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.

Brandeis University
Camp Ramah Darom
Atlanta, GA

Aaron is a junior at Brandeis University, majoring in Education Studies and minoring in Psychology, Near Eastern and Judaic Studies, and Economics. Aaron is on the student board for Brandeis Hillel as Education Coordinator. He is the outgoing Co-President of Shira Chadasha at Brandeis, a Hillel member-group and partnership minyan. Aaron is a volunteer at Jewish Family & Children's Services' memory café, a warm and welcoming space for individuals with dementia. He is a research assistant on the Jewish Day Schools History Project for the Mandel Center for Studies in Jewish Education. This past summer, Aaron was a Goldman Fellow at the American Jewish Committee (AJC). Aaron is very passionate about Jewish pluralism and bringing together students of various Jewish backgrounds and affiliations through engaging educational opportunities.

Brush Prairie, WA
URJ Camp Kalsman
University of Washington

Aaron Spiro's combined passion for Judaism and music has led him to become an active leader in his various communities. In high school, Aaron was President of the music program, which gave him the skills needed to become the song leader in his temple youth group, at URJ Camp Kalsman, and at Temple Beth Am. Aaron won the John Philip Sousa Award for outstanding musician, and now he's independently recording and releasing an album. He also won the Youth Achievement Award for Business, Entrepreneurship, and Family Values by opening his own computer repair business when he was 15, as well as graduating Clark College with a business administration degree when he was 18. Aaron hopes to use the Jewish values he learned from his mentors and his various experiences to give back to the Jewish community, which he credits with shaping every aspect of his life. He's currently a junior at the University of Washington. 

Largo, FL
American University
URJ Camp Coleman

Aaron Torop grew up in St. Petersburg, Florida, and currently attends American University in Washington DC, pursuing a double major in Jewish Studies and Political Science. Aaron is a member of the School of Public Affairs Leadership Program and served as a First-Year teaching assistant. He spent the summer of 2016 in Melbourne, Australia, as an AJC Goldman Fellow at the Australia/Israel and Jewish Affairs Council. This past year, he interned at the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism and led AU Hillel's weekly text study group. He has attended URJ Camp Coleman since he was 5 years old, serving for two summers as a camp counselor with 10-12 year olds. He is inspired by the deep, intrinsic connection of Judaism with social justice, and interested in motivating Jewish communities to get involved in justice work. He hopes to become a rabbi and work in the Reform movement on issues of social justice.

Binghamton University
Brookline, MA

Abby is an honors student at Binghamton University studying Neuroscience and Economics. Raised in a baal teshuva family, she has been actively exploring her Jewish identity from a young age. Resonating most with the Torah Umadda philosophy, she switched to the Modern - Orthodox Maimonides School -- after years of public school -- before spending a year in Israel at Machon Ma’ayan Seminary. Over the years she has been involved with Cteen, NCSY, Russian-Jewish Community Foundation, JLIC, ChabadonCampus, and more. At Binghamton, she makes sure to give back to the robust Jewish community, to make time for Jewish learning, and to contribute her energy and effort to making the university environment a better place through her leadership positions in student government, honors program, and other student organizations. More than anything she loves connecting with new people. Not growing up as part of any one [Jewish] community, however, she understands how alienating it can be to feel like an outsider. With the help of the Nachshon Project, and by integrating her education in behavioral science, she seeks to become a Jewish leader that is committed to promoting inclusivity and growth. 

Penn Valley, PA
University of Michigan

Adam Grimes is a senior at the University of Michigan studying public policy. On campus, Adam has served as a leader in his Hillel's Israel education space and continues to act as a leading advocate against antisemitism. He is passionate about political advocacy in the Jewish community, having interned for the venerable Ted Deutch in Congress and founding Michigan's foremost student-led political organization, FlipBlue. Currently, Adam is an intern for the Wilson Center Middle East Program where he researches Israel and its newfound partnerships in the Middle East. Following the Nachshon Project, Adam hopes to one day serve the Jewish community in a political advocacy role.

Skokie, IL
University of Illinois
Camp Young Judaea, Midwest

Coming from Skokie, IL, Adina Lipschultz is pursuing a degree in Communications at the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana, with a minor in Art and Design. At school Adina is on the executive board of her sorority, and she writes for the Odyssey and HerCampus Illinois, two online publications. She is also the photographer for HerCampus. This past summer Adina was a Merkezet/Unit Head at Camp Young Judaea Midwest for 5th and 6th graders. Adina loves the fact that Judaism is so unique to each person and how there is so much to learn from other Jews. She loves that questioning is encouraged in order to inspire growth. Adina is exploring her own place within the Jewish professional world, possibly with children and youth groups. She hopes to integrate meditation into her work.

University of Toronto
Toronto, ON

Adina lives in Toronto, and is studying English, Psychology and Jewish Studies at the University of Toronto. On campus, she is on the board at Hillel; she edits a literary journal; she plays music with other students for patients at a nearby hospital; and she volunteers at a student-run sustainable cafe. Adina is inspired by Judaism's propensity towards questioning. Nothing is meant to just be accepted; everything is meant to be questioned and discussed. This gives way for us to find personal meaning in its teachings.

Columbia University & JTS
Camp Ramah in Wisconsin
Deerfield, IL

Alan is a junior in the Joint Program between Columbia University and the Jewish Theological Seminary, majoring in History and Talmud & Rabbinics. This year, he serves on the Hillel International Student Cabinet, working to strengthen the Hillel movement internationally and on college campuses. He is the Politics Editor for The Current, a student journal at Columbia, a member of the Judaism & Education Fellowship at Columbia/Barnard Hillel, and on the Columbia Tae Kwon Do team. Previously, he served two years on student council. During the summer, Alan calls Camp Ramah in Wisconsin home, where he helps lead the shira (songleading) program. One day, Alan hopes to attend rabbinical school.

Randolph, NJ
URJ Camp Harlam
University of Michigan

Alana is a senior at the University of Michigan, majoring in Political Science and Judaic Studies, and minoring in Community Action and Social Change through the School of Social Work. Alana spent 10 summers as a camper at URJ Camp Harlam, and 3 as a staff member. Alana served as Michigan Hillel’s Chair of the Governing Board from 2020 to 2021. She now works as the Supervisor for their Matzah Ball Soup delivery program, known as Jewish Penicillin Hotline. She also serves as a Judaic Studies Student Ambassador on Campus. During the summer of 2022, Alana interned in the Development Department of the American Jewish Committee, through their Goldman Fellowship Summer Program. She now serves on their Campus Global Board. Alana is spending the first semester of her senior year as the Development intern for the Jewish Democratic Council of America. Continuing on this path, Alana hopes to work in the Jewish nonprofit world, and one day attend graduate school.