Tzevet 2021

Sarah (Bayer) Cohen
Rosh Mosh

Hi all! My name is Sarah and I’m excited that summer 2021 will be my homecoming to Moshava Wild Rose as Rosh Moshava. My first summer at Wild Rose was in 2007 and then I returned summer after summer holding roles as Madricha, Madricha Mach Hach, Rosh Eidah, and Sganit. Between my passion for the values of Bnei Akiva and my connection to the traditions of Wild Rose, I am eager to start planning an incredible summer. After graduating with a BA from Yeshiva University, I made aliyah to Jerusalem where I completed a Masters in Nonprofit Management and Leadership. I currently work for Yeshiva University in Israel as an Admissions Coordinator and live in Yerushalayim with my husband and daughter.

Rav Natan Brownstein
Camp Rav and Rosh Tzevet

Hello everyone! I’m so excited to be joining you this year as the Rav HaMachaneh & Rosh Tzevet. During my 13 summers as a camper, I grew from the vibrancy of camp; ruach, learning, friendships and powerful Jewish experience. I can’t wait to help make camp a meaningful and enjoyable experience for each of your children, instilling them with a love for Hashem, Torah, Am Yisrael, and Eretz Yisrael. I’ve spent my time as an educator working in sleepaway camps, day camps, NCSY, Youth Directing, and teaching in the classroom. Currently, I live in Hollywood Florida with my wife and three kids. I am a Rebbi and Director of Judaic Studies in the Brauser Maimonides Academy Middle School and am the Teen Rabbi at the Young Israel of Hollywood. In my spare time, I love to hike, swim, play sports, or listen to music.

Samantha Bersson
Camp Mom

I am so excited to join the Moshava family as Camp Mom this summer! I spent my youth working at JCC day camps in Illinois and at Camp Morasha in Pennsylvania.   This is my first summer at Camp Moshava and I know that many campers will be joining us for the first time as well. I can’t wait to explore camp with our newest campers and learn from our returning campers all the things that make Moshava amazing! I have been working as a public school teacher for over 18 years. I have degrees in Early Childhood Education, Special Education and Administration & Supervision. I have a wonderfully supportive husband, three energetic boys, and an adorable new puppy. I am always available to support parents and families so that together we can ensure that this summer is an incredible experience for each of our campers!

Steven Greenberg
Rosh Mitbach

Hello everyone. My name is Steven Greenberg and I am so happy to be back at Moshava as Rosh Mitbach. Back in the day I was a long time Moshava chanich and ended up heading to Eretz Yisroel for my gap year on Hachshara, a Bnei Akiva program. My family’s passion for Moshava continued with my sons attending and working at camp. You might know me through Chicago TailGators which I had owned for the last 10 years, head baseball coach for the Ida Crown Aces, and for my passion for food and community. I look forward to bringing innovative, healthy, and tasty foods to camp this summer along with a strong team in the kitchen.

Tobi Rifkind
Operations Director

Tobi Rifkind is thrilled to be joining Camp Moshava Wild Rose as the Summer Operations Director! Originally from Teaneck, NJ, she was a long time camper at various East Coast camps. For the past six summers, Tobi worked as the Director of Operations at Moshava Ba’ir in Paramus, NJ. Tobi brings her love of camp, a wealth of experience, and a plethora of innovative and creative ideas. On a personal note, Tobi and her family moved to Scottsdale, AZ to enjoy the year-round weather and wonderful quality of life. Since moving to AZ, Tobi has quickly become very involved in the Scottsdale community. She serves as the co-chair of the PTA and is the President of the Board of a newly formed Jewish Community High School. When not hiking, Tobi is reading books, hanging with her family and friends, and exploring the West Coast.

David Shyovitz
Rosh Chinuch

I am beyond thrilled to be joining the Moshava Wild Rose team as Rosh Chinuch! I spent my youth as a Bnei Akiva chanich and madrich in Silver Spring, MD, before going on to Yeshivat Har Etzion and the University of Pennsylvania. I’ve taught Jewish studies to middle and high schoolers, and am now a professor of Jewish History at Northwestern University, where I also direct our Center for Jewish and Israel Studies. I live in Skokie, IL, with my wife and our four wonderful kids. We spend as much time in Israel as we can, including a sabbatical year in Jerusalem, where I was a research fellow at the Hebrew University. I serve on the boards of the Chicago snif of Bnei Akiva and of Hillel Torah North Suburban Day School, and in my spare time I love running marathons, cooking, gardening, and embarrassing my kids by lip-syncing to Israeli rap music.

Jordana Ansel
Rosh Eidah Aleph

Hi Camp Moshava! My name is Jordana and I’m from Thornhill, Canada. After graduating from Tanenbaum CHAT, I spent a year in Israel at Midreshet Emunah V’Omanut and then headed to Moshava Ennismore as Sganit Eidah Aleph. I’m going into my third year at Queen’s University in Media and Performance Production with an Entrepreneurship Certificate! Camp has always been my happy place and after spending 7 summers as both a chanicha and tzevet at Moshava Ennismore, I’m super excited to be joining the Wild Rose family. After the year we’ve had, I cannot wait to be at camp! I know that many Aleph campers are coming to camp for the first time, and I’m looking forward to experiencing the magic of Moshava Wild Rose for the first time with all of you. See you in camp!

