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.
Lauren "Lulu" Belferder
Associate Director
Lulu (she/her/hers) is a true camper at heart and is thrilled to be on the Eisner team as the Associate Director. She grew up attending Robin Hood Country Day Camp on Long Island, where she was a camper and staff member. During her time at Robin Hood, she realized her passion for working with children and teens and led her into a professional career working hands-on with this population.
For the past seven years, Lulu has been working at Temple Sinai of Roslyn, New York as the Director of Youth & Teen Engagement. During her tenure at Temple Sinai, Lulu led a successful department that served over 500 families annually. She is most proud of the relationships that she has developed with so many children, teens, and their families. She loved connecting with them and helping to create positive, Jewish experiences to engage them in.
Prior to her time at Temple Sinai, Lulu worked as the Director of Residential Services at Life’s WORC in Garden City, New York. Life’s WORC provides comprehensive services and support to people with intellectual disabilities and autism and their families. During her time at Life’s WORC, she provided supervision and support to residential managers and the people living in these residential homes throughout Long Island and Queens.
Lulu has two graduate degrees, including a Masters in School Counseling from Long Island University and a Masters in Jewish Educational Leadership from Hebrew Union College, Jewish Institute of Religion. She currently lives on Long Island with her twin daughters, Isabella, and Eden.
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!
Nicki poliak
Assistant Director
Nicki (she/her/hers) started at Eisner Camp as a camper in 2005 and her love for camp has only grown since. She started as a Bonim camper and made her way up through the units, participated in the Machon program, and then went on to become a counselor, unit head, and Assistant Director of Machon. Nicki grew up in Long Island, NY, and graduated from the University of Delaware with a major in Sociology and Criminal Justice. After graduation, Nicki spent about 2 years working as the Director of Programs and Engagement at Hillel at The University of Connecticut, where her love for working in the Jewish community grew. Nicki began working on the Eisner Camp full-time team in 2018 as the Registrar, and became an Assistant Director in 2019. In 2021, Nicki pursued her Masters in Social Work at FAU, and graduated in May, 2023. When she is not working, Nicki loves to spend time outside with her dog Beau, spend time with family and friends, bake challah, and watch lots of cooking shows. Nicki is so excited to be back in her second home to spend her summers in The Bubble with the most amazing community!
Hailey Kessler
Assistant Director
Hailey (she/her/hers) was so happy to join the Eisner team as an Assistant Director in May 2023. While Hailey is new to the Eisner community, she has spent the last 21 summers at Jewish camps. Hailey spent her summers growing up at URJ Camp Coleman as both a camper and counselor for 11 years. She has also spent summers working at Camp Pembroke, MJCCA Day Camps and Camp Tel Noar. Hailey grew up in Atlanta, GA and graduated from the University of Hartford in 2020 with a B.A. in Judaic Studies. She then went on to graduate school to pursue her Master of Arts in Jewish Professional Leadership and a Master of Education in Jewish Educational Leadership from the Hornstein Program for Jewish Professional Leadership at Brandeis University and graduated in May 2023. During her free time, Hailey enjoys hanging out with family and friends, exercising, traveling, and exploring her town of Morristown, NJ. She is passionate about creating unforgettable experiences for campers and staff and fostering vibrant Jewish communities. She is so excited to bring that passion, energy, and enthusiasm to the 01230!
Seth cohen
Assistant Director
Seth (he/him/his) is beyond excited to be joining The Bubble as an Assistant Director at Eisner Camp. Though new to Eisner, he began his camp journey as a camper at URJ Camp Coleman. The impact of camp had a lasting effect on him as he spent numerous summers working at day camps as well as URJ 6 Points Sci-Tech. After graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Meteorology from Penn State University in 2019, Seth began working at Temple Beth Sholom in Miami Beach Florida as the Youth Director and CLASP Fellow and was on staff at Camp Coleman as a unit head during the summers. Outside of camp, you can find Seth attending sporting events, watching the weather, and looking for the chocolatiest ice cream! Seth loves all the big and small moments of camp, and can’t wait to be spending his summers at Eisner!
Ray Kimmelblatt
Development Director, URJ Northeast Camps
Ray Kimmelblatt (she/her) joined the URJ Eisner and Crane Lake 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
Business 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.
Emilie Goodrich
Assistant Manager of Retreat Center Operations and Registration
Debby Shriber
Executive Director of URJ Northeast Camps and Youth
Debby Shriber(she/her) is proud to be the Executive Director of URJ Eisner and Crane Lake 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.