David and Hannah Fischberger, Group Leaders

Camp/Tour Experience: The Fischbergers were directors/owners of Camp Lavi for over 25 years and have been involved with all levels of Jewish Camping for even longer. They will bring all those years of experience to bear on our Achva Israel trip. We are excited to have them join us on Achva this summer.

Fun Fact(s): David and Hannah have a granddaughter attending Achva West this summer.

Elan Kugel, Head Counselor

Hometown: Boro Park, N.Y. 
Achva Experience: Counselor on West 2005, 2009, Counselor on Europe/Israel 2007, 2008
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 
Fun Fact(s): Elan collects computer animation DVD's (Pixar, Disney, etc..)

Randee Sultanik

Hometown: Flatbush, N.Y.
Achva Experience: Counselor Achva West 2008, Achva Israel 2009
Other Camp/Youth Experience: Counselor at Camp Morasha 2005, Counselor at Camp Mesorah 2006, Youth Leader at the Young Israel of Flatbush 2003-5
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.

Avi Narrow-Tilonsky, Counselor, Rabbinic Advsior

Hometown: Philadelphia, PA
Achva Experience: Asst. Rabbinic Counselor, Achva West 2009
Rabbinic Experience: Third year smicha YU RIETS, Rabbinic Intern-Congregation Agudath Shalom, Stanford, Ct. YU Travelling Kollel- Charleston, S.C. 2008.
Camp/Youth Experience: Counselor at Camp Hasc 2004, NCSY advisor 2004- present;
Israel Yeshiva/Seminary: Yeshivat Torah Shraga
College/Major: YU/Economics
Masters: Baruch/Public Administration
Fun Fact(s): Avi back-packed through India in 2007. 

Aden Ratner-Stauber

Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Camp/Youth Experience: Education Director of Camp Gan Israel (Australia) 2009, Yachad advisor 2008-present
High School: YULA
Israel Yeshiva/Seminary: Midreshet Moriah
College/Major: NYU/Psychology of Intolerance
Special Skills: Guitar, drawing and acting (she’s from LA after all :)
Fun Fact(s): Aden is a docent at the Simon Wiesenthal Center's Museum of Tolerance

Etai and Ariella Elstein, Israel Staff

Hometown: Jerusalem, Israel
Jobs: Tour Guide and Madricha
Married: 6 months ago
Doing now: Etai is a tour guide and a madrich for the 11th grade in Netiv Meir Yeshiva High School. Ariella, a native South African, is in Emunah college studying graphic design.

Michael and Devora Courtney, Head Counselors

Michael
Hometown: Hollywood, FL
Camp/Youth Experience: Sports Staff, Camp Raleigh, 1997, Counselor at Camp Sol Taplin (Florida) 2000-2001, College Counseling/Teacher/Basketball Coach- SAR H.S. 2007-present
High School: Hillel community Day School, Miami
College/Major: NYU/History
Masters: NYU/Sports Business
Special Skills: Michael speaks fluent Spanish and is an incredible pianist.
Fun Fact(s): Michael was part of the NBC production team for the Olympics in Greece in 2004.

Devora
Hometown: Hollywood, FL
Camp/Youth Experience: Counselor at Camp Moshava 1999, High School History Teacher- NYC Dept. of Education
Israel Yeshiva/Seminary: Midreshet Lindenbaum
College/Major: Columbia/History 
Masters: Columbia/Internationa; Education Development
Special Skills: Singing- Devorah directed the Columbia University’s Jewish A Cappella group
Fun Fact(s): Devora spent a semester studying abroad in Australia

Rabbi Josh and Pircha Alpert, Rabbinic Counselor

Hometown: West Hempstead, NY
Rabbinic/Youth Experience: Teacher/Music Director at HAFTR Lower School 2009-present.
Summer Program Experience: Head Counselor/Assistant Rabbi at Camp Shachar 2007. Youth Director at Sephardic Temple of Long Beach 2006-2007
Rabbinic Training: Chabad Rabbinical Seminary
College/Major: Long Island University/ BFA in Music
Special Skills: Josh is a gifted musician and does outreach performances under the moniker Mr. Shabbos.
Fun Fact(s): Josh is a real outdoorsman and has toured through the US several times. He is very familiar with the National Parks Achva West visits.

Jason Saibel

Hometown: West Orange, N.J.
Camp/Youth Experience: Youth Leader at Congregation AABJ&D 2007-2009. Lifeguard at Camp Esh 2005.
High School: Frisch
Israel Yeshiva/Seminary: Eretz Hatzvi
College/Major: YU/Finance
Special Skills: Certified in CPR and First-Aid.
Fun Fact(s): Jason lives across the street from Achva Director Roger Braverman.

Dena Guttman

Hometown: Bergenfield, N.J.
Achva Experience: Participant on Achva West 2004
Other Camp/Youth Experience: Sports Staff at Camp Mesorah 2006. Counselor at Camp HASC 2207-2009.
High School: Bat Torah
Israel Yeshiva/Seminary: MMY
College/Major: Stern/Accounting
Fun Fact(s): Following in the footsteps of her siblings, Dena is the third member of her family to work on Achva West.

