe/Israel 2006, Head Counselor on Israel 2007
Other Camp/Youth Experience: Counselor at Camp Nesher 2000, 2001, 2002,
Division Head at Camp Nesher 2003, 2004.
High School: Ohr Chaim
College: University of Toronto followed by two years in the Israeli Army
Majors: Political Science, World Literatures
Graduate School: Hebrew University (Political Science)
Special Skills: Crew (as in paddling), Singing
Fun Fact(s):  Ilan, born in England, met his wife, Hadar, at Camp Nesher.

Europe Head Counselor

Tamar Frydman
Birthday: January 25th
Hometown: Baltimore, MD
Achva Experience: Bus Leader on West 2006, Assistant Head Counselor on Europe/Israel 2007
Other Camp/Youth Experience: Counselor at Camp Shoresh 1997, 1998,1999, Porgram Coordinator at Camp Shoresh 2000-2005, Programming for Hillel of Great Baltimore 2002, 2003.
Israel Yeshiva/ Seminary: Ateret Bnot Yerushalatim (received a Teachers Certificate in Israel as well)
College/Major: Stern College for Women/ Towson University/Psychology
Graduate School: University of Maryland (Social Work)
Special Skills: Trained in CPR and First Aid
Fun Fact(s): Tamar loves to roller skate!

Counselors

Miriam Shatzkes
Birthday: August 9th
Hometown: Flatbush, N.Y.
Achva Experience: Counselor on West 2007, 2006, 2005
Other Camp/Youth Experience: Counselor in Morasha 2004, Counselor in Camp Hillel 2003, 2002.
High School: Yeshiva of Flatbush
College/Major: Brooklyn College/Nutrition
Graduate School: Brooklyn College (Nutrition)
Fun Fact(s): Miriam enjoys spending time in Hawaii's Diamondhead Volcano.

Jay Guttman

Debbie Shatzkes
Birthday: August 9th
Hometown: Flatbush, NY
Achva Experience: Counselor on West 2005, 2006, Bus Leader on Europe/Israel 2007
Other Camp/Youth Experience: Counselor at Camp Hasc 2004, Counselor at Camp Hillel 2002, 2003.
High School: Yeshiva of Flatbush
College/Major: Brooklyn College/Psychology
Graduate School: Hofstra
Fun Fact(s): Debbie is a huge fan of "Lost" and Michael Buble'.

Elan Kugel
Birthday: November 30th
Hometown: Boro Park, N.Y.
Achva Experience: Counselor on West 2005, Counselor on Europe/Israel 2007
Other Camp/Youth Experience: Counselor in Camp Hillel 2001, 2002, 2003
High School: MTA
Israel Yeshiva/Seminary: Netiv Aryeh (2 full years)
College/Major: Brooklyn College/Education
Special Skills: Drums
Fun Fact(s):  Elan collects computer animation DVD's (Pixar, Disney, etc..)

West Staff

Head Counselor

Yoni Glatt
Birthday: March 16th
Hometown: Flushing, N.Y.
Achva Experience: Counselor on West 2004, Bus Leader on Europe/Israel 2005, Assistant Head Counselor on Europe/Israel 2006, Head Counselor on West 2007.
Other Youth/Camp Experiene- Staff member at Camp Raleigh 1997, Counselor in Camp Hillel 2000, 2001, Assistant Division Head in Camp Hillel 2002. Madrich at Yeshivat Reishit Yerushalayim 2002, 2004.
High School: HAFTR
Israel Yeshiva/Seminary: Reishit
College/Majors: Queens College/English, Film, Media Studies
Graduate School: Queens College
Special Skills: Guitar, Trained in CPR

Fun Fact(s): Yoni and Lana are married; Yoni manages a Jewish band called Yaakov Chesed.

Lana Glatt - Tour Mother
Birthday: December 16th
Hometown: Melbourne, Australia
Achva Experience: Guest Staff on West 2007
Other Youth/Camp Experience: Counselor on Gan Israel 1999, 2000, Activities Director at Gan Israel Detroit (2001), Teacher at King Solomon Day School (Gold Coast, Australia) 2002, Teacher at Beth Rivkah High School (Melbourne, Australia) 2003
High School: Beth Rivkah High School 
Israel Yeshiva/Seminary: Machon Shoshanat Yerushalayim
College/Major: Monash University/Business Management
Special Skills: Trained in CPR, Lifeguard, speaks decent Spanish and passable French.
Fun Fact(s):  Lana is a huge fan of "Footy", Australia's version of football. Her favorite team is the Carlton Blues.

