Leah Hart Tennen – Community Care Director
I’m Leah, an HSJ Alum, Parent, and current Community Care Director. I live just outside of Boston, but grew up in Jackson, MS. This is my 2nd summer as CCD, but my 22nd summer at camp and 5th year on staff! When I’m not at camp, I’m the Director of Student Support and teach in the School of Social Work at Simmons University in Boston.
Hannah Bienvenu – Creative Arts Department Head
I am from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and am a full-time student. I run an online second- hand clothing shop during the year and help facilitate year-round camp events like NFTY, as well. I work often on educating people on fashion sustainability. This year, I am so excited to be the Creative Arts Department Head! I’m so thrilled for all the epic programming the specialists in my department are running! This is going to be my 6th summer at camp, 4th on staff.
Anya Rubstein – Adventure Department Head
I’m Anya and I’m from Jerusalem, Israel. This is going to be my second year at camp and I’m SUPERRRR excited to be adventure department head!!!!! During the year I study a lot, train for events like triathlons and travel as much as I can in Israel.
Hayley Royal – Olim Unit Head
Hi! My name is Hayley Royal and I am so excited to be back in Utica this summer as the Olim Unit Head! After spending 4 years in Baton Rouge studying at LSU, I am pumped to be returning to my hometown of Memphis to attend graduate school for speech language pathology. When I am not counting down the days until Camp, I love to read, listen to Taylor Swift, go for walks, and play Just Dance! This will be my 13th summer at Camp (and my fifth on staff!), and I truly cannot wait to show all of Camp why Olim is the best unit!!!!
Abby Shainberg – Garin Unit Head
Hi! My name is Abby Shainberg and I am from Memphis, TN. I am going into my senior year at the University of Georgia, and I am studying Communication Sciences and Disorders to become a speech- language pathologist. During the year, I volunteer at the UGA Speech and Hearing Clinic, which provides services to the local Athens community. I am so excited to be Garin unithead and back at camp for my 10th year, because camp is definitely my happy place! I can’t wait to see everyone’s smile on opening day, to be a part of this summer’s Jacobs magic, and to have the best time ever! GO GARIN!!!
Zoe Cole – Garin Unit Head
My name is Zoe Cole. I am from Jackson, MS. During the year, I teach first grade at Ann Smith Elementary. My role at camp this summer is Unit Head. This will be my second summer working at HSJ. I volunteer at my local soup kitchen, and stew pot, as well as with Beth Israel’s religious school. I am also a Youth Group advisor in Jackson with BITY.
Rebecca Lewis – Maskilim Unit Head
I grew up in Memphis, TN but during the year I live in Tuscaloosa attending the University of Alabama. I am a rising senior majoring in Public Health with a minor in Human Development. Along with school, I am also involved in research and have an internship with a non-profit doula organization in Birmingham. This will be my 13th summer at Jacobs Camp! I was a camper for all 8 summers, did Solelim, and was a counselor 2 summers ago. I am SO excited to come back this summer as a Unit Head, because camp is such a special place to me. This is really a full circle moment for me, as I grew up going to camp and my parents met here!
Ben Gettleman – Talmidim Unit Head
My name is Ben Gettleman and I am from Katy, Texas. I am graduating from Texas A&M University in May 2023 with a BA in Communication and plan on going into Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion after spending this summer at camp! This is my first summer at Jacobs Camp and I am super excited to be a Unit Head! At my university, I have been working for the LGBTQ+ Pride Center overseeing programming and social media for the past 2 years, started an organization for LGBTQ+ freshmen, and helped to run 24 Freshmen Leadership Organizations.
Ella Rockoff – Chalutzim Unit Head
I am from Jackson, MS and I am currently a rising senior at Birmingham- Southern College majoring in Psychology. I have been spending my summers at Jacobs Camp since I was 6 years old, and it has become my home away from home. This summer, I am going to be the Chalutzim unit head. This is my fourth year on staff and my second year being a unit head. I am super excited for this summer and all of the fun times that it will hold! See y’all in Utica!
Eyal Levy – Solelim Unit Head
Hi, it’s Eyal again. I’m a returning shaliach, this will be my 3rd summer at camp. I will be the solelim unit head this year for the second time in a row. I am from Ness – Ziona Israel. During the year I work as a sales manager in a small company in my city. I am looking forward to this summer to meet everyone and see my campers again!