Regional Executive Board
Click on your favorite board member to read their bio.
Click here to view the current Regional General Board
Jonathan Steinberg, Regional President
Hey there HaGalil! I am Jonathan Steinberg and here is my story: It was lunch time. While everyone else was snacking, I popped out! It was 12:25 p.m. on February 2, 1992. Ten minutes late my twin brother, Brian, was born. Throughout my entire life I have lived in Teaneck, New Jersey. I have two brothers, Jason and Brian. My parents are Amy and Norman. They are all pretty cool. Teaneck is my home. I have an awesome community with tons of friends who I can call my family. My upbringing in this community exemplifies the saying; it takes a village to raise a child. I played little league baseball and soccer, drew pictures, rode my bicycle, and played tackle football with friends. My favorite color is red and I prefer stripes over solids. I have attended Schechter schools my entire life. Currently, I attend the Solomon Schechter Day School of Essex and Union. There I play volleyball, I am a member of the mock trial team, and more. I enjoy: sports, art, poetry, talking, movies, hanging out with my friends, reading a good book, and more. For me USY has been a place to make friends, see old friends, learn about my Judaism, and help save the world! Last summer I went on USY on Wheels: Mission Mitzvah!! It was probably the best summer of my life. I had a great time making friends, spending lots of time on a bus, and making a difference in the USA. Last year as your Social Action/ Tikun Olam vice president we brought our region to new heights and made an impact on our society. I can’t wait for another amazing year of USY, now as your Regional President. If you have any suggestions, questions or ideas email me!
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Oren Fliegelman, Executive Committees/Israel Awareness President
Hey Hagalil! My name’s Oren Fliegelman and I’m your ‘09-’10 Executive Committees/Israel Awareness Vice President! So, what should everyone know about me? Well, let’s start off with the basic facts. I’m 16 (will be 17 as of Oct. 2009) and I’m from the East Brunswick chapter. I’m a junior at the SSDS of Essex and Union, where I’ve been going for all of high school, but before that I went to the Schechter of Raritan Valley for my whole life. I’ve got two siblings, an older brother named J.J. and a sophomore sister named Mindy who also does USY. If you don’t already know her, I’m sure you’ll meet her soon, because she’s super friendly. I like playing sports (especially, basketball, tennis, paddleball and sometimes Ultimate Frisbee) so if you ever need someone to play with, come find me. I’m also really into drawing and reading. I listen to a ton of different types of music, including lots of Israeli music (like HaDag Nahash and Synergia), the occasional Swedish band (Basshunter. I had doubts at first too, but they’re good, so check them out), and oh yeah, a few American bands too. I'm also really interested in politics, so if you're ever looking for a discussion about Washington, I'm your guy.
As you’d probably guess, Israel’s a really big part of my life. I have to constantly keep up-to-date with what’s going on there, so when I’m on the internet it’s likely that you’ll find me on jpost.com, Israel21c, or haaretz.com. The next time you see me make sure to say hi, and if you don’t already know me please introduce yourself. And get excited for the absolutely MOST AMAZING year of USY yet!
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Cory Nagelberg, Religion/Education President
Hello Hagalil! I'm Cory Nagelberg, and I'm your 2009-2010 Religion/Education Vice President. I'm 17 years old, and I'm from East Brunswick, even though I'm in the North/South Brunswick chapter. I'm the oldest kid in my family, with a younger brother and a little sister. I also have a beagle, named Snickers. I'm going to be a senior at the Solomon Schechter Day School of Essex and Union this year. My favorite subject in school is Tanach class, but I also like physics. Outside of school, my passions are music and reading. I play the bass guitar, and I listen to lots of different music. My favorite authors are Dick Francis, John Grisham, Michael Crichton, Ken Follett, and Robert Ludlum. Oddly enough, this year I decided to learn how to unicycle - its very difficult, but I enjoy it.
I'm very excited to be your new Rel/Ed VP. I think this next year is gonna be very exciting. If you ever have any questions, or just want to say hi, I'm available 24/6.
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Melissa Sperber, Social Action/Tikun Olam Vice President
Hey Hagalil! I’m Melissa Sperber, and I’m ecstatic to be your Social Action/ Tikun Olam Vice President for the 2009-2010 year! I’ve lived in the same house in Randolph all of my life with my brother and sister, David and Jillian, and my incredible and supportive parents. My birthday is February 18th and I’m 17 years old, but I was due to be born on February 29th, so I should be 4. I have red hair, and I am very short, but I love it. I’m a die-hard Giants fan, and when it’s football season, the quality of my Sundays is decided by whether they win or lose. I also play guitar, write music, and love to perform. I’ve gone on Eastern Europe/ Israel Pilgrimage (Group 11!), and Wheels (Bus A!), which were amazing experiences; feel free to talk to me about them! There are quotes taped on the walls all over my room so that I can easily read them for inspiration whenever I want. It’s really quite uplifting!
