Our Staff
The Leaders Inspiring Our Future
Get to know the passionate individuals who bring NCSY’s vision to life.
Their expertise and dedication are shaping the Jewish world, one teen at a time.
Rabbi Bryan Borenstein
Regional Director

Rabbi Bryan Borenstein
Regional Director
Denise Badreau Tamam
National Director of Operations, JSU Global Campus, JSU-LI Registrar

Denise Badreau Tamam
National Director of Operations, JSU Global Campus, JSU-LI Registrar
With over 25 years of experience in the Jewish communal world, Denise Badreau Tamam has engaged thousands of teens and young professionals across the West Coast, inspiring them with a message of joyful, meaningful Judaism. She currently serves as the Chief of Staff, NCSY and National Director of Operations, JSU. A dedicated member of the NCSY family for the past 18 years, Denise has brought her creativity and passion to a wide range of roles.
Her work spans communications, graphic design, social media, and personal outreach to teens, parents, alumni, and community partners. Denise has staffed ten Birthright Israel: Israel Free Spirit trips and has coordinated more than 30 regional conventions and 140 Shabbaton retreats. Above all, she is proud to be the mother of four incredible children and the grandmother of nine. Denise is honored to continue building Jewish life and leadership through her work with NCSY and JSU across the globe.
Devorah Becker
Summer Programs Registrar and Ben Zakkai Liaison

Devorah Becker
Summer Programs Registrar and Ben Zakkai Liaison
Devorah has worked for NCSY for 20 years. Starting out in September 2000 under Rabbi Steven Burg. She then moved with her family in 2008 to the East Coast where she continued to work for National NCSY and specifically NCSY Summer Programs. She then moved back with her family and is back at West Coast NCSY!
Moshe Borvick
Las Vegas Director, West Coast Olami Gap Year Specialist

Moshe Borvick
Las Vegas Director, West Coast Olami Gap Year Specialist
Eliezer Cohn
NorCal Director

Eliezer Cohn
NorCal Director
Eliezer Cohn, was raised in Overland Park, Kansas and South Florida. Prior to moving to Oakland with his wife Esther, he spent 4 years in Israel where he founded Kooper studios, a digital marketing company specializing in corporate film and photography as well as music videos, all while studying as a student and taught at yeshivas/gap years in Tel Aviv, Tzfat, Beit Shemesh and Yerushalayim. When he is not hard at work you will find Eliezer tying tzitzis or going for hikes with Esther in the beautiful pacific north west.
Tzila Dagan
Silicon Valley Director

Tzila Dagan
Silicon Valley Director
Tzila was born and raised in Jerusalem, Israel. For seminary she traveled to Gateshead, England there she studied Jewish studies and started working with teens, mostly non-religious as she felt a big passion for inspiring Jewish teens. When she graduated, she taught in different high schools in Israel while volunteering in “kids at risk” homes. While studying for her degree, (majoring in English) she met her husband, Yehuda Dagan and got married and moved to Modiin. She made a career change to computer marketing, but after two years she decided to go for her passion and work to inspire Jewish teens in the USA, there she was offered to direct the Silicon Valley area in California. She loves dancing, zumba and hip hop, working out and acting on stage.
Colette Felten
Bookkeeper
Rabbi Morris Israel
LA-City Director

Rabbi Morris Israel
LA-City Director
With 15 years of dedicated experience in education, Morris Israel is excited to bring his passion for Judaism and education to NCSY this year. Holding a master’s degree in teaching from the American Jewish University, Morris combines extensive knowledge with a commitment to fostering student growth and learning. He studied at Yeshivat Yesod Hatorah in Jerusalem and Yeshivat Mikdash Melech in Brooklyn, further enriching his educational background. Previously, he worked at Hillel Hebrew Academy and currently teaches Judiac studies at YULA Girls. Born and raised in Los Angeles, Morris is deeply connected to the community and eager to contribute to the vibrant educational environment at NCSY. He looks forward to inspiring and guiding students.
Rabbi Dani Locker
Director of Juniors Programming

