Risa Epstein| founder (She/Her)
Risa Epstein has been the National Executive Director for Canadian Young Judaea since 1992. As a child she attended Camp Shalom, Camp Solelim, Camp Biluim Canada (1980!), and Biluim Israel. Risa acted as Solelim staff for three years, and transitioned into Camp Biluim Canada Program Director in 1986 where she met her husband, the Israeli Shaliach. As Director of Camp Solelim for 13 years Risa expanded her portfolio on what it meant to be an educator, why it was so important, and how leaders can learn from each and every one of their campers.
In the beginning of 2017, Risa was approached by CYJ's social worker with a conundrum. There is a gap in the Jewish community that needed to be filled. Along with the social worker Gaela Mintz, Risa decided that she needed to create a space within Canadian Young Judaea where children and teenagers could freely express and celebrate their gender identity, and sexual orientation, while exploring their Jewish Identity in a camp setting. Risa is thrilled to be working with such an amazing team to bring Machane Lev to life!
Galia Amoils | Camp Administrator (They/TheM)
Galia is a proud Canadian Young Judaea (CYJ) alumnus after attending Camp Shalom, Solelim, Biluim Canada, and Bilium Israel before returning as staff and head staff for six summers Camp Shalom. Galia has been involved in LGBTQ+ communities in Toronto and Birmingham, UK. They participated with Kulanu Toronto throughout the years and have presented at universities about the intersectionality between Queer and Jewish identities. More recently as their own gender journey has progressed, they have become more involved and entrenched in the trans/non-binary community here in Toronto.
Galia is proud to be a part of such an inclusive and revolutionary effort to reshape the camp experience in a way that challenges the binary and standards of normativity. At the end of the day, kids just want to be kids and we are committed to cultivating and growing the safe space that is Machane Lev, so that no camper is left behind.
Sheri Krell | Camp Administrator (She/Her)
Sheri joined the Canadian Young Judaea (CYJ) family as a junior camper at Shalom when she was 8-years old and progressed through the CYJ program attending Camp Shalom, Solelim, and Bilium Canada. She was thrilled to return as staff and head staff at Camp Shalom for four summers. Since graduating from the CYJ summer camp experience, Sheri has been extensively involved with the Jewish community as the Kingston Jewish Council’s UJA staff member, Queen’s Hillel President, Canadian Federation of Jewish Students Vice-President of Programming, Executive Director of Kulanu Toronto (formerly Toronto’s LGBTQ+ Jewish organization), and most recently as a member of the CIJA LGBTQ+ Advisory council. Additionally, Sheri has been volunteering for the past five years at Camp Oochigeas.
Sheri is looking forward to building on the momentum that Machane Lev has experienced over the past three years. Specifically, she is hoping to increase camper enrollment, expand our reach into more diverse Jewish communities throughout North America, strengthen the community bond through year-round programming, and increase fundraising efforts to ensure accessibility to any eligible child.