All of our camp staff is bilingual (Hebrew & English) Some of us even speak French! Our specialist/Camp Directors are all artists and professional educators, while our Madrichim are all interested in arts and education. Our Counselors-In-Training are teenagers, ages 12-14 who have come through Open Studio programs in the past, and have decided to spend two weeks being mentored by our Senior Counselors. Our staff/camper ratio is 2:8 including one Senior Madrich (counselor or specialist) and one Counselor-in-Training.
Senior Staff
Avigayle Adler, Founder & Executive Director, The Open Studio
Originally from the United States, Avigayle has been teaching folk art most of her life. Never having studied art formally, but a seasoned educator, she has always used art and craft as a way to help her students integrate their learning. Avigayle holds a MA in Jewish Education from Hewbrew University, a teaching license from David Yellin College, a BA in Anthropology from The George Washington University, and a Certificate of Advanced Jewish Studies from the Pardes Institue in Jerusalem. She has been an artist-in-residence at several summer camps, seminary programs and museums throughout the United States and Israel and was given the distinction of Oman Mitztayen, or “Outstanding Artist” by the ministry of absorption in Israel. Avigayle specializes in mosaics, glass painting and paper-cutting, but her true talents lie in helping to bring out the inner-artist in each child and adult she works with. Avigayle lives in Jerusalem with her gorgeous baby Daniel Yosef (“DY”). This summer Avigayle and DY will be on sabbatical, as the Rosh Omanut at Camp Yavneh in beautiful New Hampshire.
Open Studio in the news…
Avigayle Adler
Celebrating 70 Extraordinary Women of Israel in The Times of Israel.
https://www.jpost.com/magazine/lifestyle/arrivals-her-way
https://www.funinjerusalem.com/avigayle-adler-bite-size/
http://amiel-bakehila.org/he/bakehila-blog/avigayle-adler-jewish-arts-educator/
https://www.owltail.com/people/XMvbI-avigayle-adler/appearances
Associate Director, The Open Studio, Elisha Binder
Camp Director, Dana Appel
Creativity Consultant, Rivka Ben Hamu
Rivka has been working with the Open Studio for seven summers. She came to Israel with her parents from Paris at the age of 12. She is a talented pastry chef, educator, seamstress, and the mother of eight children. She speaks French, English & Hebrew and lives with her husband and children in Katamon. She will be kicking off our Shtilim (ages 4-5) program the first week of August and teaching the Sewing week for Nitzanim (ages 11-15).
THE OPEN STUDIO IN THE NEWS
This summer, The Open Studio will be offering a special track for teens and pre-teens (Nitzanim) called Artists as Mentors. Campers will learn and work alongside well known professional Jerusalem artists in their studios.
NITZANIM SUMMER MENTORS
Leonid Kritsun, Glass: Mosaics & Sculpture
An architect by profession, Leonid, has worked in the field of glass art for over twenty-five years. He has participated in numerous solo and group exhibitions and his works are on display throughout Israel and abroad.
Yaal Hermon, Photography
Yaal Herman was inspired by photography as a teenager, spending long nights in the darkroom. He studied courses at Camera Obscura, The Bezal’el Academy and Concordia University. His photographic works have been exhibited throughout Israel, Ireland, the US and Canada. Yaal’s studio/gallery is located at the Jerusalem Hutsot Hayotser Artist Colony. He Is married to Betty and is the father of four boys and a girl.
Sharon Binder, Graphic Design & Calligraphy
Sharon specializes in graphic design and calligraphy to create major works of Judaic art for the home, institutions and synagogue. Trained in the United States and Canada, Sharon has exhibited internationally. Sharon’s expertise in such diverse media as painting, pen-and-ink, typography and fabric appliqué has been applied to murals, wall hangings, decorative arts, illustration and screen prints. Yaal’s studio/gallery is located at the Jerusalem Hutsot Hayotser Artist Colony.
Michal BenAmi, Metallurgy & Jewelry Design
Judah S. Harris, Photography & Filmmaking
Rivka BenHamu, Sewing
Rivka Ben Hamu
Camp Assistant Director
Creativity Specialist: Sewing & Textile Arts
Rivka has been working with The Open Studio for several years and is excited to add her specializations in Sewing, Felting, everything Fabric & Textile related to The Open Studio’s Creative Options. She is our Assistant Camp Director & the mother of 8 amazing children. She is fluent in English, French & Hebrew.
Nitzanim Artists Mentors
Mosaics & Glass Sculpture – Leonid Kritsun
Homemade Photography – Ya’al Herman
Metalurgy & Jewelry Design – Michal Ben Ari 
Calligraphy, Design & Color – Sharon Binder
Film-making, Digital Photography, & Photography & Architecture- Judah S. Harris
Carpentry- Etzlenu
The Open Studio 