Schechter Spark

Debbi & Dr. Alan Montrose

Portland Honorees

Alan Montrose spent seven formative summers at Camp Solomon Schechter, first on Whidbey Island, and later in Tumwater. As a camper, he built lifelong friendships across the Pacific Northwest, and discovered the power of Jewish community outside the synagogue, reflecting that “Camp Solomon Schechter, with Rabbi Stampfer being there, was probably the strongest influence in creating my Jewish identity.” Years later, Alan returned to serve on the board of directors, eventually becoming president during the hiring of the camp’s first full-time executive director – an important step in expanding both camp enrollment, and retreat rentals.

During that time, the Montrose Family participated with a circle of former campers to help launch annual alumni family camps – forging deep multigenerational bonds that continue today! Debbi Montrose fell in love with Camp Solomon Schechter through those family camps, even before their children were old enough to attend summer camp. Inspired to bring Israeli dance retreats to camp, she founded Camp Solomon Schechter’s only annual Israeli Dance Retreat for intermediate and advanced Israeli folk dancers. Now approaching its 24th year, the weekend program welcomes dancers from across the Pacific Northwest, and alumni who travel from around the country to return each year.

Together, Debbi and Alan have chosen to include Camp Solomon Schechter in their estate and legacy plans, helping to ensure that the magical place where Judaism and Joy are One continues to thrive for generations to come!

Cindy & Bob Strauss

Seattle Honorees

Cindy Fein Strauss and Bob Strauss share a lifelong love story with Camp Solomon Schechter.

Cindy and her four siblings spent every childhood summer at Sheckter, beginning back on Whidbey Island. Bob’s camp journey started in the summer of 1978: riding his motorcycle to Tumwater to visit Cindy, who was serving as Camp Director. That summer, sitting together on the hill overlooking camp, they decided to get married.

In the years that followed, Camp Solomon Schechter became a true family home. They attended Family Camp, and all three of their boys – Aaron, Joey, and Danny – grew up spending their summers at camp. Bob even served as Camp Dad for two summers, finally getting his own taste of the camp experience.

Both Cindy and Bob have given so much back to camp over the decades through board service, professional expertise, generous support, and endless hours of volunteering. Many of their closest lifelong friends are people they met through camp, and the same is true for their sons. Though humbled – and in true Strauss fashion, a bit embarrassed to be honored – Cindy and Bob are delighted to shine a light on the role Camp Solomon Schechter has played in their family’s life and in strengthening Jewish community across the Pacific Northwest.

Rabbi Matthew Bellas (z”l)

British Columbia Honoree

At just eight years old, Matthew Bellas first felt the spark to become a rabbi while leading services at Camp Solomon Schechter. His early summers at Camp Solomon Schechter shaped his love of Judaism and his path toward Jewish leadership.

While earning his rabbinical degree, Rabbi Bellas returned in 2001 and 2002 as Rabbi Matt, writing curriculum, facilitating torah study, and co-creating the Jewish history timeline that hung in the Beit Knesset for years. Though officially Rabbi in Residence, he showed up everywhere: on the court during Shabbat basketball, planning programs with the Judaics team, leading spirited services, and competing enthusiastically in the pin game. He later served as consultant and editor of the camp prayer book.

Camp Solomon Schechter remained Rabbi Matt’s lifelong home away from home – the place that ignited his greatest joy, and set him on a path to creating meaningful Jewish experiences for youth and families across North America.

After receiving ordination from the Jewish Theological Seminary in 2004, Rabbi Bellas built a distinguished career in Jewish education, serving at The Brandeis School in New York, Vancouver Talmud Torah in British Columbia, and the Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School in Maryland. He was a visionary leader who fostered joyful, rigorous, and inclusive learning. His well-loved daily reminder was: “Ask a good question, learn something new, and be kind to everyone.”

His deep Jewish knowledge anchored his work, but his warmth and positivity made him unforgettable. Rabbi Matthew Bellas’ spirit lives on in the countless students, educators, institutions, and communities he touched, reminding us that intention, integrity, and heart are at the core of Jewish leadership.

The Atkins Family

Portland Honorees

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.

The Schiller Family

Seattle Honorees

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.

The Siegel Family

British Columbia Honorees

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.

Lisa & Andrew Altow

Lisa and Andrew have a strong connection to camp, which has played a pivotal role in their lives. While they were both campers at Schechter, they met instead at a party hosted by a friend’s father, who was hoping to find a nice Jewish girl for his son. However, Lisa and Andrew ended up falling in love and eventually got married.

Eva Corets, Rochelle Huppin, Wendy Rosen, and Karen Twain

Eva Corets, Rochelle Huppin, Wendy Rosen, and Karen Twain (originally from Bellevue, Spokane, Mercer Island, and Portland, respectively) connected in the early 1970’s at Camp Solomon Schechter, and have been friends for the 50 years since then!

Melissa & Matt Korch

They do not remember the exact day they met, but as young Jews in the Pacific Northwest, Melissa and Matt crossed paths as campers and at USY events in high school. They knew of each other as camp counselors, but first connected as boys’ and girls’ side supervisors during the summer of 2007, and have been together ever since.

Yvonne Rosenberg and Sharon Stern

Yvonne Rosenberg and Sharon Stern met in the early 1960’s, when Camp Solomon Schechter was located at Camp Casey on Whidbey Island, and serviced fewer than 90 campers per session. The girls lived upstairs in the rooms above the Chadar Ha Ochel, and knew each other well. At the end of summer, Yvonne and Sharon wrote letters back and forth before re-meeting in Vancouver in 1975 and starting families.

Saskia & Gordon Schaeffer

Gordon and Saskia Schaeffer have been devoted members of the Camp Solomon Schechter community for many years. Gordon’s lifelong connection to camp spans his time as a camper, board member, and president, as well as his ongoing hands-on volunteerism, including helping build the Schaeffer Teva Trail. Saskia’s involvement began as camp nurse and has continued through dedicated service on the Health and Safety and Fundraising committees. Together, their love of camp has shaped their family’s life and enriched the Schechter community in lasting ways.

Judith & Garry Kahn

Judith & Garry Kahn were unable to attend Jewish summer camp when they were children. Judith, whose father was a Portland Hazan, kept kosher, and there were no local kosher camps when she was young. That, of course, changed when Rabbi Joshua Stampfer created Camp Solomon Schechter. As soon as Garry & Judith’s oldest son, David, was eligible to attend, the Kahns became a Schechter family. The Kahns knew and trusted that the camp, run by Rabbi Joshua & Goldie Stampfer, would provide a safe, fun, and educational experience. David was followed by Steven, Robert, and then Sarah, all of whom attended CSS for as long as they were able, and most of whom spent at least one summer employed at camp.

Gerry & Gene (z”l) Huppin

More info coming soon!

Goldie (z”l) & Rabbi Joshua (z”l) Stampfer

In 1952, a young, vibrant Rabbi and his family, the Stampfers, moved from Nebraska to Portland. To his dismay, the local Jewish camp was not kosher. Rabbi Stampfer recognized the need for a camp that would serve all Jewish families. By the end of 1954, they had founded Camp Solomon Schechter.

Learn more about Goldie (z”l) & Rabbi Joshua (z”l) Stampfer.