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Meet Our Staff

David Weinstein – Executive Director

david-headshot-2David started in Young Judaea as a camper at Camp Young Judaea Sprout Lake the year it opened in 1976. He was a camper, kitchen boy, madrich and merakez at Camp Tel Yehudah as well as the former National Administrative Vice President and Education Director of Young Judaea. He attended Young Judaea Year Course 1982-83. During his 17 year “vacation” from YJ, David was a high school teacher, family educator, curriculum developer and educational consultant. He graduated from the University of Michigan (Go Blue!) with a degree in Judaic Studies and Political Science and has a master’s degree in education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. He also studied Jewish texts at Machon Pardes in Jerusalem. David met his wife, Amy, at Sprout Lake in 1976 and their two children, Mikaela and Kira, are now Judaeans as well. David returned as Director of Tel Yehudah in 2007 and is a graduate of the Foundation for Jewish Camp’s Executive Leadership Institute as well as a recipient of the Innovator Award from the Legacy Heritage Fund.

david@telyehudah.org

Noah Gallagher – Director

Noah Gallagher is the Director of Camp Tel Yehudah and a dedicated leader with a profound connection to the Young Judaea movement. Noah has been involved with Young Judaea from the time he was a camper at CYJ Midwest in the late 1980s. Noah’s passion for Jewish youth engagement is evident in every aspect of his work. As a proud father of three children who are, currently, campers at CYJ Sprout Lake and will be campers at Tel Yehudah in the near future, Noah is excited to bring his personal experience full circle and contribute to the camp’s mission, continuing the legacy that shapes the Jewish journeys of young leaders today.

noahg@telyehudah.org

Suzanne Margolis – Associate Director

Suzanne is the Associate Director at Tel Yehudah, bringing a wealth of experience from the world of Jewish and Israel youth education and programming. After graduating from Binghamton University with dual degrees in English Literature and Business Administration, she spent one year teaching English in Israel through the Masa Israel Teaching Fellows Program. Her professional journey includes four years working with Young Judaea in Israel, where she began as a madricha and eventually became the Tel Aviv Experience Manager for the Year Course program. In 2022, she joined Tel Yehudah’s full-time team, building on over 10 summers of camp experience, including her role as Rosh Machane at Tel Yehudah. Currently participating in the  Yitro Leadership Program through Foundation for Jewish Camps, Suzanne is excited to bring her learnings back to her work at Tel Yehudah. She is passionate about working with Jewish teens, dedicated to creating meaningful connections to Judaism and Israel through engaging and transformative experiences.

suzanne@telyehudah.org

Noah Wilker – Operations Director

noah-headshotNoah has spent the past 18 years participating in and working for Young Judaea. While growing up in New Jersey, he was involved in year round activities, attending both Camp Sprout Lake and Camp Tel Yehudah, and spent time in Israel on Machon in 1996 and Young Judaea Year Course (1998-1999). He attended Hofstra University and after graduating returned to Young Judaea, signing on as the Area Supervisor of the New York/Long Island regions. In 2008 Noah was hired full time by Camp Tel Yehudah as Operations Director. After years spent there as a camper and many summers working there, for him it was the perfect fit, and an opportunity to return to a place that he refers to as a “second home”. In his spare time Noah plays music around the Northeast and has recorded three albums. Playing music is a passion he also brings to camp, especially as a staple feature of our weekly Saturday night program!

noah@telyehudah.org

Joel Srebrenick – Director of Administration and Engagement

Joel Srebrenick is thrilled to be a full time member of the Camp Tel Yehudah team. Tel Yehudah is a place that has been a significant part of his life for over 15 years as both a camper and seasonal staff member. With a passion for Jewish youth engagement and a deep connection to Young Judaea, Joel brings a unique blend of personal experience and professional expertise to his new role. After graduating from the University of Maryland, Joel spent several years developing innovative programs with Young Judaea Year Course in Israel, where he served in multiple leadership roles including Director of Special Programs and Tel Aviv Experience Manager. Now, coming full circle back to Tel Yehudah, Joel is excited to contribute to the camp’s mission and continue the legacy that shaped his own Jewish journey.

joel@telyehudah.org

Erica Cohen – Director of Teen Education

With a long history of camping and Jewish youth groups, Erica is excited to join Camp Tel Yehudah and Young Judaea as Director of Teen Education. A lifelong New Yorker, Erica was active at NYU Hillel while in undergrad (and also spent considerable time as the NYU Mascot, dancing as the Bobcat at basketball games!), and has a master’s of social work in community organizing from Hunter College School of Social Work. She spent 10 years at UJA-Federation of NY growing the Center for Youth Philanthropy and Leadership, engaging hundreds of New York City teens as change makers and philanthropists. Erica has been a Ruskay Fellow, as well as a Jewish Education Project Generation Now Fellow, and participated in the Padaia Paradigm program in Sweden. Most recently, Erica was a Fellow in the Shalom Hartman Created Equal Educators Cohort. Erica has seen first hand the life-changing power of camp, and how teens can change the world, and is thrilled to be joining the Young Judaea world. Erica lives on the Upper West Side with her husband, Noah, and her three future Judaeans, Benji, Margot and Eva.

erica@telyehudah.org

Jim Kern – Caretaker

Sullivan County born and raised, Jim Kern joined the Tel Yehudah team in 2021. Jim is not only talented at caring for our facility, but is also an integral part of the community who will go above and beyond to keep everyone at camp healthy, safe, and happy.

Kris Garner – Maintenance Team Member

Kris Garner joined the Tel Yehudah full time team in 2024 after working two summers on our camp logistics team. Kris is hardworking and dedicated to making Tel Yehudah the best it can be.