Meet our Campers
Who they are.
Tizmoret Shoshana campers—or, “Tizmoretites,” as they have dubbed themselves—are a group of Orthodox Jewish teens hailing from the United States, Canada, and Israel. Whether her background is Modern Orthodox, Chassidish, or anywhere in between, each girl is passionate about the Torah-arts lifestyle.
What they do.
In our warm, accepting environment of like-minded spirits, Tizmoretites revel in the freedom to be themselves. Walk around during a break and you’ll find some draped across a couch, discussing quantum mechanics, animatedly learning the Mesillas Yesharim, or engaged in a competition of to discover who is the true balloon-animal-making champ.
Where they go.
Our campers are artists, musicians, teachers, doctors, engineers, and therapists. Many go on to attend seminary or college in the US, Israel, or Canada. Some are lucky enough to come back to Tizmoret as staff. Wherever they go, they take with them the confidence and skills they gained in their summers at Tizmoret and contribute to Jewish communities across the globe.
Meet our staff
Mrs. Jane Gitter
Director, Violin/Viola Instructor
Jane Gitter has over 25 years of experience as an educator and performer in the US and Canada. She received her MMus and BMus in Violin Performance from the University of Western Ontario. If she ever has spare time at camp, you will find her kayaking with a good book in hand, or taking the music majors to busk in the Target parking lot.
Mrs. Rachel Covitch
Vocal Music Instructor
Rachel Covitch holds a BMus in Vocal Performance from the Cleveland Institute of Music. For the past 10+ years, she’s directed Shma B'kolah, a group voice training program for girls ages 10-18. She was also a founder and lead vocalist of In Harmony, Cleveland's only all-women's band. Rachel currently directs the Cleveland Women's Choir, and performs in solos and ensembles for Jewish audiences.
Mrs. Avigayil Finkelstein
Creative Writing Instructor
Avigayil Finkelstein is pursuing her PhD in Medieval Jewish History and teaches at North Shore Hebrew Academy High School. She holds an MA in Jewish Studies and a BA in Jewish Studies and Creative Writing. In her free time, she writes short stories and shares fun facts about Hebrew grammar, to the absolute delight of her friends and family.
Mrs. Sara Brown
Head Shiur Instructor
Sara Brown teaches Judaic studies at Maayan Torah Day School in Portland, Oregon. An alumna of Chochmas Lev Bais Yaakov Seminary, she holds a BA in Humanities from Moreshet Institute, and certifications from Torah U'Mesorah as an instructional coach and learning specialist. She is currently pursuing an MS in Jewish Educational Administration from Gratz College. She is passionate about teen girls' Judaics education, and has also taught English, history, art, and chemistry in her 10 years in the classroom.
Diane “MorMor” Blitzer
Fine Art Instructor
Growing up, it was axiomatic that, “If you want something, make it.” For me, “something” was initially toys and clothes . . . eventually it was buildings. Envisioning what was to be made required drawing . . . but drawing, it was also axiomatic, was no way to make a living. I chose architecture for that living; and retired from that to resume drawing and painting [and travel]. I work in graphite, colored pencil, watercolor, oils, acrylics, textiles, cardboard, and wax.
Educational creds: Hunter College, Yale U., Vilnius U., Neve Yerushalayim, Multnomah Arts Center.
Teaching creds: Portland Community College, Marylhurst U., Maayan Torah Day School.
Fun facts:
My daughter is Sara Brown, Shiur Instructor.
Assorted Browns and I sing Slavic folksong and Gilbert and Sullivan.
Tizmoret Shoshana’s Drama costumes came from my theatre activity.
Mrs. Linda Nussbaum
Piano, Vocal, & Guitar Instructor
Mrs.Nussbaum teaches general music at several Boston day schools, as well as teaching piano, voice, and guitar privately. She is the proud mother of a Tizmoret counselor, and served as piano instructor in 2022.
Mrs. Golda Ayelet Keilson
Drama & Shiur Instructor
Golda Ayelet has been part of the Tizmoret family for 8 years, both as a camper and counselor. Drama has been her passion since early childhood, though as an adult, she tries to keep it contained to the stage. She has previously been a drama instructor at Camp Kulanu in Edison, NJ, the musical director of a play in 2021, and the drama assistant at Tizmoret in 2022. Her other passion is teaching others why being a bas Yisrael is awesome, which she hopes to convey through teaching the Ramchal's Mesillas Yesharim. Her alter ego, Herman, is a tolerated member of the Tizmoret family as well, and may or may not make several appearances over the summer.
Ita Eidel Matskin
Dance Instructor
Ita Eidel has over 10 years of classical ballet training in styles such as Vaganova and Balanchine. She has trained in contemporary dance with a side of rhythmic gymnastics and hip-hop, and has taught private and group classes for three years, currently in Foxboro Classical Ballet Academy. In her free time, she enjoys a good book with a hot cup of tea.
Tirtza Rosenthal
Shiur Instructor
Tirtza is a student at Bnos Avigail learning under the auspices of Rebbetzin Tzipporah Gottlieb, and is an alumna of Reenas Bais Yaakov in Highland Park, NJ. Tirtza is pursuing a degree in Judaic Special-Education at Sarah Hartman Women’s College of Touro at HTC. She has completed the Aishet Women’s Kiruv Training program which has given her the ability to answer many questions that can come up in an educational setting. Tirtza has gone to Tizmoret as a camper and as staff over the past few years. Last year Tirtza was a counselor and Junior Shiur Instructor. She enjoys giving over Torah to others in an interesting and captivating way. Tirtza’s campers know that any question they have is welcome and if she doesn’t know the answer, she’ll do her best to find it for them. She enjoys writing, reading, learning Rav Hirsch, and singing. Tirtza uses her passion for the arts and Torah to help other young artists thrive.
Mrs. Ruthy Perlstein
Arts & Crafts Instructor
Mrs. Ruthy Perlstein has been involved with camp, crafts, art, teaching, and teens for many years, in fact, for all of her adult life. She has been a crafts instructor at Camp Agudah Midwest, Camp Maarava, Camp Marom in Michigan, where she was also Director, and Camp Focus Art Program in Bloomingburg, NY, as Founder and Director. Ruthy attended Center for Creative Studies in Detroit and Breuers Teachers Seminary in NY.
Ruthy is mainly a craftsperson, exploring wood, glass, fiber, clay , resin, metal and more. She is passionate about combining crafts with fine art and nurturing creativity and individuality.
Dr. Ben Gitter
Director, Cello Instructor
Dr. Ben Gitter received his MMus in Music Theory and DMA in Cello Performance at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, and his MMus and BMus in Cello Performance at the University of Western Ontario. Dr. Gitter has held faculty positions at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, the University of Central Missouri, and the University of Windsor. If there’s a ball and bat around, you may find Dr. Gitter reliving his days as a Softball Ontario umpire. Dr.Gitter is also our dedicated eruv checker and wildlife reporter. Thankfully, no bears were spotted in 2023!