Casey Yurow
Camp Director casey@edenvillagewest.org
Casey believes that hands-on learning, farming, nature connection and good ol’ homemade music have the power to revitalize culture and build healthy communities. Casey aims to make sure each camper has an incredible summer experience, and to support them in discovering their unique gifts to share with their community and with the world. A seasoned educator and innovator, Casey served as Farm Program Director during Eden Village Camp’s pioneer summer in 2010. He went on to serve as founding director of Camp Urban Adamah in Berkeley, and most recently was program director at the Pearlstone Center, the Jewish retreat and environmental education center near Baltimore. Casey can often be found building mandolins, hiking, gardening, cooking, and inviting friends over for spirited, song-filled Shabbat meals together with his wife, Rivka (also an Eden Village 2010 pioneer summer staff member!). Casey is thrilled to carry the seeds of Eden Village Camp westward and nurture a new vibrant camp community.
Emma is an experiential educator and lifelong camper, and believes that camp is a microcosm of the world that could be, in addition to being an essential space for campers and staff to wrestle with their Judaism, develop meaningful interpersonal and land-based connections, and be a part of a sacred community that sees each and every member as important. A graduate of Brandeis University with degrees in Near Eastern and Judaic Studies and Sociology, she spent ten summers as a camper, staff member, and unit head at URJ Camp Newman, and found her passion for working in Jewish communal life as a result of this experience. When not at camp, Emma can be found hosting Shabbat dinners, baking challah, practicing yoga, or singing and playing guitar.
Emma Silver
Assistant Camp Director
emma@edenvillagewest.org
Jesse Zilberstein
Director of Community Care
jesse@edenvillagewest.org
Jesse has always believed in the magic of a summer at camp. From the time she herself was a child at Jewish summer camp until the time she sent her own children, Jesse always felt that the experiences of camp have the ability to impact lives for years to come. Her background as a lifelong educator of kids, parents and families began in the Jewish world and then grew to encompass working with all types of families transitioning into new stages of life. In her role at camp, Jesse’s goal is to ensure a happy, safe and supported experience for every Eden Village West camper. Jesse lives in LA, where she can often be found baking, reading, hiking and spending time with her wonderful husband, two Eden Village West campers, and the spirit of her forever 5 year old.
Jill is a Jewish environmental educator, agrarian, community organizer, Chef, and Chicago native. She was the Founder of The Gan Project, a Jewish food and farming organization that served the Chicago area from 2010-14, was a 2008 Adamah Fellow at the Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center, and a 2009 intern on Henry’s Farm in Congerville Il. She started growing food in 2006, has been cooking professionally since 2004, and has been an eater of food since 1982. Jill is a 2004 graduate of DePaul University and served as the National Director of GrapeVine, an organization that uses technology and data to strengthen Jewish communities. Jill was at Eden Village West our inaugural summer in 2018 on her days off while working at Cowgirl Creamery in Point Reyes Station, C.A. and has returned to us after a seven year journey in the world of artisan cheese.
Jill Zenoff
Summer Operations Director office@edenvillagewest.org
