Koach Va'ad - Fall 2008

Co-chairs: Elie Lehmann and Sarah Sherer-Kohlburn
Sarah Sherer-Kohlburn is a Junior at Barnard double majoring in Women's Studies and Religion. In addition to Koach, you may have seen Sarah dancing with Shalhevet or trying to give you a goldfish during orientation. She really likes Koach, that pretty much sums up this bio....
Elie Lehmann is from Boston, MA, a senior in List College majoring in Talmud and Rabbinics at JTS and Religion at Columbia. Elie recently returned to JTS after spending last spring studying at Hebrew University in Jerusalem. This past summer his passions for gemilut chasadim and travel brought brought him to Southeast Asia, where he volunteered teaching English in Cambodia. Outside of Hillel, you might find Elie biking around New York City, playing the drums, or cooking for his friends.

Gabbais: Abby Kerbel and Ilana Krakowski
Ilana is a sophomore in the Double Degree program of Barnard/JTS. She loves Israeli dancing, the environment, and the Jewish community she found at Koach. Nothing makes her happier than calling both page numbers and people to the Torah, so come on over and see this Gabbai do her thang!

Saturday Service Coordinators: Dana Kresel and Sam Kerbel
Dana hails from the South, and is a senior in the Joint Program between Columbia and JTS. She's studying American history and modern Jewish studies, and really passionate about sunflowers, Koach, her semester abroad in Israel, art, and the group Take Back the Night. If you want to wow us with your awesome trope-ing skills, let us know!
Sam Kerbel is a sophomore in the Columbia/Jewish Theological Seminary joint program. He plans on double majoring in English and Comparative Literature and Jewish History.

Friday Night Coordinator: Hillel Konigsburg
Hillel Konigsburg is a Sophomore at List college. He is planning to major in Sociology at Columbia and Jewish History at the Jewish Theological Seminary. Hillel grew up in Hollywood Florida, though is ultimately unsure where he calls home. Growing up in USY, having spent summers at Ramah Darom, USY on Wheels (03), and Summer in the City (05), and having spent a year in Israel on nativ (06-07), Hillel loves living and talking Judaism. If you would like to lead, or learn how to lead, a Friday night service, just send Hillel an email and he will make it happen.

Rosh Chodesh/Festival Coordinator: Gabe Seed
Gabe Seed is a sophmore in the joint program between the Jewish Theological Seminary and the School of General Studies, where he plans to major in Talmud and history respectively. Before coming to Morningside Heights, Gabe spent a year in Israel on Nativ,. studying at the Conservative Yeshiva and working the land at Kibbutz En Zurim. Gabe grew up in Milwaukee, Cleveland, Philly and Toronto, and would ultimately like to make his home in Eretz Yisrael. Gabe would love to see both old and new faces attending, leading and reading torah at Koach's Rosh Chodesh and Yom Tov services!

Social Coordinators: Ruthie Fierberg and Helene Eisenstein

Ruthie Fierberg is a Barnard junior and an enthusiastic member of KOACH Va'ad. Originally from West Hartford, CT, Ruthie was a co-president of her synagogue's USY chapter and is excited to continue being social and Jewish through Hillel. Ruthie also keeps busy by dancing and singing on Broadway (the street) and writing for the Columbia Spectator. Ruthie looks forward to meeting all of you!

Education Coordinator: Mike Landes

Friday Night Dinner Coordinators: Leah Stein, Lauren Carel, and Aviva Beuchler

Lauren Carel is one third of the trio that is the Shabbat Meals Committee dedicated to making sure you are feed on Shabbatot throughout the year. Lauren's also the Koach's Kiddush Coordinator and always there to making sure there are goodies to nosh on after services. And in her free time, Lauren is also a sophomore at Barnard and JTS.

Aviva Buechler is a sophomore at Barnard College! She is also originally from Dix Hills, Long Island. Aviva loves hanging out at Hillel, and enjoys dancing through the streets of New York... She especially loves organizing Koach's dinners and suite meals, and can't wait to see you at the next meal!

Webmaster: Doug Yolen
Doug Yolen is a sophomore in the Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. He plans on majoring in Operations Research: Engineering Management Systems, with a minor in Satistics. He loves helping out Koach with this beautifully put together website!