General Staff Information
Ramah in the Rockies hires an outstanding team of people who have extensive wilderness training and backgrounds in outdoor education. We pride ourselves on having an extraordinarily mature, experienced, and well-trained tzevet (staff) that is uniquely accomplished and is amongst the most highly regarded of any Jewish summer camp in the country. We know that safety is absolutely critical to the success of our program, and as such, ensure that every excursion that leaves our base camp is staffed with at least one madrich (counselor) who has been trained as a Wilderness First Responder.
Our madrichim also act as role models for our chalutzim. Through sharing Jewish values and traditions, teaching outdoor activities, and connecting personally with chalutzim, our summer staff serves as a fully mobilized support system for all campers. This supportive, non-competitive and friendly environment encourages chalutzim to move beyond their comfort zones to experience new, unexpected levels of confidence and personal achievement.
Rabbi Eliav Bock
Executive Director &
Camp Director
Eliav brings extensive experience in outdoor camping and leadership to Ramah in the Rockies. A native of the Boston area and former Boy Scout, he has spent 11 summers working in other Ramah camps in a variety of specialty areas, including five years as an outdoor adventure leader in Camp Ramah, Canada. Ordained as rabbi by the Jewish Theological Seminary in 2009, Eliav is especially interested in helping youth connect to their Jewish souls through nature and the great outdoors. Prior to rabbinical school, Eliav worked in the finance industry in New York City. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Bible and a Master of Arts degree in Jewish Education, as well as a Bachelor of Arts degree in Urban Studies from Columbia University. Eliav has been awarded the Pomegranate Prize by the Covenant Foundation is a Schusterman Senior Fellow. He is joined each summer at camp by his wife, Dina Danon, and his three children.
Gabi Wasserman
Finance Director
Gabi has been closely involved with Ramah in the Rockies in different capacities since 2011 when he worked his first summer as mountain bike staff (despite having never ridden a mountain bike). Fast forward 10 years, Ramah in the Rockies has had a transformative impact on Gabi‘s life. In addition to being a avid mountain biker, climber, and coffee drinker, Gabi is deeply committed to the mission of Ramah in the Rockies and has seen up close the impact that the organization can have on Jewish youth. Gabi brings ruthless organization, a keen sense of risk management, and a passion for writing bios to the year-round team, and he is truly excited to be able to serve Ramah Rockies in his current capacity as Finance Director. During work hours, you can find Gabi in one of eight possible coffee shops in the Denver metro area working hard to ensure Ramah’s financial stability for years to come.
Mirit Sands
Camp Life Director
Mirit brings her passion for relational engagement, curriculum development, and leadership training to Ramah in the Rockies. Hailing from New Orleans, Mirit grew up attending the New Orleans Jewish Day School, participating in Young Judaea and United Synagogue Youth, and spending her summers at Camp Ramah Darom. She graduated from Columbia University with a B.A. in Psychology and the Jewish Theological Seminary with a B.A. in Bible and a Master’s in Jewish Education. Prior to joining the Rockies team, Mirit worked at Camp Ramah in the Berkshires as a Rosh Aidah and Program Coordinator and at Central Synagogue in New York City as the Assistant Director of their religious school.During her spare time, Mirit can be found listening and dancing to live music, rooting for the New Orleans Saints, and making her way through New York Times recipes.
Simon Lowen
Program Manager
Simon brings his profound love for outdoor adventure, Judaism, the environment, and experiential education to his role as Program Manager at Ramah in the Rockies. After spending his formative years in Tulsa, OK and Nashville, TN, he attended Davidson College in North Carolina. There, he majored in Environmental Science and minored in Computer Science, played viola in the orchestra, served as Co-President of Hillel, and made wonderful memories with friends. Eleven summers at Ramah in the Rockies instilled in him a passion for mountain biking, rock climbing, and backpacking, and as a Trip Leader for Davidson Outdoors, he deepened his connection to those activities, as well as picked up caving and whitewater paddling. After graduation, Simon worked as a Teva Educator in CT, engaging in Jewish experiential environmental education with Solelim-aged children, alongside a cohort of other amazing educators. There, he began re-prioritizing the spiritual connections between Judaism and nature, a practice he continues to this day. Simon served as Program Director at Congregation B’nai Emunah in Tulsa, OK during 2020, and is looking forward to strengthening the already-powerful connections between CBE and Ramah in the Rockies.
