Director – Scott Lantzman

Scott came to Gesher Summer Camp from the Jewish Community Center movement with a strong camping background. After working as a soccer instructor at a sports camp in Randolph, Scott spent four years as a senior counselor at Harbor Hills Day Camp in Mt. Freedom. Following his years at Harbor Hills, Scott served as a Unit Head at JCC Camp Deeny Riback in Flanders. Scott then moved on from there to work for the JCC Association in New York, where he developed summer teen tours to Israel and served as a consultant to camps and JCCs throughout North America. His final stop before coming to Gesher was as the director of Camp Veritans in Wayne, part of the YM-YWHA of North Jersey.

Assistant Director – Marla Parnes

At Gesher since 2003, Marla has worked her way up from being a Pre-K Senior Counselor to the Camp Shopper and then to Assistant Rosh Aida and Pre-K Rosh Aida. Today, Marla oversees all camp program activities, staff training, the LIT Program and is the Special Needs Director. A past Sisterhood President at Temple Beth Shalom in Livingston, Marla currently works as a Hebrew School Teacher in Summit and as the USY Advisor in Millburn. She lives in Livingston with her husband Harold and all 3 of their children, Marisa, Adam and Ben, attend Gesher.

Assistant Director – Amy Weinstock

Since 2006, Amy has overseen the administrative offices and registration. During the year she is a pre-school and religious school teacher, as well as working part-time in the Gesher office preparing for camp. A former resident of Livingston, Amy currently resides in Randolph with her husband, Eric, and daughter, Beryn, a 5-Star Camper.

Aquatics Director – Jeff Reiss

Jeff Reiss is the founding Aquatics Director of the Gesher Summer Camp, and has served in that capacity for all but three summers of Gesher. Jeff’s background includes leadership roles in the Aquatics field for over 20 years, including full-time roles as the founding Aquatics Director of both the JCC of Central New Jersey, the Aquatics Director for the Schenectady JCC, and the Asst. Aquatics Director for Rutgers University. At both JCCs, Jeff was an integral part of the camp Administrative Staff teams. Under Jeff’s leadership, Gesher’s swim program has consistently been among the top-notch swimming programs in the region. Jeff’s background as both a Water Safety and Lifeguarding Instructor, and as a full-time High School educator makes him uniquely qualified to train the two critical elements of any summer camp – its campers and teen-age staff. During the school year, Jeff is a History Teacher and Student Activities team member at Rae Kushner Yeshiva High School and the JKHA Middle School in Livingston. Jeff lives in West Orange with his Wife Shayna, and two children Alex and David, both of whom are Gesher 5-star campers!

Religious Program Director – Rabbi Richard Kirsch

‘Rabbi Rich’, is currently the religious programming coordinator at Gesher (mashgiach ruchani). A graduate from Yeshiva University, he brings a wealth of of experience both in formal and informal Jewish education. During the year when he is not at Gesher, he is on faculty of the Rae Kushner Yeshiva H.S. in Livingston serving as guidance counselor, Judaic studies teacher and athletic director. He is a busy dad as well, as all 5 of his children have attended Gesher and of course loved it! He can’t wait to another awesome summer and looks forward to bringing the joy of Judaism to all of his Gesher friends and families.