Douglas Lynn, Director, came to Jewish Camping naturally having “grown up” in the Reform movement’s youth groups and regional movements. He was graduated from Duke University in 1995 and became the Regional Advisor to NFTY’s Long Island Region. Following NFTY Doug’s career path moved to his true love, Jewish educational camping, working for the Union for Reform Judaism’s North East Camp Institute for nine years. He began as a full time program assistant for the Eisner Camp and continued moving up the ranks to become the Site Director before making the move to Wilshire Boulevard in September of 2004. Doug is an alum of Brandies’ Institute for Informal Jewish Education. He lives in Santa Monica, CA with his wife Jamie. Email Doug at Doug@wbtcamps.org.

Sarah Raful is the Associate Director of Wilshire Boulevard Temple Camps. In May, 2005, she graduated from USC with a Masters in Public Administration and from Hebrew Union College- Jewish Institute of Religion with a Masters in Jewish Communal Service. Before going to graduate school she worked for Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life for three years at The George Washington University and at University of Massachusetts- Amherst. During her time at Hillel, she received the highly coveted Richard M. Joel Exemplar of Excellence award. She graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign in May, 2000 with a B.A. in sociology. She was active in Sigma Delta Tau and spent her junior year studying at Hebrew University in Jerusalem. Sarah is originally from Los Angeles, California, and grew up in Omaha, Nebraska. Email Sarah at Sarah@wbtcamps.org.

Beth Kanofsky is the Assistant Director or Wilshire Boulevard Temple Camps. She graduated from University of Maryland, College Park, with a B.S. in Family Studies. Throughout college, she was involved with the University of Maryland Visitor Center, Maryland Images: Campus Tour Guide Organization, Human Rights Campaign, and Phi Alpha Epsilon Honors Society. She spent 7 summers at URJ’s Camp Harlam as a camper, CIT, and staff, and has worked as a counselor for NFTY in Israel in 2005. Beth is originally from New Jersey and now loves Los Angeles! Email Beth at Beth@wbtcamps.org.

John Bard has been working with Wilshire Boulevard Temple Camps since 1994 as the Executive Chef and the on site manager. He has been a chef since graduating the Culinary Institute of America in 1984, and is a Certified Executive chef with the American Culinary Federation and prides himself on producing quality food and service for all guests. He truly loves his summers at camp so he can watch the camper grow up year after year. John’s two daughters, Miranda, 13 and Nicole, 11, both attend Camp Hess Kramer and Gindling Hilltop Camp. John enjoys playing tennis, hiking, and spending time with his wife, Nina, and his two daughters. Email John at John@wbtcamps.org.

Rabbi David Eshel is Wilshire Boulevard Temple Camps Rabbi. Rabbi Eshel first joined our camp community in the summer of 2001 when, returning from his first year of rabbinical school in Israel, he served our camps as a unit head. Rabbi Eshel has spent every subsequent summer working with our camps, serving as a Judaic educator and student rabbi. He joined the Temple clergy as a full-time Rabbi in the summer of 2006. David holds a B.A. in History from UCLA, an M.A. in Jewish Education as well as ordination from The Hebrew Union College- Jewish Institute of Religion. David’s wife, Stephanie, works as a Religious School principal for Temple Judea in Tarzana and West Hills. Email David at rabbidavid@wbtla.org.

Cheryl Garland has worked for Wilshire Boulevard Temple Camps as the Camps Office Manager for 14 years. Her two children, Remy, 18, and Delaney, 10, have attended both Camp Hess Kramer and Gindling Hilltop Camp. A resident of Studio City, she likes to travel the world, eat good food, and spend time with her children. Email Cheryl at Cheryl@wbtcamps.org.