Zach Usmani
Director of Community Wellness
As the Director of Community Wellness at Ramah in the Rockies, Zach works to create an inclusive environment that holistically supports the needs of campers, staff, and the broader community. Zach first joined the Ramah in the Rockies team in 2011, where he discovered his passion for the outdoors and found a supportive setting to challenge himself and grow in so many ways: spiritually, intellectually, physically, and professionally. He returns year after year to facilitate and witness the magic of those moments of growth in campers and staff.
During the school year, he is a school social worker in Columbus, OH, and has experience as a teacher and social worker across pre-K through college in Tulsa, OK and New York, NY. He has a BA in sociology from The Ohio State University and an MSW from Columbia University.
During the school year, he is a school social worker in Columbus, OH, and has experience as a teacher and social worker across pre-K through college in Tulsa, OK and New York, NY. He has a BA in sociology from The Ohio State University and an MSW from Columbia University.
Sandra Yaron
Registrar
Sandra grew up in Denver and was a member of the first class of the Theodor Herzl Jewish Day School (now Denver Jewish Day School). Her summers were spent participating in a wide variety of activities including Jewish summer camps in Colorado and Pennsylvania. While in high school, Sandra participated in the Israel Study Tour between her Junior and Senior years. She attended the University of Colorado and Mount Holyoke College and continued her studies at Haifa University and Tel Aviv University. She lived for twelve years in Israel and became fluent in Hebrew. Her Sabra husband Eyal insists that she speaks Hebrew like a native! Sandra has worked in the Jewish Community for the past eight years. During that period she was the BBYO Office Manager and the JCC Program Registrar. She has also been a teacher in the Temple Sinai Religious School. Sandra and Eyal have two children – Lior and Aviv.
Julia Chatinover
Communications Coordinator
Julia spent five years as the program director & assistant director of Ramah in the Rockies before transitioning to her current part time role in Fall 2021. Originally from Seattle, Julia spent many summers at Jewish camps in the Pacific Northwest before joining the Ramah in the Rockies. Julia attended the Nativ College Leadership Program in Israel before earning a dual BA’s in Earth Sciences and Talmud from Columbia University and the Jewish Theological Seminary. Julia first fell in love with the Rocky Mountains in 2012 as a madricha and biking instructor before joining the year round team in 2016. She is an alumna of the Foundation for Jewish Camp’s Yitro Leadership Program (Cohort IV) and the Yeshivat Hadar Fellowship. Julia currently lives in Jerusalem with her husband & longtime tzevet member Jacob.
Avram Pachter
Director of Operations
Avram combines his love of sports and his passion for Judaism in Jewish camping and youth group activities. Following an education in Jewish Day Schools, Avram attended USY’s NATIV program, and has served in USY as a youth advisor, regional staff member, and basketball coach as well as staffing USY’s International Convention. Avram spent more than half his summers at Jewish camps – as a camper are Ramah Day Camp Jerusalem, Ramah Wisconsin, and Ramah Darom; as a counselor at Ramah Day Camp Chicago; and, most recently, as Food Service Director for Ramah in the Rockies (2013-2016). Avram was the Director of Hospitality and Catering Manager of Circle of Life Kosher Catering, a company he created, at North Suburban Synagogue Beth El, in Highland Park, Illinois. While at culinary school, Avram interned under James Beard award-winning chef, Jeff Nathan. When not cooking, he enjoys playing sports, being active in the Jewish community, traveling, and the Michigan Wolverines. Avram looks forward to relocating to Denver and becoming part of its community.
