Shalom! I am writing you with great excitement to share the conclusion of our search for Herzl’s next Executive Director. In January, Herzl Camp will welcome Josh Levine as our next leader.   Following camp last summer, we launched a robust search process and were overwhelmed by the quality of the candidates who applied. Herzl has established a leading reputation in the Jewish camping community and that was clear from the wonderful people who applied from across the country. Our search committee gathered feedback from our camp community on the type of leader who would best fit our organization’s needs and guide us into the future. After an extensive interview process, it was clear that Josh Levine is the perfect fit!    I’m honored to introduce you to Josh, a talented camp professional with over a decade of experience in Jewish camping. Josh was first the director and then executive director of Camp Alonim, an independent, pluralistic Jewish camp in California. In the tight-knit world of Jewish camping, our paths have crossed many times. Josh is a recognized leader in the field - presenting at Foundation for Jewish Camp and JCamp180 conferences. While Camp Alonim is a larger camp with an overnight camp, day camp, and a robust retreat center program, we share many commonalities as independent, pluralistic Jewish camps.   Knowing Josh’s depth of experience and training, I am confident that great things lie ahead for Herzl Camp! He will be making the move to the Twin Cities to take the helm in January. Stay tuned for opportunities to get to know Josh and share your thoughts about Herzl Camp’s future. My excitement for camp’s future is matched by my gratitude for the volunteers and staff who helped us recruit such a talented leader. Join me in thanking them! Our Search Committee Chairs, Ed Hoffman and Jim Segal, devoted countless hours to creating and leading a thorough and inclusive process. As an alum and camp dad, I am so grateful for their work.  Our Human Resources Consultant, Josh Youman of Youman Resources, did an outstanding job bringing in several top candidates in a competitive climate and keeping us on track.  These folks led a passionate, dedicated group of staff and volunteers on an exhaustive, inclusive, and thorough search process. This team has set Herzl Camp up for success in the coming months and years. From the bottom of my heart, I extend my deepest gratitude. Thank you for your support during this process and thank you in advance for welcoming Josh into the Herzl Family! L’Shalom,

Neil Fink  Herzl Camp President, Alumni, and Proud Camper Dad

Join us in welcoming Josh Levine!

Like many Jewish leaders, Josh Levine’s roots are in Jewish camp. Josh discovered his passion for Judaism, Israel, and the Jewish community while growing up at his local JCC and attending various camps, eventually finding himself at Camp Alonim where he was a camper, CIT, and longtime summer staff member. After graduating from Brown University and UC Berkeley Law School, Josh clerked for the U.S. Court of Appeals in Detroit and the U.S. District Court in Boston, and worked as a litigator at Skadden Arps. While the work in the legal profession was fulfilling, an opening at Camp Alonim brought Josh back to Jewish education in 2010, ready to put his talents to work growing future leaders.   “I love empowering young people to lead, stretch, learn, and grow,” says Josh. “Camp has a unique ability to enrich lives and build community. Counselors and activity leaders, many of whom were campers not long ago, become unforgettable role models as they care for and inspire the next generation -- all in a creative and embracing Jewish setting. This ‘l’dor v’dor’ dynamic is one reason camp is so good at helping people become the best versions of themselves, and why ‘camp people’ show up for one another and for the greater community for life.”    Over Josh’s decade at Camp Alonim and as Vice President of American Jewish University overseeing its Brandeis-Bardin campus where the camp is based, the organization grew significantly. Camper enrollment reached record levels and annual fundraising tripled. Josh secured grants for new teen opportunities, arts programs, Israel education, and wellness initiatives. He established partnerships with national organizations to advance inclusion efforts and increase professional development. Josh also launched year-round community programming, creating multi-generational Shabbat dinners and a range of outreach events. “Success requires involving people -- listening deeply to them, dreaming with them, and co-creating with them,” says Josh. “I’m a big believer in fostering an organizational culture of respect, service, curiosity, and innovation.”  During his years at Camp Alonim, Josh was selected for several prestigious programs including the Wexner Foundation Field Fellowship and the Foundation for Jewish Camp’s Executive Leadership Institute. Additionally, Josh deepened his Judaic and Israeli knowledge in the JCC Association’s Lekhu Lakhem Fellowship and his creative programming skills with M²: The Institute for Experiential Jewish Education. Like all independent, pluralistic Jewish camps, Camp Alonim and Herzl Camp share many opportunities and challenges. On top of that, Herzl and Alonim also share a unique bit of history: Harry and Rose Rosenthal founded Herzl Camp after their daughter’s experience at a Jewish camp out East … that camp was Brandeis Camp, which later opened a West Coast camp called Camp Alonim! It’s literally Jewish geography in action!  “I’ve been an admirer of Herzl Camp for a long time,” says Josh, “and I’m thrilled and honored to be its next Executive Director.” Josh will be joining Herzl Camp in January. Look for your invitation for virtual and in-person gatherings throughout the winter and spring months as we welcome Josh to the Herzl Family!

Our sincere gratitude to our search team

Bringing a new leader to a community-owned camp like Herzl truly takes a village. Recruiting a talented professional with deep experience in Jewish camping doesn’t happen by accident! We are deeply grateful for the hundreds of hours devoted by these tireless volunteers.

Our Search Committee Co-Chair Ed Hoffman, Past President, Camp Staff Parent Co-Chair Jim Segal, Board Secretary, Camp Staff Parent Jenna Budda, Camper Parent Libby Finn, VP of Programming, Camper Parent Neil Fink, Association Board President, Camper Parent Jason Grais, Association President-Elect, Camper Parent Andy Halper, Past Camp Director Sue Roether, Past President, Camper Parent Jeff Schachtman, Past President Jim Shear, Foundation Board President  Ellie Simon, Recent Camp Staff Max Wolpert, Recent Camp Staff Herzl Camp Foundation Board of Directors Jim Shear, President Dan Mosow, Treasurer Steve Gottlieb, Secretary Jason Divine David Ezrilov Bruce Fink Neil Fink Jack Fiterman Todd Geller Harold Goldfine Ed Hoffman Todd Lifson Abbi Rose Harold Smith Jim Smith Scott Tankenoff

Our Search Consultant Josh Youman, Youman Resources Our Clergy & Educators Council Representatives Chair, Rabbi Aaron Weininger Wendy Baldinger Jamie Diamond Rabbi Nicki Greninger Rabbi Ari Witkin Herzl Camp Association Board of Directors Neil Fink, President Jason Grais, President-Elect Libby Finn, Vice President Ilyse Goldsmith, Vice President Jason Divine, Treasurer Jim Segal, Secretary Ed Hoffman, Past President Mike Furman Dan Gelfman Amy Goldstein Josh Hasko Rachael Hoffman Kara Frank Randi Lachter Mike Lasser Donna Leviton Andrew Lifson Lindsay Litman Abby Loyd Jordan Marmet Jill Miller Audra Mintz Sam Rosen Paul Schraber Pennie Shapiro Josh Schulman Josh Stein Nancy Stillman John Vegas David Waller Lynn Zamansky

HERZL CAMP | herzlcamp.org

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