Adapting the Magic of Belonging from Summer Camp into the School Year

Ami was appointed Director of Ramah Nyack in 2021, after serving in many leadership roles since joining the Ramah Nyack family in 2000 (counselor, Rosh Edah/division head, Assistant Director and Camp Director). Previously, Ami taught fourth grade at the Solomon Schechter School of Greater Hartford. He was ordained at the Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS) in May 2012 with a concentration in Jewish non-profit management. In 2013 he also received a MA in Jewish education from the Davidson School of Jewish Education at JTS, with a concentration in Israel education. A graduate of the University of Hartford, he holds degrees in Elementary Education and Judaic Studies. In addition, he is an alumnus of the Wexner Graduate Fellowship and the iCenter Israel Education Fellowship. He is married to Loni Hersh and has four children.

Johanna loves to help young people harness the tools of Jewish tradition to craft meaningful lives, foster deep community, and change the world. She studied Environmental Science and Jewish Studies at Yale University, the Pardes Institute, and Yeshivat Hadar. While teaching Talmud at Abraham Joshua Heschel High School, her students introduced her to Eden Village Camp and she never looked back! Since her first summer in 2018, Johanna has loved working on camp programming, recruitment and community partnerships, communications, and camper care – while getting to sing and dance every day, snack on farm-fresh produce, and grow life-long friendships. Originally from Philadelphia, she lives with her husband and daughter in Austin, Texas.