Fairfax, VA
B'nai B'rith Perlman Camp
Virginia Commonwealth University

Aaron Berner is from Fairfax, Virginia and he is in a dual degree program at Virginia Commonwealth University studying towards a Bachelor's degree in History and a Master's in Education. Aaron has been attending B’nai B’rith Perlman Camp for 12 consecutive summers. One of the most impactful experiences for him in camp was participating in, and then leading, the "Pioneer" program in which the rising 11th graders live in a self-sufficient tent village. This experience helped Aaron develop leadership skills, maturity, and a connection to Judaism. This past summer he served as Division Leader for the oldest campers, a job he will fill again this upcoming summer. Aaron has a true passion for working with teenagers, and in the future hopes to become a High School teacher. Outside of camp, he has been active in BBYO (Chapter President and VP of programming), in addition to working as an enrichment counselor at the local JCC “Before and After School” Program. This being his first time in Israel, Aaron is looking forward to exploring the important sites and getting a feel for what it’s really like to live in Israel. Israel and Judaism has inspired him by the way so many people from different backgrounds, belief systems, and parts of the world can come together and coexist. As a future educator, he hopes to learn how to encourage students to learn about other people, other ways of life, and other worldviews in order to bring people together, and garner understanding and empathy.

Chalfont, PA
Camp JRF
Northwestern University

Originally from Pennsylvania, Alex Rubin is currently a third year student at Northwestern University studying Learning and Organizational Change with a focus in Sports Management. Alex has spent his past 10 summers at Camp JRF where this summer he will be Rosh Sport. He is so is excited to spend this semester in Israel learning and growing as a leader. Alex has been actively involved in the Reconstructionist movement, working at Camp JRF, serving on the leadership Va'ad of No'ar Hadash, and teaching at congregations Or Hadash and JRC. In his free time, Alex enjoys eating soft pretzels, listening to country music, and playing ultimate frisbee.

Greensboro, NC
URJ Six Points Sports Academy
Virginia Tech

Alyse Feldman is an American Hebrew Academy Graduate from Greensboro, NC. She is now a Marketing and Management double major at Virginia Tech, looking to pursue minors in International Business and Judaic Studies. She is an active member of Virginia Tech’s Hillel as a member of the board, the social media chair, and a peer network engagement intern. She has worked at 6 Points Sports Academy for the past three summers as a counselor, lifeguard and swim coach. Alyse is excited to learn about the entrepreneurs that have come out of Israel as well as the start-up companies they have headed. She is also excited to explore Jerusalem and immerse herself in Israeli culture. After spending a week as an Ambassador at the URJ Biennial, Alyse was inspired by the many possibilities that a career in the Jewish community has to offer, and she hopes that being a Nachshon Fellow will help her find her own path in that world. One of her dreams is to pursue a career in Jewish Camping.

Westchester , New York
SUNY Oneonta
Ramah Day Camp in Nyack

Ari Friedman, from Westchester, NY, has attended Camp Ramah in the Berkshires as a camper for six years, and moved on to become a counselor for four years at Ramah Day Camp in Nyack, most recently as “Sgan Rosh Edah of Tzeirim.” This upcoming summer he plans to staff at the inaugural summer of Ramah Northern California, where he will be in charge of ocean exploration and adventure sports, a lifeguard and a counselor. Growing up, Ari was an active member of his local chapter of USY and he attended the Nativ gap year program in Israel. Ari now attends SUNY Oneota, where he is studying Sociology and History. He is secretary at his campus Hillel and Vice President of AEPi. Ari is excited to see what new perspectives the Nachshon Project will give him for his future as a Jewish professional.

Edison, NJ
Camp Ramah in the Poconos
The American University

Studying International Studies at The American Unviersity in Washington DC, Ben Hersch is most interested in conflict resolution and foreign policy in the Middle East. He just finished a two semester tenure as President of Students for Israel at AU. He also served as engagement intern at his campus’ Hillel, where he planned weekly meaningful Jewish programs for 45 Jewish students. When not at school, Ben spends his summers at Camp Ramah in the Poconos, where he will be staffing for his fourth consecutive summer. Ben is most inspired by the Jewish value of Avodah- the responsibility of the individual to work hard on behalf of the collective and hopes to one day make a career out of giving his all to the Jewish community.

