March 31, 2026
13 Nissan 5786
Dear Yavneh Community,
I am truly so excited to share some wonderful news about our Camp Director search, as we look ahead to Kayitz ’26. Opening day is just 85 days away!
First, on behalf of the Board, I want to express my deep gratitude to the members of our search committee. They brought incredible thoughtfulness, care, and dedication to this process, and we are so fortunate for the time and energy they invested. Their work led us to an exceptional outcome.
As you know, the search committee partnered with an executive search firm to identify a leader who could both honor Yavneh’s 82-year legacy and help guide us thoughtfully into the future. We were looking for someone who deeply understands what makes Yavneh so special, and who has the leadership, vision, and heart to continue strengthening our kehilah—for our campers, staff, families, and alumni.
We were incredibly encouraged by the strong pool of candidates who expressed interest in this role. It speaks volumes about Yavneh and the community we have all built together. After a thorough and thoughtful process, I am thrilled to share that we have hired an exceptional candidate.
Josh Micley (Kerem ‘06) is a dynamic and values-driven leader with a genuine love for Jewish life and community. He brings a thoughtful blend of strategic thinking, strong leadership, and a deep commitment to people. Josh is a Yavneh alum who spent nine years as a camper and eight years on staff, and is part of a multi-generational Yavneh family. His connection to camp is both personal and profound—he understands, in a very real way, what Yavneh means.
Professionally, Josh brings a wealth of relevant experience, including leadership roles in both camp and educational settings, as well as time as a public school teacher and administrator. He holds a Master of Education in School Leadership from Harvard University and an MS in Teaching from Fordham University.
Most importantly, Josh’s values, experience, and deep connection to Yavneh’s mission make him an ideal fit for this role, and I am so excited for what’s ahead.
Josh will officially begin as our full-time Camp Director on May 4. In the weeks leading up to the summer, he will be fully immersed in learning the rhythms of camp and connecting with our community. He will work closely with Jane-Rachel during a brief but important transition period to help ensure continuity and a smooth handoff before her departure on May 8. We are so grateful for all that Jane-Rachel has brought to Yavneh over the past four years. Her dedication, leadership, and care for our community have made a lasting impact, and we wish her continued success in all that lies ahead.
Once he begins, Josh will spend time getting to know our year-round team, key partners, and families. After Passover, we will share more opportunities for the community to meet him—both in person and over Zoom.
I cannot wait for you all to meet Josh. I feel so confident in where we are and so hopeful about where we are going under his leadership.
Wishing you and your families a Chag Kasher V’Sameach, filled with tradition, connection, and celebration.
With gratitude,
Dr. Ruby Gelman
Board Chair, Camp Yavneh
A Message from Josh
Dear Yavneh Families,
I still remember walking into B-8 during my first summer in Gurim and looking up to see my dad’s name etched on the ceiling. Years later, I found myself teaching in the same camp classroom in which my grandfather once taught. Throughout my time at Yavneh, I have worn many hats – camper (K’06), madrich, rosh ayda, moreh, and today I proudly wear a new one as I step into the role of incoming Rosh Machaneh (Director).
Yavneh is a community for which I have tremendous love and deep connection. It’s where I first realized that I wanted to dedicate my life to creating meaningful experiences for young people. It has shaped my Judaism, my connection to Israel, and my understanding of what it means to live in community with others.
Since my time at Yavneh, I have spent my career in education – as a classroom teacher, a school administrator, and most recently as the camp director at Capital Camps & Retreat Center. Through it all, Yavneh has remained a source of inspiration, shaping the educator and leader I continually strive to be.
I am thrilled to rejoin this community with my wife, Alexa (who spent one summer with me at Yavneh on the Tzevet Morim in 2016), and our three children, Aaron (6), Elan (4), and Meirav (1). I look forward to sharing with my family the ruach and beauty of this special place.
Approaching Pesach, I think of the Seder as a metaphor for this next chapter – both for Yavneh and for me. