Regional Executive Board
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Scott Greenberg, Regional President
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Shalom Hagalil! My name is Scott Elliot Greenberg, and I’m proud to be serving as your 2010-2011 Regional President. Ever since 9th grade, I’ve almost always used my middle name on everything I write. It just seems to flow better. I live in Edison, New Jersey, with my parents, Jonathan and Stacey, as well as my sister, Jennifer. She’s going to be a freshman in Hagalil this year, so make sure to get to know her!
I’m 17 years old, Jewish (of course), and very easy to spot in a crowd. I love biking, playing Frisbee, and working on my school newspaper. I’ve been playing piano for about ten years now, and I really love it. Last year, I switched from glasses to contacts, which was a major event in my life. I always carry a comb around, just in case. I’m a HUGE Giants fan, and am always rooting for Big Blue.
I also have a lot of favorites: my favorite drink is grape juice (you’ll always see me drinking it on Friday nights), while my favorite candy is a tie between Mike and Ikes and Jelly Bellies. My favorite subject in school is math, but history and foreign languages are right up there. My favorite Jewish holiday is Pesah, while my favorite article of clothing is ties (I always ask for ties as birthday presents). My favorite place in the world is right here in New Jersey, although I have this weird obsession with Canada. My favorite television series of all time was the West Wing, and I’m always up for a discussion about it. My absolute favorite novels of all time is the Harry Potter septology, and I can’t wait for the Harry-Potter-Themed USY International Convention in Orlando, this December 2010.
I got involved in USY my freshman year, at Encampment. Since then, it’s been non-stop fun. I spent summer 2008 on USY on Wheels: Mission Mitzvah (Bus H!) and summer 2009 on USY Eastern Europe/ Israel Pilgrimage (Group 6’09!). I’m always super-willing to share my experiences and stories from these amazing summers.
I’m really excited to spend this year with you, Hagalil! If you have any questions, queries, concerns, comments, complains, or just want to say hi, don’t hesitate to call, email, text, or facebook me (no twitter yet). With your ideas and participation, we will make next year amazing!
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Ray Schechter, Executive Committees/Israel Awareness Vice President
Shalom Hagalil! Ma shlomchem? My name is Rachel Bea Schechter, but I go by Ray. I was born on a chilly October morning, the 29th of 1992. I have red hair and freckles, my favorite color is purple, and I love pizza! East Windsor USY raised, I live near a turkey farm with my loving parents, Amy and Ron. My cool older brother Alex Hector Schechter goes to Montclair State University. I also have a cat named Magic Johnson Schechter. In my spare time, I really enjoy singing out loud, asking people about their experiences in Israel, catching a wonderful sunset, and listening to .jpg)
music (like Idan Raichel or HaDag Nachash). I also really enjoy a good slice of pizza, traveling, reminiscing with close friends, reading, a quality movie that makes you think, and of course, Hagalil USY!
My favorite summer of all time, was the summer of 2008. This was the summer I went on USY on Wheels! I met great friends (Bus A, holla at your boy!), who I still keep in touch with, while experiencing the United States in a jewish and cultural way. After wheels, I knew I had a knack for traveling, so this year I spent my Junior spring semester in Eretz Yisrael! I attended Tichon Ramah Yerushalayim. I have learned more than I could have ever imagined about the beautiful terrain of Israel, and can’t wait to bring it back for Hagalil! I love every part of Israel; the Negev, the Galil, the sea, Tel Aviv, Haifa, Eilat - but I think my heart will always be in Yerushalayim. If you ever want to talk, reminisce, ask about, or learn about Israel please email or find me! Hagalil, I am your Executive Committees/Israel Awareness Vice president, and this is going to be the BEST YEAR YET!
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Jake Altholz, Religion/Education Vice President
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the Regional Board Web Page. I'm Jake *Jacob Benjamin* Altholz, and I'm the coolest person alive… I MEAN YOUR 2010-2011 RELIGION/EDUCATION VICE PRESIDENT!!!!... oh wait, same thing. Here’s my story: I was born July 5, 1993… only several hours too late to be a firework baby. That also makes me… approximately 16 years old. I was born and raised in Clark, New Jersey my whole life, nothing too exciting. I’m an only child, which may help explain a lot. But yeah… J I’m about to enter my senior year at the Academy for Information Technology where I have become a certified computer technician and much more. I attended Solomon Schechter Day School of Essex and Union from Nursery in Cranford to 8th grade in West Orange. My favorite classes were Tanach and Rabbinics. In my new school I would have to say my favorite subject is AP Chem… or linguistics… I don’t know… it’s tough. When I’m not in school, you can usually find me on the computer, playing Ultimate Frisbee (or other sports, mainly baseball), doing something Jewish, or talking about USY to people all over the country. I also love hanging out with friends, listening to music, reading, watching movies, watching house, Candlelit dinners and long walks on the beach with Scott Elliot Greenberg. My best USY memory is USY on Wheels: Mission Mitzvah. (BUS H 08!!! We the BUSH, We the Best!!)) The whole summer was absolutely amazing and definitely a turning point in my life. I bonded with so many people and had an amazing experience. The most amazing thing though, was doing Sunrise Shacharit at the Grand Canyon. There truly is nothing like it. It was the most inspiring moment of my life. I’d like to make a shoutout to Eastern Europe Israel Pilgrimage 2010!! OH, AND I USED TO HAVE A RAT TAIL! Favorites: Author- Dan Brown or J.K. Rowling. Book- Angels and Demons or Talmud Bavli (Bava Metzia), or Harry Potter (all of them). Sport- Baseball closely followed by Ultimate. Sports Teams- Yankees, Titans, Minn. Wild, N.O. Hornets, and Rutgers Scarlet Knights. Movie-Remember the Titans. Torah Portion- Ki Tetzei. Ruach Song- Acheinu. Holiday- Yom Kippur. Animal- KOALA ROO!!! (Shout out to the boys!)Color- I’m color blind… Quote- “Strangers are just people you have yet to get to know” – The Blue Man, The Five People You Meet in Heaven (also one of my favorite books). Anything else… hmm... YOU SHOULD CALL AND ASK? I'm very excited to be your new Religion/Education Vice President. We have a lot planned and its going to be an AMAZING year! If you ever have any questions, or just want to say hi, I'm available 24/6.
