2025 Honorees

At Schechter Spark, we are thrilled to honor families who embody the heart and soul of our Camp Solomon Schechter community. These incredible individuals exemplify the spirit of L’dor V’dor – from generation to generation – demonstrating a deep, lasting connection to camp that transcends time.

Through their unwavering support and love for camp, they’ve built a legacy of shared memories, transformative experiences, and enduring friendships. Their commitment has helped create a place where campers of all ages can grow, thrive, and discover their Jewish identity in a vibrant, supportive environment.

We can’t wait to celebrate these families who light the way for future generations and keep the magic of camp alive for all. Let’s honor their contributions together!

Atkins Family (Portland)

First Row (L to R): Riley Atkins, Aaron Atkins, Jeff Sloan, Adam Atkins

Second Row (L to R): Sylvie Atkins, Liz Perez, Marci Atkins, Stella Atkins (on lap), Levi Atkins, Ari Atkins (pregnant with Rahm Israel)

The Atkins family’s journey with Camp Solomon Schechter is a story of deep-rooted dedication spanning four generations. The first Atkins camper was Marci Moskowitz Atkins, who first joined Schechter’s community in the mid-1960s on Whidbey Island. In the camp’s earliest days, Marci’s father, Ed Moskowitz (z”l), joined Rabbi Stampfer (z”l) and other pioneers from across the Pacific Northwest to secure our current location in Tumwater, where camp continues to flourish today. 

Marci returned to camp in the early 1970s, first as a counselor, then as Camp Administrator, filling in for Goldie Stampfer (z”l) while Goldie and Rabbi Stampfer (z”l) were in Israel. Goldie, who cherished camp as her “sixth child,” entrusted Marci with its care—a true testament to her leadership and love for the camp community. 

Marci met Riley Atkins, and together they raised Adam, Aaron, and Sylvie with Schechter as a cornerstone of their Jewish life. While Riley didn’t have a camp experience himself, he knew that Schechter would be his children’s summer home, where they would build friendships, strengthen their Jewish identities, and carry on the family’s connection to Schechter. All three children became counselors, embracing camp traditions and leadership roles into the early 2000s. 

Through Schechter, the Atkins family has cultivated not only a strong sense of Jewish identity and community but also a deep, enduring connection to Israel. Camp has nurtured in them a love for Jewish life that they carry forward, celebrating traditions, friendships, and values that have come to define the family across generations. Now, the next generation, with Adam’s children Levi, Stella, and Rahm Israel has joined the Schechter community, marking the Atkins’ fourth generation at camp. 

Marci and Riley’s commitment to Schechter extends beyond their family. Marci co-chaired the first Schechter Spark event in 2020, and together they are ardent supporters of scholarships to make camp accessible for every child. Their legacy bequest reflects their dedication to ensuring that future generations can experience the transformative power of camp. 

Honoring the Atkins family at Spark 2025 celebrates a remarkable journey with Camp Solomon Schechter, from the founders’ vision to a flourishing, multi-generational community. Their story is a testament to the enduring impact of Jewish camp, lifelong friendships, and leadership that continues to nurture the heart of Jewish life in the Pacific Northwest. 

Schiller Family (Seattle)

First Row (L to R): Josh Niehaus, Jaylan Niehaus, Mia Blake, David Schiller, Marcus Schiller, Alan Schiller, Karli Niehaus

Second Row (L to R): Michael Schiller, Dawn Schiller

Not Pictured: Shaya Golden Niehaus

The Schiller family’s relationship with Camp Solomon Schechter spans generations, and each member embodies the Jewish value of l’dor v’dor, or “from generation to generation.” The late parents of Alan, Mike, and David Schiller, who grew up in a post-World War II world marked by anti-Semitism, instilled in their children a resilient Jewish identity and deep sense of community. Through Camp Solomon Schechter, the Schiller family found not only a home for Jewish expression but also a foundation for lifelong friendships, leadership, and purpose—experiences they are dedicated to passing down to the next generation in the face of rising anti-Semitism today. 

Between Alan, Mike, David, and their families, the Schillers have filled nearly every role at camp: camper, Oded, counselor, cook, song leader, Judaics director, board member, and more. Inspired by these experiences, they have gone on to serve in countless roles within the broader Jewish community, committed to nurturing a vibrant Jewish future. Camp built a Jewish foundation that was more than educational; it instilled a lifelong sense of belonging and joy in Jewish life. As Mike once wrote in a letter home, “I never felt more Jewish in my life.” For the Schillers, even a game of football at camp felt inherently Jewish because it was played alongside friends in a Jewish community. 