Brent Bohs
Ranch Manager
303-647-2260
An avid outdoor enthusiast and native of Indiana, Brent brings a diverse array of skills to Ramah in the Rockies. Brent spent many years living and managing an 8-acre homestead where he practiced organic vegetable and poultry farming. His focus on self-sufficiency has led to an extensive knowledge of carpentry, plumbing, electrical and metal fabrication. In addition to practical maintenance, his 15 years of live entertainment production/management has given him a unique skill set geared towards logistics and inventory management.
When not working on the ranch, Brent is also a seasoned outdoorsman adept at ultra running, canyoneering, rock climbing, whitewater rafting, backpacking, and mountain biking, to name a few. Regardless of the weather or season, expect to find Brent outside doing something exciting!
As a lifelong learner, Brent is constantly looking for opportunities to expand his skill set. In 2021 Brent earned his NOLS Wilderness First Responder and SSI SRT-1 Swiftwater Rescue Technician certifications. As Ranch Manager, he is looking forward to continually improving the grounds and facilities at Ramah in the Rockies while conserving the beautiful ecosystem we love dearly. He lives year round up at the ranch with his wife Monika Fryska-Bohs, our Hospitality Coordinator and Environmental Educator.
When not working on the ranch, Brent is also a seasoned outdoorsman adept at ultra running, canyoneering, rock climbing, whitewater rafting, backpacking, and mountain biking, to name a few. Regardless of the weather or season, expect to find Brent outside doing something exciting!
As a lifelong learner, Brent is constantly looking for opportunities to expand his skill set. In 2021 Brent earned his NOLS Wilderness First Responder and SSI SRT-1 Swiftwater Rescue Technician certifications. As Ranch Manager, he is looking forward to continually improving the grounds and facilities at Ramah in the Rockies while conserving the beautiful ecosystem we love dearly. He lives year round up at the ranch with his wife Monika Fryska-Bohs, our Hospitality Coordinator and Environmental Educator.
Monika Fryska-Bohs
Hospitality Coordinator & Environmental Educator
Appalachian trail thru-hiker, ultra-marathoner, and adventure-enthusiast, Monika thrives when pushing the limits. After working as a science teacher for ten years and using summers to fuel for outdoor passions, Monika is thrilled to be living and working at Ramah in the Rockies full time. Monika has a BA in Biology and Germanic Studies and a MS in Secondary Education. She is a firm believer in doing everything possible to make the world a better place for future generations. Her holistic view of education focuses on inspiring students to develop an intrinsic curiosity and respect for the world they live in. She and her husband Brent are looking forward to creating an exceptional experience for everyone who visits Ramah in the Rockies.
BaMidbar Wilderness Therapy, a program of Ramah in the Rockies, supports emerging adults who are struggling on their journey from adolescence to adulthood and serves at-risk young adults (18+) struggling with mild to moderate social, emotional, behavioral, and academic challenges. Click here to learn more.
Jory Hanselman has dedicated her personal and professional career to engaging youth and emerging adults in meaningful outdoor experiences and helping youth build personal resiliency and the skills necessary to grow and thrive in a complex world. Jory has experienced wilderness programs from the client and staff perspective, from the field and the office, in Jewish and secular settings, and in the private industry and the non-profit sector. She has spent 400 professional “field days” managing youth from 13-26 through organizations focused on education, recreation, therapy, and workforce development. Jory is extremely excited to be joining the Ramah in the Rockies’ team, and to help move the Jewish Wilderness Therapy program from theory to actuality. Jory sees the wilderness therapy model as an extremely powerful environment, and believes that Ramah in the Rockies can help magnify that impact, and through Jewish learning provide a foundational tapestry for clients that builds Jewish identity and provides the framework for youth to experience meaningful transitions to independent and healthy adult lives.
APPLICATION
Thank you for your interest in a seasonal summer position with Ramah in the Rockies. This application will take you approximately 15-20 minutes to complete.
If you have any questions, please call 303-261-8214 x104 or email eliavb@ramahoutdoors.org.
We look forward to reviewing your application. Thank you!
Please provide a non-university or school connected email address and mailing address for your account.
