The Hagalil Regional Executive Board (REB) is a teen-elected board that serves the region. To get to know our 2021-2022 Regional Executive Board, read each of the board member's bios below:
Hey everyone! My name is Risa Kampel and I am SO excited to serve as your 2021-2022 Hagalil Regional President! I am a senior at West Orange High School and I am a proud member of West Orange USY. I love to get involved in my school and community. I am an active member of the Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFJROTC) at my school, I am a member of the Israeli Culture Club, Screenwriter’s Society, Tri-M Music Honors Society, Rho Kappa Honors Society, and the National Honors Society. I also play softball, and I recently just finished my second-and-a-half year of high school ball (we got cancelled last year due to Covid). I am an Ozeret (teacher) at the B’nai Shalom religious school, and I have been an active learner since Kindergarten. Prior to Covid, I worked in the theater program at JCC MetroWest as a Counselor, and last year, I worked as a group counselor at Meadowbrook Day Camp. I have attended camp since I was three years old, and I have attended Camp Lakota since the fifth grade. This past summer I went on USY Israel Pilgrimage Group 3! In my free time, I love to binge-watch Netflix (specifically The Vampire Diaries), go on runs, spend time with my family, and especially hanging out with my USY friends. With that, I am so excited to get to know all of you, and to empower each other into becoming amazing leaders for Hagalil!
Hey everyone! My name is Abby Hoberman and I am so excited to be your 2021-2022 Israel Affairs Vice President. I am a senior at the Bergen County Technical High School - Teterboro. I live in Teaneck and am a proud member of Teaneck USY. At school I am the president of my Jewish Student Union and participate in an internship at Sound on Sound Recording Studios in Montclair, NJ. I am a member of the StandWithUs High School Internship and a proud supporter and activist for Israel. I went to Camp Young Judaea Sprout Lake for 5 years and Tel Yehudah for 2, and this summer I went to Israel with USY! (g3 for life!!!) I am so honored to be your IA VP this year because USY is my home and my family. I have loved every minute I have spent in USY and I can’t wait to help make new memories for the rest of our Hagalil Community.
What’s up, Hagalil! I am Rafi Rockman, and it is an honor to serve as your 2021-2022 Religion Education Vice President. I am a Junior at North Brunswick Township High School. At school, I am a guitarist for the jazz band, a clarinetist for the Honor’s Wind Ensemble class, secretary of the Environmental Club, and am an attendee of the Italian Club (yes, I am not Italian, but they serve noodles every so often). I am a black belt at Master Nick’s Family Karate. I have been taking private guitar lessons at North Brunswick School Of Music since May of 2010. I attend the Chai School program at my synagogue’s religious school. During my sophomore year, I was a part of a fellowship called Amitei Ramah Tzeirim. In the fellowship, I tried to better the experience of sports at my camp, and I learned various leadership skills. I attend Camp Ramah in the Berkshires, in Wingdale, New York. If you want me to talk to you about anything, I promise you- we can talk all day about camp. I enjoy making music with my friends, playing soccer, going to camp, and spending time with my family. Above all, USY is my escape from life. It has taught me Jewish values, leadership skills, and has brought me countless friendships. I am so excited for this year! Let’s create a more spirited Jewish environment together!
Hey Hagalil! I’m Ben and I’m so excited to be your Social Action Tikkun Olam (SA/TO) Vice President on the 2021-2022 Regional Executive Board! I live in Marlboro and am a junior at Marlboro High School. Before becoming an REB member, I was on the Marlboro USY chapter board for two years. Outside of USY, I love spending time outside, playing and watching sports (Go Green Bay Packers and Milwaukee Bucks!). I also enjoy spending time with my family, including my parents, my three sisters, my dog, my parrot, and snapping turtles. I ran for SA/TO vice president because I want to contribute to my community and make the world a better place. This year I hope to work with the whole region and every individual chapter to raise as much money as possible for various charities that work to improve the world. In addition, this year I hope to raise awareness for various world issues and organizations. Looking forward to a great year and can’t wait to make Hagalil USY better than ever!
Hi everyone! My name is Abby Glass and I’m ecstatic to be your Membership/Programming Vice President for Hagalil 2021-2022! I am a senior from Springfield, currently attending the Academy for Performing Arts High School. My passion is performing arts, and it’s rare to find me not singing along to broadway songs, however I am very interested in neuroscience and will be majoring in it for college. To stay busy, I like to be in a lot of clubs: Varsity Cross Country, President of my National Honor Society, Treasurer of my International Thespian Society, and President of Glee Club, to name a few. When I do have spare time, I am usually obsessing over Marvel and love to talk about it or play with my mini bernedoodle named Everest. This past summer I traveled with my friends from Camp Eisner - which I have attended since 2nd grade - to Israel for four weeks and I had an amazing time! In regards to my Jewish education, I attended Hebrew School from 3rd-7th grade and have been a Madricha ever since. I began USY as a Kadimanik at encampment in 7th grade, and have made so many memories and friends within the last four years. I am currently a part of USY’s Jewish Leadership and Music, where musically included USYers all over the country learn about how to lead and apply skills to songleading. USY has helped me to connect deeper with Judaism while creating special bonds with other USYers all across the country. As I am going into my last year of USY, I cannot wait to see what an amazing year we will all have with Hagalil!
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Hey Hagalil! My name is Becca Smoller, and I am so happy to serve as your Regional Communications Vice President for the 2021-2022 year. I’m a senior at East Brunswick High School, where I’m involved in the Jewish Culture Club and have played the double bass in the orchestra since 4th grade. Despite being born and raised in East Brunswick, I’m a proud member of North/South Brunswick USY at Congregation B’nai Tikvah. I enjoy being active in my synagogue however I can - by helping with special projects and events, participating in a Better Together program with active seniors, and being a USY leader. When I’m not in school or doing USY-related things, you can find me spending time with friends and family (including my dog, Zoey), reading, and doing art projects. I also enjoy spending my Sunday evenings volunteering in the rec room at Children’s Specialized Hospital, where I play games and do art projects with kids with chronic conditions, disabilities, and traumatic injuries. I would love to talk with you about any of the things I just mentioned, and I hope to see you soon!