YOUTH LEADERSHIP
Gilboa counselors are known for their boundless energy, huge hearts, and passionate idealism. They collectively create a summer and year-round curriculum meant to inspire and empower campers. College-aged counselors are summer educators and mentors and are joined by high school CITs during the year. Together they help grow each camper’s individual strengths, building their leadership, critical thinking, and teamwork skills. They are supported by year-round staff who train and advise them.
Graduates of Camp Gilboa and Habonim Dror leadership programs go on to engage in the community, becoming leaders and activists in social justice, communal and Israel-related organizations during and after college.
SUMMER LEADERSHIP 2019
Mazkirut (Senior Staff)
Tzevet Madatz + Rashei Mitbach
EIZOR (YEAR-ROUND) LEADERSHIP 2019/20
YEAR-ROUND STAFF
Camp Gilboa staff are based in our Los Angeles office throughout the year. They support and mentor the youth leadership and ensure all Gilboa activities are safe and fun! Dalit, Gilboa’s Executive Director, is at camp throughout the whole summer, supporting the camp nurse and youth leadership in creating a safe and healthy camp environment. You'll find Gilboa staff at activities throughout the year - at seminars, ken events, and community outreach activities - working together with the youth leadership to ensure the Gilboa community remains meaningful and magical.
Julie Macht, Chair
Fundraising Consultant
Mark Howorth, Vice-President
CEO, SDI Media
Previous Lay Leadership:
Vice President at Congregation Tikvat Jacob
The best parenting decision my wife and I ever made was to send our two son’s to Camp Gilboa 14 years ago. Watching them grow into young adults and seeing how their Gilboa experience has shaped them into who they are today has been one of the most rewarding experiences of our lives. Both sons stayed involved on Tzevet (staff) and one was even Rosh Machaneh (head of camp). Along the way, I felt the need to participate as well and joined the Board six years ago, and spent the last two years as President. In my Board time, I have been proud to help Gilboa grow in all directions: more chanichimot (campers), more donations, more programs during the year, improved camp experience during the summer, a new basketball court and even paying off the loan on our amazing 44 acre site in Big Bear. As a business person, it has also been a great growth experience for me to participate in an organization which is truly “youth led” with a totally different decision making process, hierarchy and culture from what I experience in the corporate world.
Sarah Breiner, Treasurer
Alisa Belinkoff Katz, Secretary
Associate Director, Los Angeles Initiative
Department of Public Policy, UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs
My first Gilboa pe’ulah (activity) was an Oneg Shabbat in 1963 which ended, as all Habonim Friday nights must end, in Israeli dancing. It was the dance that hooked me. These kids had unity, they had purpose, they had pride; they were part of something bigger than themselves. Gilboa gave me all of that and more. There, I learned to express myself and to unleash my creativity. I learned the meaning of “chevra” – society, community, teamwork. My greatest achievements in a career of public service have come about through the expression of Habonim/Gilboa values.
Liz Raider
Previous Lay Leadership:
David Beenhouwer
Bio Coming Soon!
Mathis Chazanov
Journalist (retired)
A former camper and counselor, I love the spirit and enthusiasm of everybody involved, and especially how the program is open to all kinds of kids. And it's such a beautiful place.
Evan Goldblatt
Medical Researcher - West LA VA
Since my first summer at machaneh, Gilboa has been a second home - providing a place for friendship, community, and love. As I got older and took on more leadership roles at camp, including a summer as Technical Director and two as the Ranger, I developed a deep appreciation for the work done behind the scenes that enables the tzevet to run a successful and safe summer. As a member of the Board and Chair of the Facilities Committee, I work to provide a solid foundation for tzevet to build many more beautiful summers.
Norm Kane
Rachael Sevilla
Bio Coming Soon!
Laurie Earp
I only dreamt that my children could grow up in as inspiring a setting as my summers at then-UAHC Camp Swig. I found my place in the Kibbutz sessions of camp, as a CIT, staff member, and counselor –developing a stronger sense and passion for social justice, activism, along with a commitment to social democracy, that shaped who I became and to what I have devoted my life and career. When my children found their way to Camp Gilboa, my dream came true. I love who they have become and how they have been encouraged to develop programs for others that nurture the individual within a strongly Jewish, Social Justice, and Fun setting. I am honored to be a part of this community and hope to help it grow further.
Tyson Roberts
Helen Katz (Z"L - August 2019)
It is our deepest sadness to share that Helen passed away in August 2019. She will be missed.
Previous Lay Leadership:
Progressive Jewish Alliance, Board Member
JCCA, Past Chair of the Board of Directors
Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles, Committee Chair
Camp Gilboa and the Habonim Youth Movement, which was a big part of my teen years, helped make me the activist I have been throughout my life. From my family I knew that I had a responsibility to all people to work for social justice and equality in the world. Camp and the movement taught me that I could really make a difference if I worked strategically with others. It also gave me years of fun and many wonderful friendships.
Yahli Livni
Bio Coming Soon!
Sarah Benor
Bio Coming Soon!
Michal Lemberger
Writer/Editor/Teacher
Naomi Cohen
Bio Coming Soon!
Maya Paz
Bio Coming Soon!
David Oderberg
My introduction to the Institute of Jewish Education (Gilboa's LA HQ) was as nursery school student many years ago. I attended Hebrew School there was well, eventually joining Habonim, making life-long friends and growing up in Gilboa. I went on Workshop (Habonim-Dror's gap year in Israel), studied in Israel for my college junior year, and led tours to Israel. All this was made possible by a large group of volunteers on the "Camp Committee". When my kids were of age, Gilboa was right there, teaching them the values that I had learned years before and that had shaped my life in so many ways. Now they have "graduated" from Gilboa, and I hope that someday, their children will attend. I joined the board of Gilboa and of the Institute to "pay it forward" and to make sure that we continue to inspire generations of Jewish youth to support Israel, embody Jewish values, and to "Be the change that we wish to see in the world". Alei U'vneh!
Ettie Taft
Bio Coming Soon!
Amalia Walker
Bio Coming Soon!
Ronnie Hecht
Bio Coming Soon!
Quinn Tassin
Bio Coming Soon!
Dani Lainer-Vos
Bio Coming Soon!
The Habonim Dror Camp Gilboa Board and its committees are comprised of highly dedicated alumni, parents of campers, Habonim-Dror ma’apilimot (youth leadership) and friends of Gilboa who volunteer their time, energy and support.
Click below to learn about the impact that Camp Gilboa has had on their lives.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
AND LAY COMMITTEES
Please email the Board President if you’d like to pitch in.