There’s a quote by the author Kimberly Kirberger hanging on my closet door. “When we do for others, we can’t help but be touched by the love and generosity we thought we were giving away.” That’s what makes SA/TO so amazing, and is the reason why social action has been my passion forever. When I was 7, I transformed an empty walk-in closet into the “office” I used to do my charity work. I’ve been the Morris Plains chapter SA/TO VP for the past two years, was on SA/TO RGB sophomore year, was 613 Chairperson last year, and I’m now on SA/TO International General Board. I love being so involved with SA/TO. It’s so fulfilling.
If you have any cause that you are passionate for and have ideas to begin a project or take action, please come talk to me and we will get something going! I am more than ready to take on the rewarding position of Hagalil’s SA/TO VP, and I can’t wait to work with all of you in order to make a difference in our communities, New Jersey, the country, and even the world.
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Halli James, Regional Membership/Programming Vice President
In a little town called Westfield, New Jersey lives a girl named Halli Marissa James. She loves people and is your 2009-2010 Membership/Programming V.P.! I’ve lived in Westfield for my entire life, in the same house too. I attended SSDS of Essex and Union from Pre-K through 5th grade when I switched to Westfield public school, and am now a happy (most of the time) student at Westfield High School. You can usually find me outside, up in the balcony where I am a proud member of the WHS Lighting Crew, or rockin’ out (yes, I did just say rockin’) to my music, listening to such bands as Metallica, Against Me!, Guns n’ Roses, Vampire Weekend, AC/DC, Death Cab for Cutie, The Shins, and countless others. I also sing in the WHS Concert Choir and will be singing in Chorale/Choraleers for the upcoming school year.
Outside of school, I’m very involved with the 4-H/Seeing Eye Puppy Raising Project, a joint effort between 4-H and The Seeing Eye in Morristown, NJ. Through this program, I get to partake in the awesome experience of raising guide dogs for the blind. Along with that, I’m very involved in USY! (surprising, I know). I’ve been an active member of the Clark chapter since Kadima where I was 6th grade rep and president for two years, and then USY where I served as freshman rep and then Mem/Prog for two years. I’m also very involved in regional USY (another surprise, I know). I was first the regional photographer, and spent this past year on the Membership RGB. I spent one of the greatest summers of my life on USY on Wheels (BUS B ’07!!!!) and am very excited to spend this summer on Eastern Europe/Israel Pilgrimage (GROUP 6!!).
Just some other stuff you may (or may not) want to know… My parents, Barbara and Mitchell, are two of the most awesome people on the planet. I have a golden retriever named Napa and an orange cat named Oliver. I constantly wear Converse. I love sleeping and going on adventures. I’m an overall pretty loud person. Ben and Jerry’s ice cream is amazing and given any opportunity, I will eat it. I generally don’t watch very many movies, but some of my absolute favorites include Little Miss Sunshine, The Dark Knight, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist, and Amadeus (because Mozart is the man). If there’s anything I left out of these epic few paragraphs, don’t hesitate to ask me anything at all! And especially if you don’t know me, come meet me!
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Lindsay Steinbach, Regional Communications Vice President
Hey Hagalil! My name is Lindsay Perri Steinbach and I’m you’re 2009-2010 Communications Vice President! I’ve been a resident of Westfield, New Jersey all my life, and I attend Westfield High School with many other USYers. I have a sister Jaclyn, and an awesome mom and dad, Steve and Laurie. My family though definitely doesn’t stop there. I have 3 cousins in Hagalil, Ariana, Lexa, and Levana—who I might as well call my extended siblings. Our parents grew up together being involved in USY, and we are here to follow the tradition. Along with my immediate and extended family, I had another family during the summer of 2007. Two summers ago I went on USY on Wheels, GO BUS B 2007!! During those six and a half weeks I made friends that I still talk to on a daily basis today, and had the summer of a lifetime!
Besides talking to all my different families, I love to relax and read a good book, and I am particularly a fan of the Twilight and Harry Potter series. I’m obsessed with listening to music, and I would definitely see it as a necessity in my life. Whether I’m in the car or in my room, my iPod is always on shuffle (most likely to Jason Mraz). My favorite place in the world (that I’ve been to) is Cape May, New Jersey. I’m a big fan of the beach and I love to soak up the sun and take a swim in the ocean. I love to spend time with my family and friends, for they are the ones who are always here for me and support me the most. I’m always with my phone so if you ever need to talk to me, calling me is the best way. I’m so excited to be your Communications Vice President and I can feel that this is going to be an amazing year!
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