For over 50 years, camp has connected their family in unique ways. Mike’s children, Karli and Marcus both went to camp, and Karli, met her husband, Josh (who has spent 22 summers), at camp, and today their own children carry forward the Schiller tradition. At every Passover seder, their extended family sings Birkat Hamazon together, a practice they learned at camp. While some might find this routine, for the Schillers, it is infused with ruach—the joyful spirit of camp—and connects them across generations. 

Honoring the Schillers at Spark 2025 is a celebration of their enduring connection with Camp Solomon Schechter, a place that gave so much to them and where they now give back, ensuring that future generations can build their own lifelong Jewish friendships, strengthen their Jewish identities, and embrace Jewish leadership. Through their unwavering support, the Schillers continue to embody the legacy of Camp Solomon Schechter and the strength of Jewish community. 

Siegel Family (British Columbia)

First Row (L to R): Jacob Siegel, Ronit Berger

Second Row (L to R): Shauna Siegel, Ellen Siegel , Yael Rahimi, Neil Rahimi, Penina Berger, Noah Berger

Third Row (L to R): Tamar Berger, Shai Rahimi,  Eden Rahimi, Emmett Rahimi , Gabe Rahimi, Tadd Berger, Rabbi Howard Siegel

Fourth Row: Lilly Siegel

Camp Solomon Schechter has been the foundation for the Siegel family’s dedication to a life of Jewish learning, service, community, and most importantly, joy. When Howard Siegel first arrived at camp on Whidbey Island in 1961, from a life in Spokane, WA with little Jewish connection, his experiences led him down a path toward the Conservative rabbinate, a Jewish family, and a life of Jewish service that continues to take him to congregations across the US and into Vancouver, BC.

Along the way, he convinced his girlfriend, Ellen Kushner to join him at Whidbey in 1968 as a camp counsellor. They returned to the new Tumwater camp in 1970, Howie as educational director and Ellen as camp nurse. Their experiences there proved pivotal for their future careers and family. Ellen credits camp for helping her perfect her medical independence. Howie built his future rabbinate under the mentorship of the Stampfers and the Solomons and the Jewish community growing on Tumwater’s rustic site.

During the all-staff late-night programming meetings in those early years, many of Schechter’s iconic traditions were born, including Israel Day. At a time when few American Jews had visited Israel, CSS campers got a real taste of Israeli living. Jewish activism at camp was also born as campers marched for Soviet Jewry on the steps of the Olympia capital and welcomed the original “Chehalis-er Rebbe” to their Friday night Shira session. Ellen even remembers her campers from that first summer in 1968 building the ark from driftwood at Whidbey that continues to house Schechter’s Torah today.

During the 1970s and 80s, Howie and Ellen returned to camp nearly every summer with their three kids, Ronit, Yael, and Jacob in tow first as staff “brats” and later campers themselves. While the family left the pacific northwest in the late 80s, Ronit, Yael, and Jacob continued their dedication to Jewish camping as both campers and staff members at different Ramah camps across the US.

Ronit returned to Schechter in 1994 as a counselor, where she met her now husband, Tadd Berger. Ronit and Tadd would spend 2 summers together at Schechter as counselors and lifeguards among a community of Jewish young people they still consider family.

Ronit and Tadd continue their dedication to Jewish life in BC, and their 3 children, Noah, Penina, and Tamar have attended CSS non-stop since 2013, with Noah and Penina serving on staff and in the role of “Chehalis-er Rebbe.” Ronit’s siblings, Jacob and Yael live in Houston, TX, where they are also dedicated to Jewish camping, with Yael’s 4 children active at Camp Young Judaea, and Jacob’s daughter, Lilly, eagerly awaiting her turn to go.

The Siegels and Bergers continue to consider Camp Solomon Schechter the cornerstone of their Jewish worlds. While Howie is the only rabbi so far, the family celebrates 3 generations of students at the Jewish Theological Seminary and 3 generations of synagogue and Jewish day school leaders, Jewish educators, Torah readers, and lifetime CSS campers. Schechter has been, and continues to be, a Jewish home, where generations of rabbis, Jewish educators, professional and lay leaders grow thanks to the roots Howard and Ellen first planted.