Meet the CYJ Staff
Risa Epstein | National executive director
My history with Canadian Young Judaea starts many years ago when I was eight years old and my parents put me on the bus to Camp Shalom. It is hard to believe that was over 40 years ago. I am happy to say that I went right through the system and spent five years on staff, 3 at Camp Solelim and 2 as Program Director of Camp Biluim Canada. It was at Biluim Canada in 1986 where I met my husband Amir to whom I have been happily married for close to 30 years. As history often repeats itself my three daughters Annie, Fay and Ellie have also enjoyed being active members of CYJ. My oldest daughter Annie is a teacher in the TDSB, Fay is an event coordinator, and Ellie is currently the Marketing and Communications Director at CYJ. I am an honors graduate majoring in English Literature and continued my studies in Holocaust and Genocide studies. For over 30 years I have been National Executive Director of CYJ and I have recently retired as Camp Solelim Director after a wonderful 13 year. In 2017 I co-founded our newest summer camp Machane Lev, Canada’s only Jewish LGBTQ+ Summer Camp. I enjoy every moment I have the opportunity to educate young people on Judaism and Israel.
Chazak V’ematz.
Agnes Epstein | Biluim Israel Administrator
I have been working with Canadian Young Judaea for almost 15 years as the Biluim Israel Administrator. I sent my two daughters on their way to Camp Shalom, and there began the continuation of Canadian Young Judaea in our family. My daughter Lailah worked at Camp Shalom for three years, and my youngest daughter Rachel has worked at Camp Kadimah for the past 2 summers. It is truly a pleasure to work on such an amazing trips as our trips to Poland and Israel.
Ellie Gamliel | Marketing & Communications Director
I have grown up in the CYJ family since birth, going on Mifgash as a small kid and spending my summers from the age of six at Camp Solelim has taught me to be independent and how to roll with the big kids, but it was when I was shipped off to Camp Shalom in 2006 where my independent nature helped me succeed. I was a camper at Shalom for 5 years, then off to Solelim and Biluim in 2013. My camper years were concluded in the trip of a lifetime to Biluim Israel. Biluim Israel gave me a new understanding of what it meant to be a Zionist and why it is special to belong to a Zionist Youth Movement. I spent two summers being the Head of Social Media and Photography at Camp Solelim as a Madricha and spent three years as head staff at Machane Lev. Now, as Biluim Israel Director I am committed to facilitating connection between the teens of Canada and the Am Israel! I am currently completing my MA of Israel Experiential Education at George Washington University.
Cheryl Wise | National Education Director
I began my journey with CYJ as a camper at Camp Shalom in 1984 and spent every summer after that as a loyal Judaean attending Camp Solelim, then Biluim (‘92) and Biluim Israel. I then returned to Shalom as staff for 4 summers where I met my husband Stephen Wise (‘90) who wooed me while dredging the lake during pre-camp by throwing all the dirt and grime from the bottom of the lake on me and then sending me Shabbatagrams with some interesting poetry written on them. Being a part of this incredible Youth Movement has taught me that friendships can last a lifetime and that being part of a Chevra (a community) is the most valuable gift. I have spent the last 27 working as the Director of Education at both large and small congregations in both the US and Canada. I hold a Master's Degree is Jewish Education from Hebrew College in Boston and love being able to share my passion for Jewish learning and living with others. My primary goal as a Jewish Educator is to create confident, comfortable, caring, compassionate, and connected young leaders who can share themselves with others in whatever paths of life their journeys take them. I live in Thornhill with my husband Stephen and my three children Jacob (age 19), Talia (Billy 2022), and Alexa (Billy 2023). I look forward to providing my CYJ community with immersive Jewish experiences in an environment where we all share common goals and values. CYJ will forever hold a very special spot in my heart.
Fauna Grill | Office and Camp Administrator
While I am not an alumnus of CYJ, I am a proud CYJ parent and wife. My husband spent his summers at Shalom, Solelim, Biluim, Biluim Israel, and then back to Shalom as staff. Years later I accompanied him and our small children at the time back to Shalom as the camp Doctor. The magic of this movement is evident to me. Our children have grown up following in their father’s footsteps, with one now as a staff at Solelim and the other finishing his camping days, before joining staff as well. Both of our children thank us for allowing them to be a part of CYJ and admit that it has helped to shape them as compassionate people and proud Jews. Having grown up in a small community as the sole Jewish student in my school, I was thrilled to begin my professional career as the Outreach Director for the Regional Jewish Communities of Ontario, under the Canadian Jewish Congress and later United Israel Appeal. Giving kids in small communities an opportunity to connect with others like them through Shabbatot, and trips to Washington and Israel is something I am very proud to have been a part of. Apart from my love of Israel, I spend my time coaching figure skating and power skating, volunteering with Veahavta and Na’amat, and spending time with my family and our dog.