Kyle Seidel
Rosh Eidah Bet

Hello! My name is Kyle Seidel, and I am from Woodmere, New York. I spent four summers as a chanich in Wild Rose, then decided to come back to camp as a madrich two summers ago. After going to HAFTR high school I went to Israel for a year and a half in the Gush, and have now finished my third semester at Yeshiva University where I’m studying Computer Science along with my Jewish Studies. Having gone to other camps before, there is no camp like Moshava Wild Rose – it is an unbelievable place and I can’t wait to be back as a Rosh Eidah. Looking forward to having an incredible summer with everyone!

Leora Strauss
Co-Rosh Eidah Bet

Hi! My name is Leora Strauss and I’m from Toronto, Canada! After graduating from Ulpana, I spent a year in Israel at Sha’alvim and I am currently in Stern College majoring in accounting. I have spent many summers working at Moshava Bair Toronto and I cannot wait to come to Wild Rose for the first time! Looking forward to the best summer EVER!

Yaakov Weiss
Rosh Eidah Gimel

Hey! My name is Yaakov Weiss and I am so excited to be Rosh Eidah Gimmel this year at camp. After graduating Ida Crown I attended Yeshivat Reishit for two years. I am now finishing up my first year at Yeshiva University where I plan to major in finance. In the past I have worked on multiple summer programs such as Moshava and HASC.

Adina Weitzner
Rosh Eidah Daled

Hi! My name is Adina, and I was born and raised in Toronto! After graduating from Ulpana I spent a year in Israel at Midreshet Torah V’Avodah. I am currently studying Communications and Jewish Education at York University, and just finished my second year! When I’m not planning camp I work for Yachad and Bnei Akiva of Toronto.
Camp is genuinely my favourite place on earth. I have been going to Bnei Akiva camps my entire life, including three years at Moshava Ennismore as a camper; six years at Moshava Bair Toronto as a lifeguard and madricha; three years at Camp Stone as a lifeguard, madricha and Rosh Eidah; and one year at Wild Rose as an Avodah madricha! I am so excited to be coming back to Wild Rose this summer as Rosh Eidah Daled! Counting down the days until camp!

Penina Lis
Rosh Machal

Penina and her husband Imanuel met through Bnei Akiva as Tzevet and some of their best memories are from camp. Penina is originally from Skokie, IL and Imanuel grew up in Toronto, Canada after moving from Switzerland with his family.
Penina has her bachelor’s degree in counseling and is working on her masters in public health and dietetics. Her favorite peulot in camp are brecha, melechat yad, and of course shekem. Penina, Imanuel, and their fearless pup Acadia are pumped to be in camp this summer and bring the ruach, adventure, and fun “up the hill” to Machal!

Nachum and Shana Wasosky
Roshei Geerz

The Wasosky Family is so excited to be coming back to Moshava Wildrose for a third year to run camp’s AWESOME off-road biking program — GEERZ! Nachum has Rabbinical Ordination and is a Certified Family and Marriage Counselor. He is busy all year running Geerz in Israel. Geerz is a non-profit in both Israel and the US, which runs weekly therapeutic mountain bike rides for Israeli youth and teens. It is located in ten different cities and over 350 participants ride each week. Shana has a Masters in Education and is a full time high school teacher in an alternative learning environment. The program includes all subjects with individualized programs tailored to each child’s learning style. Shana also works in the Geerz’s office, helping to ensure that Geerz runs smoothly in Israel. Can’t wait to see you on the trail!

Miriam Klein
Rosh Breicha/Agam

Hi Moshava Wild Rose Family – I can’t wait to be your Rosh Breicha and Agam this summer! During the school year, I work as the Director of Educational Support for the Bnei Akiva Schools in Toronto. I have my degree in Education with a specialty in Special Education. More recently I have received my training in Mental Health First Aid. I have been a lifeguard for over 20 years and have worked in summer camps in America and Canada in that capacity for many of those years. My favourite role however, is being a wife to my husband Avi, and mom to my three amazing children- Ayelet, Joey and Yardena. I attended Moshava Ennismore and Camp Stone as a camper. Around 10 years ago I served as the Rosh Breicha for Moshava Bair Toronto for three years before taking the position as Rosh Breicha in Moshava Alevy. I am so excited to work with my team of lifeguards to create a fun & exhilarating waterfront. Get ready for an incredible summer!

Kaley Wacjman Schwartzbard
Rosh Melechet Yad

I’m so excited to be returning to Camp Moshava Wild Rose as the Melechet Yad facilitator. I attended Camp Moshava in 2001 and 2003 and am thrilled to be bringing back my own family to share in the joy and build memories as first-time Wild Rose chanichim! Since attending camp, I pursued a Bachelors in Fine Arts from Stern College for Women and then a Master’s in Clinical Art Therapy from Long Island University. I am currently a Board Certified and Registered Art Therapist and work as the Art Therapist at our local children’s hospital in Kansas City.