Meet Your Staff!

Posted in 2012 on 11. Jul, 2012

Here are the amazing madrichim (counselors) who will be taking care of your children this summer.

Cegal Ilan – ISI

HEY!! My name is Cegal and I am VERY excited for this summer to begin!   I was born in the USA and moved to Ra’anana (near Tel Aviv) when I was younger.   I now live in Beersheva studying youth studies and Anthropology/Sociology in Ben Gurion University of the Negev.   I love eating watermelon, playing frisbee, hiking and meeting new people.  I can’t wait to meet the first group EVER of ISI – I Speak Israel !!

‘Enjoy the little things in life …. for one day you’ll look back and realize they were the big things’

Keep on smiling, see you soon!!! – Cegal

Amit Foa – ISI

My name is Amit Foa and I’m 27 years old.  I’m originally from Kibbutz Haogen, though for the past 3 years I have studied and learned in Beersheva.  I just graduated from university, studying politics and government combined with Middle East Studies at Ben Gurion University of the Negev. I am about to take an 18 month tour guiding course in Jerusalem.

This year will be my 5th year working for YJ (including 2 years with FZY, our British sister movement).  After being released from the army, I took some time to travel around the world, along with running educational projects in Israel.  My previous project was leading a 10 year leadership program for Israeli youth in the Negev area.

I’m thrilled to have another summer with YJ, especially with a group which studies the Arab-Israeli conflict.  I will do my best to be a role model, an educator and to have fun during the trip.

It’s gonna be a great summer!!!

Mickie Reshef – Machon 1

My name is Mickie. I am 23 years old and I live in Moshav Bar-Giora, which is just outside of Jerusalem.  I’ve just finished five years in the army as an officer in the IDF intelligence corps.  I was a camper in Camp Young Judaea-Sprout Lake, and I’m super excited to come back to work as a madrich (counselor) on the program this summer.  I love to hike and travel in Israel and abroad and like extreme sports like scuba diving, horseback riding and rock climbing.

Jared White – Machon 1

Shalom Shalom!  My name is Jared White.  My home is in Kibbutz Revivim in the Negev Desert but now I live in Jerusalem.  I am a student at David Yellin College for Education where I will be receiving a degree in Education for History and English.  I grew up in Young Judaea, was a madrich, on regional Mazkirut, and worked at summer camp.  We are going to have an amazing summer!

Nov Liss – Machon 1

Hey everyone!  My name is Nov and I’m 22. I live in a small moshav called Ein-Vered near Ra’anana.

I’m really into traveling and nature, and when I was younger I was a madricha (counselor) in the Bnei-Hamoshavim youth movement for 3 years.  In the army I served as a field and navigation guide to the special forces.

I’m super excited to be a madricha on summer tour 2012 for Machon 1!  Recently, I came back from traveling around the world and saw how people don’t get the real Israeli atmosphere and culture, so when I came back it was very important for me to work in a meaningful place that can show people, and especially Jewish youth, what Israel is really about and how special it is!  I’m sure we’ll have the best summer here!

Heather Fertig – Machon 1

Hello everyone! My name is Heather Fertig and I am from New Port Richey, FL. I am a senior at Florida State University, studying mathematics and education.  This is my fifth summer working with Young Judaea and I am so excited to be a madricha for this program!  We are going to have an amazing summer and I cannot wait for all of the hikes, tours, and fun we are going to have!

Raffi Grinberg – Machon 2

Hi!  My name is Raffi Grinberg, and I’m 21.  I just graduated from Princeton University, and I’ll be working in management consulting in New York City next year.  I lived in Israel for 2 years when I was younger, and I’ve been back on organized trips many times since then.  I’m incredibly excited to meet the chanichim, and to share my love for this place with them!

Tamar Kfir – Machon 2

Shalom, my name is Tamar Kfir and I live in Ra’anana.  I finished my IDF service in the educational unit exactly a year ago.  During my service, I was guiding soldiers in the desert (Sde Boker).  Right now I’m a tour guide for young people.  I love to travel, sing, dance, make jewelry and do yoga. I’m looking forward to the summer and to show you all of our AMAZING Israel!!! So get ready for the best summer ever!

Danielle Bergman – Machon 2

I am Danielle from New York, now living in Israel. I just finished a course in Herbal Medicine and will be starting studies to become a tour guide here in the fall. I studied anthropology and love to travel all over the world and have exciting adventures outside! I’ve worked at YJ camps for years, and the first time I came to Israel was on Machon.  I am so excited to be back here now as a madricha!

Sefi Zeev – Machon 2

Hey!  My name is Sefi and I grew up in Jerusalem in a youth movement here. I’m 24 years old and I love working with people and doing sports. I work with religious kids to get ready for the army. I traveled in America last summer, and I’m excited for America to come to me now. I’m really happy to meet you all, and I hope we have a great summer together!

Bar Neri – Discovery

My name is Bar Neri, I’m 23 years old and I live in Reut, which is just between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. I’m starting to study at October in Tel Hai college in the north.  I will study psychology and human resources. I served 3 years in the air force as a commander of guiding courses. I traveled for 7 months in South America and I love nature.

Ran Menashe – Discovery

I’m Ran Menashe, 29 years old, and most of the world call me Ranash, a nickname I got during my military service.  I’m working in informal education here in Israel, which includes tour guiding, group facilitating and leading seminars on Jewish and Israeli identity.  During the last two years I studied environmental studies and performance art.   Hope to have the best fun, safe and interesting summer ever

Marc Alexander – Discovery

Shalom!  My name is Marc Alexander and I am thrilled to be a madrich for Young Judaea Israel’s summer program.   I was a chanich on the same program back in 2006 and had such an amazing experience that I knew after graduating high school I’d definitely be going back to Israel.  I chose to participate on Young Judaea’s Year Course Olami program, where I not only spent a whole year in Israel studying, volunteering, and exploring but also traveled around the world to countries such as Morocco and Ethiopia.  The summer following Year Course I worked as a counselor and lifeguard at Camp Tel Yehudah in upstate New York, and in the fall I enrolled as an undergraduate student at the University of Texas at Austin, where I am currently finishing up my degrees in Biomedical Engineering and Plan II Honors.  I’m so excited to be back in Israel and am looking forward to an incredible summer!