We Came to Create

This essay is from the book, Israel Education in the Days After Reflections of Jewish Educators on their Mishlachat Areyvut (Delegation of Responsibility) - Two Months after October 7, 2023.  

Bradley Solmsen (he/him) is a senior Jewish educational leader with significant experience engaging youth, the staff who work with our young people, and developing innovative programming. Immediately before he joined the Park Avenue Synagogue community as Director of Congregational Education, Bradley served as the Executive Director of Surprise Lake Camp in Cold Spring, New York. Surprise Lake is one of the longest- running Jewish residential camps and is known for its breathtaking grounds as well as its strong sense of community and inclusiveness. Prior to SLC, Bradley served as the Director of Youth Engagement for the Union for Reform Judaism. Bradley spent eleven years at Brandeis University as director of the Office of High School Programs as well as a member of the faculty of the Hornstein Program and the staff of the Institute for Informal Jewish Education. Rabbi Solmsen was ordained at The Hebrew Union College–Jewish Institute of Religion and received an MA in Jewish education from the Jewish Theological Seminary. Bradley has held fellowships from The Hebrew University in Jerusalem, Brandeis University, and is currently a Schusterman Senior Fellow. He has extensive experience working with youth, training staff, and overseeing Jewish educational, camp, travel, and residential programs in Israel and North America. Bradley is married to Aliza Kline and is the proud abba of Ela, Gila, and Nomi.