Los Angeles, CA
Eden Village Camp
Columbia University and the Jewish Theological Seminary

Betty Soibel is from Los Angeles, though she moved across the country to attend the List College joint degree program at the Jewish Theological Seminary and Columbia University in New York. Betty is studying Jewish History and Urban Studies. She teaches at Hebrew School on Sundays and holds various positions at the Columbia-Barnard Hillel, including Peoplehood Project Fellow, Israel Fellowship Coordinator, and was a participant in the iEngage and Social Justice Fellowships. Last summer she was a counselor at Eden Village Camp, where she will return as Tribe Leader this coming summer. Betty is incredibly inspired by the power of Judaism's traditions and values in creating strong. lasting, and constantly evolving communities. She hopes to work in the field of Jewish activism and social justice, specifically by harnessing the strength of Jewish communal ties and values to create tangible social change.

Sugar Land, TX
URJ Greene Family Camp
University of Texas

Carly Abramson is from Sugar Land, Texas. She is a student at the University of Texas where she is majoring in Jewish Studies with a minor in Hebrew. Carly has spent the past fourteen summers at Greene Family Camp in Texas. For the last three summers she has been on staff as  a songleader. In high school Carly was a madricha at Congregation Beth Israel as well as a song leader. She was the Membership Vice President for her congregation’s youth group BIFTY (Beth Israel For Temple Youth), part of the NFTY movement. Currently at college she is a First Impression Intern at the Texas Hillel. Judaism inspires Carly to persevere even when it seems impossible. She aspires to become a Cantor and is looking forward to the journey.

Huntington, NY
URJ Camp Eisner
University of Delaware

Didi is active in Jewish life on her college campus at University of Delaware, where she served as the President of UD Hillel's chapter of Challah for Hunger. Currently a junior at UD, she is studying Human Services. Throughout middle school and high school Didi was involved with volunteer work at her local synagogue in Huntington, NY, her hometown. In the summers Didi attends URJ Camp Eisner, where she has been a counselor for three summers and this summer will be part of Senior Staff. What Didi loves about Judaism is that that there is an instant connection between herself and other Jews she meets, and she especially loves this homey feeling she gets when spending time in Israel. She hopes to one day work as a Jewish educator so that she can instill a great love for Judaism and Israel in children.

Deerfield, Illinois
URJ Camp OSRUI
University of Minnesota

Dylan Singer is originally from Deerfield, Illinois and is now a student at the University of Minnesota where he studies Business and Marketing Education, Hebrew, and Jewish Studies.  After this upcoming summer, he will have been a part of OSRUI for 12 summers including 5 on staff.  He has had many Jewish leadership positions including serving as Engagement Intern at Hillel, the Madrichim Coordinator at a synagogue, as well as the “Rosh Ivrit” for a unit within OSRUI.  Dylan is an integral part of OSRUI and has been a counselor in a unit with an emphasis on the kibbutz lifestyle for 3 summers.  Dylan loves that Judaism connects him to the larger world and especially Israel.  He is very excited to have to opportunity to study at The Hebrew University and strengthen his connection to Israel.

Long Island, NY
Camp Ramah in the Berkshires
The Ohio State University

Emily Rebenstock is originally from Long Island, New York, but currently studying Psychology at The Ohio State University, in Columbus. She has spent the past 11 summers at Camp Ramah in the Berkshires, and most recently was a counselor for the oldest campers, which was her favorite job in camp so far. While at school in Columbus, Emily works as a Teacher's Aide in a local after school Hebrew School and she leads the children's service on the High Holidays. Emily is involved in her campus Hillel regularly and is a member of Buckeyes for Israel, which is a group that promotes Israel education and advocacy on campus. Although she hasn’t yet decided how to incorporate Judaism into a lifelong profession, her Jewish experiences in camp have had an enormous impact on who she is today. Emily is excited to see how The Nachshon Project will encourage her to develop her leadership skills and inspire her even further!