Josh Rubin, Group Leader

Israel/Tour Experience: Josh has been involved with running and overseeing Israel tours since 1987.
Rabbinic/College Experience: Josh received his rabbinic ordination from Rabbi Shlomo Riskin, and has a graduate degree in Educational psychology.
Family Situation: He is married to Annette and they live in Israel with their five children
Teaching Experience: Josh teaches high school students on any Judaic topic, runs nature walks and does song and story sessions with his melodic guitar.
Fun Fact(s): Josh is the author of “Spiritual Awakenings” in which he explores the spirituality of Shabbat and the holidays.

Debbie Shatzkes, Associate Head Counselor

Hometown: Flatbush, N.Y.
Achva Experience: West, Europe/Israel, Israel, Head Bus Counselor, this will be Debbie's 5th Summer on Achva. Other Counselor Experience: Hillel, Counselor for 2 year.
High School: Yeshiva of Flatbush
College/Major: Brooklyn College, Psycology Graduate School/Degree: Hofstra University, Masters in Industrial Organizational Psychology
Fun Fact(s): Debbie loves fishing and relaxing at her country home in the mountains.

Randee Sultanik

Hometown: Flatbush, N.Y.
Achva Experience: Counselor Achva West 2008
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.

Zack Zimmern

Hometown: Merrick, NY 
Achva Experience: Participant on Israel, 2001, Counselor,  West 2008
Other Camp/Youth Experience: Counselor at Camp Lavi 2003, 2002, Counselor at Camp Hillel 2000.
High School: Torah Academy of Suffolk County (TASC)
College/Major: Yeshiva University/Economics, Sociology, Hebraic Studies
Fun Fact(s):  Zack was President of the Literacy Program at YU, which tutors school children in Washington Heights.

Our Israel Based Staff

Tehila Shoshana, Tour Guide: An experienced guide with two years of Achva Experience already under her belt. Welcome back Tehila!

Ari Polushuk, Tour Guide: A South African native, Ari teaches in a girls' school in Tiberias. He's been guiding American tours for 3 years and has a great love for all people and the land of Israel.

Shira Litke, Counselor: Shira is From Elazar in Gush Etzion. Shea has high energy, and a great outgoing personality. Shira also plays guitar really well.

Natan Milatovsky, Counselor. His parents made Aliyah from America. He has great personality and kids just really like Natan.

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
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.

Lana Glatt, Surprise Guest

Hometown: Melbourne, Australia 
Achva Experience:  Tour Mother, West 2008
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
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.

Miriam Shatzkes, Assistant Head Counselor

Hometown: Flatbush, N.Y.
Achva Experience: Counselor on West 2005, 2006, 2007, Bus Leader, Europe/Israel 2008
Other Camp/Youth Experience: Counselor in Camp 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.

Elan Kugel

Hometown: Boro Park, N.Y.
Achva Experience: Counselor on West 2005, 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..)

Michelle Liberman

Hometown: Teaneck, NJ
Achva Experience: Participant on on West 2004
Other Camp/Youth Experience: Staff, Camp Moshava 2007
High School: Frisch
Israel Yeshiva/Seminary: Shaalvim for Women
College/Major: Barnard College
Fun Fact(s): Michelle is an avid fan of indoor skiing.

Josh Frenkel

Hometown: Woodmere, NY
Camp/Youth Experience: Counselor Staff, Morasha in Israel, Lifeguard/Swimming Instructor at various summer camps
High School: MTA
College/Major: Brooklyn College
Medical School: NYMC School of Medicine
Fun Fact(s): Josh does various extreme sports for fun and relaxation.

Rebecca Grazi

Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Camp/Youth Experience: Camp Staff, Moshava, Nesher, Avnet
High School: Yeshiva of Flatbush
Israel Yeshiva/Seminary: Emunah V'Omanutt
College/Major: Stern College
Fun Fact(s): Rebecca dabbles in Karate so don't mess with her.

Rabbi Lieutenant Moshe Grussgott, Rabbinic Advisor

Hometown: Montreal, Quebec and Philadelphia, PA
Achva Experience: Counselor West 2002, Rabbinic Advisor West 2008
Rabbinic Experience: Smicha from YU RIETS, US Army Chaplain, Associate Rabbi at Congregation Ramat Orah
Camp/Youth Experience: Counselor numerous years in Camp Stone, YUSSR, Kanfei
Israel Yeshiva/Seminary: Ohr Yerushalayim
College/Major: YU/Jewish History
Special Skills: Guitar, Baal Koreh, French
Fun Fact(s): Runs a Jewish Music Venue called the ROC House at Ramat Orah in Manhattan.

Avi Narrow-Tilonsky, Counselor, Rabbinic Assistant

Hometown: Philadelphia, PA
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.