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Matt Solomon, Social Action/Tikun Olam Vice President
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ame is Matt Solomon and I am your 2010-2011, Regional SA/TO V.P.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I live in Marlboro, New Jersey but have lived in almost every part of the state that I can think of. My birthday is September 23rd which means that I am still 16. I am an only child, so the closest thing I have to a sibling is my puppy Molly (who I tell almost everything to so she is like a little sister). I go to Marlboro High School and can always be found backstage or in the light booth as stage manager for our awesome drama department. I know everyone talks about music but honestly I’ll listen to anything! My Ipod is filled with everything from hip hop, rap, rock, RUACH (duh), and even a little country. My favorite T.V. shows are also random, I love Glee (if you do too we need to talk), Law & Order, and NCIS (I know random). I consider USY my life, since I’ve grown up in it. My parents were both active USYers, and then staff, and both of them are more than happy to tell you how I was at my first convention when I was 3 months old. Being part of Marlboro USY (MUSY) is an adventure and I have absolutely adored being their Freshman Rep, and President. Talking USY with me usually comes back to my favorite part ruach (slow ruach to be exact) and I am always willing to start a ruach session (even if my singing voice isn’t the best). When it comes to the summer, I spent one of the most amazing summers of my life on USY on Wheels ( BUS B 08!!!) and am super excited to spend this summer on Eastern Europe/ Israel Pilgrimage! I am so excited for this upcoming year and have some amazing things planned for SA/TO!! If anyone needs help, or just wants to talk, I am always around (except on Shabbat!) and always willing to talk. If you haven’t met me yet well than come and introduce yourself!!!!!
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Danit Mark, Membership/Programming Vice President
Hey Hagalil! I'm Danit Michal Mark and I am SO excited to be your 2010-2011 Membership/Programming Vice President! I am from Wayne and turn 17 on June 2.jpg)
8th. I am the youngest of 4 children. From oldest to youngest the order goes: Avi, Penina, Raffi, Danit. You might see them around conventions cause they like to pop in. They are pretty great. This year I will be a senior at Solomon Schechter Day School in West Orange. There I play volleyball, I'm an assistant coach for middle school volleyball, and manage boys volleyball. I also do choreography for my school's middle and high school shows. I like playing sports MUCH more than I like watching them. My favorites are definitely rock climbing and Volleyball. Also, I LOVE to dance. You'll almost always see me moving around to something in my head. I had my first haircut by raising money for SATO at my freshman year of encampment and since then, I have donated 3 times for a total of 34 inches. I have grown up in USY and this will be my 11th encampment! Hagalil is where I have met my best friends and it has become my extended family.
I spent 2 consecutive summers with USY. I went on Wheels Bus C '08!! and Eastern Europe Israel Pilgrimage Group 6 '09!! They were by far the best summers of my life and I became best friends with people from so many different regions that I still talk to on a daily basis.
I ALWAYS have my phone on and with me and am always texting or on the phone. So if you ever want to talk or want company then you know where to find me! If you ever have any questions don't hesitate to get in touch - Can't wait for a great year, Hagalil!
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Andrew Podob, Communications Vice President
Hey Hagalil! My name is Andrew Wade Podob and I am proud to be your 2010-2011 Communications Vice President. I am 16 years old and live in Edison, New Jersey. Being 16 makes me the youngest of the six board members. I am what you could call the ‘baby’ of the board. F
ive of the six members on the board are seniors. I am the odd man out. Right now I am a junior at Edison Township High School. I have been involved in Hagalil for a very long time. In 4th and 5th grades I was involved in Hanoar, in 6th, 7th, and 8th grades I was heavily involved in Kadima, and now in 9th, 10th, and 11th grades I am super involved in USY. USY means a lot to me. It is where I met a great deal of my current friends and where my best friends reside. My friends mean the world to me. I would be lonely and depressed without them. I also have a sister named Alyssa, who is in 6th grade and Kadima, parents named Sheri and Jason, and my dag named Flipper. They are not in USY. They are just too old! My hobbies are of course, USY, as well as the Yankees (I am a diehard Yankees fan), Facebook, the computer, my cell phone, politics, and my friends. I am so deeply interested in politics that I watch CNN and CSPAN almost everyday and I could name about 85% of all the US Senators at any given time (Especially the Jewish ones). My friends always tell me that I am funny and that I have a great sense of humor. I believe them. Thank my father and grandfather before him for that. If you ever know a good joke, preferably a clean one, please feel free to tell me. I can always use a good laugh. On top of my humor my friends always tell me that I act like an old man. Just because I enjoy all my cufflinks, my suits, ties, and either Bentleys or Rolls-Royces does not make me old. Okay I will admit that maybe it makes me a bit old, but that makes me who I am. Overall I am a pretty cool guy. I guess I could be described as ‘chill’ or whatever other slang words you could think of. I am looking forward to an absolutely wonderful and fulfilling year as a member of your regional board. If you ever have comments, concerns, suggestions, questions, or just want to talk please reach out to me. Find me on Facebook, Twitter, email or hit up my cell. Ttyl.
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