Paul Isserles
Eisner Director
Paul Isserles (he/his) returned home to become the Director of URJ Eisner Camp in October of 2021. He brings to the role over 20 years of directing day camps, including Camp Jacobson and Buckley Day Camp. For Paul, there is no place that has been more influential in his life than camp, especially Eisner. He worked at Eisner from 1993-1997, as a counselor, songleader and unit head. Not only did his time at Eisner launch him into the world of camping and informal Jewish education, but he met his wife, Shari, there in 1994.
Paul is a product of the Reform Movement, spending his childhood and teen years in youth groups and on the board of LIFTY. He is a graduate of the University at Albany and earned a master’s degree in social work from Yeshiva University.
In his spare time, Paul loves sports, whether playing baseball or basketball himself, or coaching his son, Michael’s baseball teams. Paul, and his wife, Shari live in Port Washington, with their son, Michael and where Shari works as the Director of Congregational Education at The Community Synagogue.
Laura Gurvis
Associate Director
Laura (she/her/hers) began working at Eisner in 2000 as our Camp Mom. Since then, she has been our Parent Liaison, Camper Care Director, Assistant Director and now our Associate Director. Her many responsibilities include overseeing our Community Care Team and the programming and managing of our Heller-Wexler Family Camps. She has served as the Jewish Educator at both URJ Henry S. Jacobs Camp in Utica, MS, and URJ Harlam Camp in Kunkletown, PA. She has held various positions in the Jewish community including Educator at Temple Shaaray Tefila in New York, NY, and as the Director of the Children’s Department at the YM-YWHA of Washington Township, NJ. Laura has four children, all of whom grew up at camp and worked both as counselors and as members of our Leadership Team. Laura lives in Sherborn, MA with her husband, who is an alumnus of Eisner Camp.
Eva Gruenberg
Assistant Director
Eva (she/her/hers) joined the Eisner community as Assistant Director in 2018. She hails from the Philadelphia suburbs and spent her childhood summers at a girls’ camp in Maine. Eva grew up in the Reform Movement and brings to Eisner a background in experiential education and youth development through teaching outdoor education and holding key leadership roles at overnight summer camps in Maine and New Hampshire, progressing to assistant director. She earned her BA in History and Political Science from the University of Pittsburgh and her Master’s Degree in Social Work from Wheelock College in Boston. When she’s not at camp, Eva enjoys hiking, playing and watching sports, and she’ll never turn down a game of trivia. Eva lives in Boston with her wife Rahel, a Jewish educator. She is delighted to see her passions and values combine in such an exciting way through her work with the Eisner community!
Marisa Bergman
Assistant Director
Marisa (she/her/hers) was thrilled to join the URJ Northeast Camps team in February 2019 as the development associate! She is excited for her new role as assistant director where she can work closely with the campers, families and staff to create the most magical summers. She has over twelve years of experience as a synagogue educator and working in day and sleep away camps. Marisa graduated from the University at Albany with a Bachelor’s in Judaic Studies and Education as well as from Gratz College with a Master’s Degree in Jewish Education. Marisa is married to her childhood sweetheart, Matt, and has two beautiful boys, Emmet and Boaz, who are so happy to enjoy their summers in the Berkshires!
adam kohane
Assistant Director
Adam (he/him/his) began working for Eisner Camp in 2013, and is so excited to be a part of the full time team as an Assistant Director. He started attending Eisner in 2004, when he was a K’tanim camper and made his way up through the units, participated in the Machon program, and then went on to become a counselor, songleader, and a unit head. Adam grew up in a small town in New Jersey called River Edge, and in 2018 he graduated from New York University, where he studied Music Business and took part in many different music clubs on campus. He previously worked for URJ 6 Points Sci-Tech Academy East as the Program Administrator, and he continues to songlead at many different synagogues in the New York/New Jersey area. When he is not working, Adam loves to spend time with his family and friends, watch European soccer (go Liverpool!), and run around with his dog, Molly. He is thrilled that he will continue to get to spend his summers, and now his full year, working for Eisner Camp!
Lauren hyde
Business Manager
Eisner Camp has been a huge part of Lauren’s (she/her/hers) life as she had the unique experience growing up on the property as a child while her parents worked for the camp. After she graduated from Westfield State College she joined the Eisner and Crane Lake team as a full time employee working as one of the bookkeepers. She has done many different jobs at camp from Day Camp counselor to dishwasher and is now our Business Manager. Lauren is happy to be able to enjoy the beautiful Berkshires all year round where she lives with her husband (who she married on the Eisner Camp grounds) and two children.
Ray Kimmelblatt
Development Director, URJ Northeast Camps
Ray Kimmelblatt (she/her) joined the URJ Northeast Camps team in 2020. She brings to the role nearly 20 years of fundraising experience in higher education, healthcare, and community organizations. Ray began her career planning the 2001 URJ Biennial Convention and spent the last 10 years as a nonprofit executive director.
Ray is a product of the Reform Movement and URJ camps, attending Eisner (’87, ’94), Kutz (’93) and Greene Family Camp (’96, ’97). She is a graduate of the University at Albany and earned a master’s degree in public administration from Baruch College. Ray is an alumna of Project OTZMA (’00), a year-long fellowship in Israel.
In spare time, Ray enjoys gardening, cooking, hiking, and refinishing furniture. A native Long Islander, Ray met her husband Craig in Hebrew school in third grade. They live outside of Albany, NY with their sons Spencer and Jordan and their rambunctious pug, Ruby.
Meredith Smyth
Retreat Center Manager
After working as a summer staff member in 2016, Meredith (she/her/hers) fell in love with both Eisner and the Berkshires. With a M.A. in Business Management from Lesley University and a history of interning and volunteering for non-profit organizations as well as event planning, she was excited to take on the role of Retreat Center Manager. Meredith and her husband, Hal, live on camp with their puppy Charlie. They take many hikes to Look-Out Point and enjoy testing out new recipes in Manor House kitchen.
Jenny Travis
Marketing & Communications- URJ Northeast Hub
Jenny Travis (she/her/hers) is a new member of the Northeast Hub team, but has been with the URJ for three years working on marketing & communications – she is incredibly excited to be focusing more deeply on the URJ camps in the Northeast, including Crane Lake! Jenny holds a degree in communication studies with a minor in Jewish studies from Northeastern University. Prior to the URJ, she spent two years working in account services at an ad agency. Jenny lives in Brooklyn with her fiancé and her dog.
Debby Shriber
Executive Director of URJ Northeast Camps and Youth
Debby Shriber(she/her) is proud to be the Executive Director of the URJ Northeast Camps. In this capacity she focuses on supporting the professional staff, development, and strategic vison of both Eisner and Crane Lake Camps. She’s been with URJ Camps since 2009, serving at the Crane Lake Camp Director for the past 12 years. Prior to the URJ, Debbie directed Camp Poyntelle Lewis Village, a JCC overnight camp in in Wayne County ,PA and was a day camp director.
Debby was raised in Worcester, MA. As a teen, she was a very active member of NFTY Northeast and her synagouge, Temple Emanuel. She holds a Masters Degree in Social Work from the Wurzweiler School of Social Work at Yeshiva University. Debby completed the JCC Association Lechu Lachem Senior Fellowship and also served as a mentor for the Foundation for Jewish Camp Yitro Fellowship. During the school year, Debby, her wife Nili, and their daughter Molly live in Fort Lee, NJ.