Ari Matityahu

Hometown: New Rochelle, NY
Camp/Youth Experience: Lifeguard at Camp Moshava 2007, 2008. Freshman Adviser at SAR High School 2009-10.
High School: SAR
Israel Yeshiva/Seminary: Netiv Aryeh
College/Major: Yeshiva University/Business
Special Skills: Ari is an EMT, a firefighter, and speaks Spanish.
Fun Fact(s): Ari is a skilled martial arts instructor.

Reba Rosen

Hometown: West Hempstead, N.Y.
Camp/Youth Experience: Counselor at Camp Stone 2007, 2008, 2009. Rosh Madricha for Bnei Akiva 2009.
High School: Central (YUHSG)
Israel Yeshiva/Seminary: Shaalavim for Women
College/Major: Queens College/Elementary Education
Special Skills: Certified in CPR, First-Aid, and A-MAP
Fun Fact(s): Reba is a fan of Justin Bieber and the Jonas Brothers, and isn’t afraid to admit it.

Ilana Wilner

Hometown: New Rochelle, NY
Camp/Youth Experience: Counselor at Camp Morasha 2008. Head Counselor at Westchester Summer Day 2007. Youth Leader at the Young Israel of Scarsdale 2004-2007
High School: SAR
Israel Yeshiva/Seminary: Michlelet Mevaseret Yerushalayim (MMY)
College/Major: Stern/ Talmud
Special Skills: Ilana speaks Spanish.
Fun Fact(s): Ilana plays the bongos.

Jordan Feld

Hometown: Hillcrest, NY
Achva Experience: Participant on Achva West 2004
Other Camp/Youth Experience: Head Lifeguard at Camp Moshava 2008, Lifeguard 2006, 2007. Youth Leader at the Young Israel of Hillcrest 2008,2009
High School: MTA
Israel Yeshiva/Seminary: Netiv Aryeh
College/Major: YU/Accounting
Special Skills: Jordan is a certified Lifeguard and is certified in First Aid.
Fun Facts: Jordan is a member of the YU Fencing team.

Elana Maslow

Hometown: Cedarhurst, NY
Camp/Youth Experience: Counselor at Camp Nesher 2002-2005. Student Programming Director at SKA 2008-2009. High School: SKA
Israel Yeshiva/Seminary: Shaalavim
College/Major: Queens College/Psychology
Grad School: NYU/Occupational Therapy
Fun Fact(s): Elana Toured through Europe last summer.

Yoni Glatt, Head Counselor

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, 2008, 2009
Other Youth/Camp Experience: Staff, Camp Raleigh 1997, Counselor, Camp Hillel 2000, 2001, Assistant Division Head in Camp Hillel 2002. Madrich at Yeshivat Reishit Yerushalayim 2002, 2004.
Israel Yeshiva/Seminary: Reishit
College/Majors: Queens College/English, Film, Media Studies
Graduate School: Queens College
Fun Fact(s):  Yoni manages the popular Jewish band Yaakov Chesed.

Avi Lichtschein, Rabbinic Counselor

Hometown: Teaneck, NJ
Rabbinic Experience: Smicha- YU RIETS (2011), Kolel Member- Congregation Keter Torah (aka Roemer), Teaneck, NJ
Camp/Youth Experience: Camp Morasha Bet Midrash 2007, Camp Mesorah Mashgiach/Kolel Member 2005-2006, Camp Lavi staff 2003-04
Israel Yeshiva/Seminary: Yeshiva Reishit Yerushalayim (2 years)
College/Major: YU/History
Masters: YU/Jewish History
Special Skills: Drums
Fun Fact(s): Avi is a huge fan of the Simpson's and can do many funny voices.

Jordy Spector

Hometown: Lawrence, N.Y.
Achva Experience: Participant- West 2005, Europe/Israel 2006
Other Youth/Camp Experience: Counselor- Camp Hasc 2009, Sports Staff- Camp Lavi 2007, 2008.
Israel Yeshiva/Seminary: Tiferet
College: Queens College
Fun Fact(s): Jordy once hit a half court basketball shot….while blindfolded.

Rebecca Zimilover

Hometown: Merrick, NY
Youth/Camp Experience: Head Counselor- Camp Avnet 2009, Counselor- Camp Morasha- 2008
Israel Yeshiva/Seminary: Tiferet
College/Major: Queens College/English and History
Fun Fact(s): Rebecca did relief work in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina

Ilan Weitzman

Hometown: New Rochelle, NY
Achva Experience: Participant on West 2005, Europe/Israel 2006
Camp/Youth Experience: Counselor at Camp Lavi 2007 and 2008, Group Leader- Young Israel of New Rochelle 2006-2009
High School: Frisch
Israel Yeshiva/Seminary: Shvilei HaTorah
College/Major: University of Maryland/Astronomy
Fun Fact(s): Ilan sometimes works as a Kosher hot dog vendor at Citi Field