Rabbi Dani Locker
Director of Juniors Programming
A 20+ year veteran in Jewish youth outreach, Rabbi Locker is an innovator who has developed brand new concepts like Selfie Torah, Stump the Rabbi Live and Pickle Jews comics.
Originally from Brooklyn, NY where he developed his love for dill pickles, Rabbi Locker received his Rabbinic ordination from Rabbinical Seminary of America, as well as achieving high scores at Hogwarts. He currently lives in Las Vegas with his awesometastic family. He loves playing music, art and occasionally, time travel.
Rabbi Locker heads up Middle school operations for West Coast NCSY, including regular programs in 4 states, online programs and middle school regional Shabbatons.
Chana Morris Blank
Head Advisor & Director of Regional Board, WC Global Campus Representative

Chana Morris Blank
Head Advisor & Director of Regional Board, WC Global Campus Representative
Chana Morris Blank was born and raised in Valley Village, CA. She attended Toras Emes, Beis Yaakov, and went to Lahav Beis Yaakov in Jerusalem. Chana has an outgoing and fun personality. She has been inspiring Jewish teens of all walks of life to create a serious, meaningful, and authentic connection with Judaism through the various teen programs that she has created and run over the past 2 years. She is very active in Tomchei Shabbos, helping to coordinate and distribute food to the poor. On her free time, Chana loves to play guitar, do yoga, take hikes, paint, learn, She is super-excited to be a part of the NCSY team.
Rabbi Akiva Naiman
Director of Strategic Partnerships

Rabbi Akiva Naiman
Director of Strategic Partnerships
Rabbi Akiva Naiman and his wife, Chani and five children, Yedidya Zev, Matanya, Elisha, Esther and Zohara, he is now on his 8th year of working for West Coast NCSY. Akiva grew up in Baltimore and then Israel, where he was a medic in the IDF as well as get his rabbinical inauguration (smicha). He likes reading, playing basketball and ping pong, freestyle rapping, and juggling fire.
Laili Schnitzer
Arizona Director
Atara Steiner
Director of Development
Sarah Simpser
Los Angeles 4G Director
Yoni Wilks
San Diego Director

Yoni Wilks
San Diego Director
Coming from Highland Park NJ, Yoni Wilks is a senior at Yeshiva University double majoring in Marketing and Management. After spending a year in Yeshiva in Israel, Yoni has served as an advisor for NCSY in San Diego and as a member of NCSY Alumni. When not engaged in his academic roles, Yoni finds joy in biking as well as spending quality time with his friends and family. With a deep passion for kiruv, he dedicates his volunteer efforts to working with individuals from across the country. Yoni looks forward to being involved in the San Diego community and getting to know everyone.
Shlomo Simpser
LA-Valley Director

Shlomo Simpser
LA-Valley Director
Shlomo Simpser was born in Miami, Florida, and soon after moved to the Midwest, where his family was deeply involved in Kiruv. Growing up in a Kiruv family gave Shlomo a strong connection with outreach and a strong sense of caring for the Jewish people. After graduating High School, he studied for two years at Yeshivas Tiferet Jerusalem. He then spent the following two years as the dorm counselor in Yeshivas Matisyahu. After marrying his incredible wife Sarah, the dynamic duo strengthened the Yeshiva as the Av/Aim Bayit power couple. Shlomo and Sarah have two sons named Tuvia and Simcha. Shlomo is receiving his Bachelor’s in Liberal Arts from Excelsior College and is pursuing his Semicha. Shlomo’s nonstop energy and excitement is truly inspiring to everyone he encounters. In his free time, Shlomo enjoys singing, cooking, and extreme watersports. Shlomo is excited to bring his many talents to the Valley, and NCSY as a whole.
Meira Spivak
Oregon Director

Meira Spivak
Oregon Director
Meira Spivak is the director of Oregon NCSY, where over the past 14 years she has been developing Jewish educational programming for teens and parents. Additionally, she serves as the director of Camp Kesher, a growing summer camp in the Pacific Northwest. She is an emerging leader in the application of the Systematic Inventive Thinking (SIT) method of creativity, co-founded by Jacob Goldenberg. Based upon SIT leadership practice, Meira facilitates workshops and training to help businesses achieve desired results. In her past life, Meira was a caterer, aerobics instructor and owned a gift basket business. As a mother of a large family, Meira understands the stresses of everyday life and when she’s not busy stressing from them, she’s laughing at them.
Richelle Tarko
Operations Manager