Our Staff
Rabbi Rachel Silverman, Director
Rabbi Rachel Silverman (she/her) first joined the Camp Ramah New England staff as a Rosh Edah (unit head) at the overnight camp from 2005-2010. Many years later, she’s thrilled to be back as the Director of Ramah Boston, our newest day camp. Rabbi Silverman previously served as a congregational rabbi in both Brookline and Sharon, MA, after receiving her ordination from the Jewish Theological Seminary in 2010. When she is not at camp, she is a ceramic artist and enjoys biking, cooking, and gardening. She lives in Sharon, MA, with her husband Josh, their three kids (Anna, Danny, and Benjamin), dog (Abby) and six chickens.
Ianne Sherry, Assistant Director
Ianne is so excited to be the Assistant Director of Camp Ramah of Greater Boston Day Camp! When she is not at camp, she spends the school year teaching 4th grade at the Epstein Hillel School in Marblehead, Massachusetts. Ianne spent 7 summers at Camp Ramah New England as a camper, then 7 summers as a counselor and Rosh Edah, and last summer (2022), she had the joy of getting to be at the 1 week Camp Ramah of Greater Boston Day Camp. Ianne grew up in Fairfax, Virginia, and attended Brandeis University where she studied Education, Economics, and Jewish Studies as an undergraduate, and received her Masters in Teaching with a concentration in Teaching in Jewish Day Schools. Ianne looks forward to an amazing summer together!
Marissa Barashi – Registrar
Hailing from across the pond, living in a little-known town called London, Marissa Barashi and her husband Eli met on vacation in Israel. Moving from Israel via New Jersey to Rochester six years ago, Marissa is excited to have joined the Camp Ramah New England as the registrar. Formerly director of the One Happy Camper program for her local federation, Marissa is thrilled to have found a camp home in Ramah New England. As a mother of two school-aged kids (Max 15, Rayna 11) and a toddler (Zack 2), Marissa loves all things camp and is looking forward to working with the camp Ramah community! Marissa can be found in the gym, in her kitchen or reading a good book in her spare time.
Emma Gelb, Recruitment Director
Emma is so excited to be a part of the year round Ramah Boston Day Camp team! She has been part of the Ramah New England family for 18 years, and it is truly one of her favorite places on earth. At our sleep away camp in Palmer, she has been a camper, a counselor, and a Rosh Edah (unit head) and has loved each of these roles! When she is not at camp or in class pursuing her graduate degree, Emma can be found singing, thrift shopping, and doing photography.
Kelly Kossar, Rosh Tikvah
Kelly is so excited to be returning to camp this summer in her new role as Rosh Tikvah! During the school year Kelly is a Jewish Learning Guide at Temple Beth Shalom in Needham where, among other things, she teaches Kindergarten, tutors Hebrew students and runs the K-2 youth group. Kelly grew up at a day camp, later attending and working at URJ (Reform)overnight camps. She has since spent summers at Ramah Day Camp Greater DC, Ramah Darom, the Brandeis Collegiate Institute and Genesis at Brandeis University. Outside of work, Kelly volunteers as a “Big” for the Jewish Big Brother Big Sister program and as a mentor for Moving Tradition’s Kol Koleinu fellowship.
Dina Saks, Director of Camper Care
Dina has worked at our overnight camp in Palmer off and on from 2016-2022 as part of the Gan tzevet. She is so excited to be joining the amazing team at Ramah Boston, as she works to support all children and families to have a successful kayitz! During the school year, Dina works at Striar Hebrew Academy in Sharon, MA. She teaches 1st grade and also serves as the Director of Teaching and Learning. Dina lives in Sharon, MA with her husband, Aaron, and 4 children (Josh, Ella, Julia, and Noah). She loves to bike, bake challah, and spend time with her family.
Alex Shapiro, Rosh Edah
Alex Shapiro was born and raised in Philadelphia and attended Ramah Day Camp in Philly as a kid. She then attended a Jewish overnight camp for eleven summers, starting as a camper and most recently serving as a lifeguard and as an assistant unit leader. Alex loves all things camp, and she is so excited to be back at Ramah this summer as a Rosh Edah! During the school year, Alex studies Community Health and Judaic Studies at Tufts University. She is very active as a leader in both Hillel and Chabad. Alex also teaches third grade at a nearby Religious School. When not having a blast at the pool, making arts and crafts with campers, or dancing her heart out to Israeli music, you can find her outside of camp reading or attending spin classes! She is so excited for this summer and to meet the Ramah campers and their families!
Becky Sherman, Office Administrator
Becky Sherman is a Jew by Choice who grew up in Eastern Massachusetts and now resides in Palmer. She enjoys spending time with her husband, 3 adult children and extended family. In her spare time, she spends time quilting with her mother and sister including making quilts for cancer patients. Becky joined the summer staff at Ramah as the receptionist in 2013 and is excited to join the year-round staff.
Shlomi Zan, Rosh Sha’ar
Israel. Every year he travels with his students to Israel to explore, to learn about Israeli culture
and to have fun. Shlomi moved to the US from Tel Aviv four years ago. Prior to moving to the states he
was a principal of an elementary school outside of Tel Aviv, and was deeply involved in informal
education. Nowadays Shlomi lives in Framingham with his husband, their one-year-old son and their dog. He loves nature, cooking, hiking, writing, and editing videos – and is very excited to be a part of the Ramah community!
Rabbi Ed Gelb, CEO, Ramah New England
Billing & Financial Aid
Ken Milgram
Finance Associate, Ramah New England