Assistant Head Counselor

Ari Gottlieb
Birthday: October 3rd
Hometown: Flushing, N.Y.
Achva Experience: Counselor on West 2004, 2005, Bus Leader on West 2006, Bus Leader on Europe Israel 2007
Other Camp/Youth Experience: Youth Director of the Young Israel of Queens Valley
High School: Yeshiva South Shore
Israel Yeshiva/Seminary: Tiferet Yerushalayim ( TJ)
College/Major: Queens College/Psychology

Fun Fact(s): Ari is a loyal Mets fan, and can often be found at Shea Stadium.

Counselors

Zack Zimmern

Birthday: December 19th
Hometown: Merrick, NY 
Achva Experience: Participant on Israel, 2001  
Other Camp/Youth Experience: Counselor at Camp Lavi 2003, 2002, Counselor at Camp Hillel 2000.
High School: Torah Academy of SuffolkCounty (TASC)
College/Major: Yeshiva University/Economics, Sociology, Hebraic Studies
Fun Fact(s):  Zack's favorite show is The Office. He was President of the Literacy Program at YU, which tutors school children in Washington Heights.

Ben Lowy
Birthday: Ocotober 16th
Hometown: Teaneck, N.J.
Achva Experience: First Summer.
Other Camp/Youth Experience: Counselor at Camp Mesorah 2004, Counselor at Camp Morasha 2005
High School: Torah Academy of Bergen County (TABC)
Israel Yeshiva/Seminary: Mevaseret
College/Major: Yeshiva University/Accounting
Special Skills: Piano, Hiking/Rock Climbing-Ben is a skilled outdoorsman. (He would do very well on 'Survivor'.)
Fun Fact(s):  Captain of YU Basketball Intramural Team. Ben's favorite movie is "The Lord of The Rings".

Jeremy Syrtash
Birthday: July 24
Hometown: Toronto, Canada
Achva Experience: First Summer
Other Camp/Youth Experience: NCSY Senior Advisor-present, Lifeguard at Camp HASC 2006, Counselor & Lifeguard at Camp Hasc 2007
High School: Yeshivat Ohr Chaim
Israel Yeshiva/Seminary: Lev Hatorah (Ramat Bet Shemesh)
College/Major: YU/History
Special Skills:Certified American and Canadien Red Cross Lifeguard, Certified in CPR,
Fun Fact(s): Jeremy was NCSY's Advisor of the Year in Canada. Jeremy and his older sister are the founders of the Syrtash Swim School in Toronto.

Leora Borgenicht
Birthday: August 17th
Hometown: London, England
Achva Experience: First Summer
Other Camp/Youth Experience: Teen Teacher at Pinner Cheder (UK)-present, Madricha on the Sinai Youth Movement 2004, 2005, 2006, Learning Assistant at Kisharon (special needs school in London) 2006
High School: Hasmonean High (UK)
Israel Yeshiva/Seminary: Midreshet Moriah
College/Major: University College London/Psychology
Special Skills: Piano
Fun Fact(s): Leora was the first counselor ever interviewed via live video feed and loves to swim

Lisa Golombeck
Birthday: March 22nd
Hometown: Lawrence, N.Y.
Achva Experience: Participant on West 2003
Other Camp/Youth Experience: Counselor in Camp Morasha 2007, 2006. Amit Tutor, 2006-2007. HAFTR Teacher's assistant, 2006.
High School: Stella K. Abraham High School (SKA)
Israel Yeshiva/Seminary: Midreshet Moriah
College/Major: Stern, Major: Education
Special Skills: Piano, Dramatics, Trained in CPR,
Fun Fact(s): Lisa is a member of the Stern Fencing Team and qualified for the NCAA regionals.

Sarah Shatzkes

Birthday:  August 28th
Hometown: Flatbush, N.Y.
Achva Experience: First Summer
Other Camp/Youth Experience:  Counselor at Camp Morasha 2005, Counselor at Camp Mesorah 2006, Youth Leader at the Young Israel of Flatbush 2003, 2004, 2005
High School:  Merkaz Bnos
Israel Yeshiva/Seminary: Tiferet
College/Major: Brooklyn College/Education
Special Skills: Certified in CPR, First-Aid, and A-MAP,
Fun Fact(s): Randee is a Volunteer for Hillel's Project Hope which helped the Jewish Community in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. She also participated in agricultural projects in Nicaragua.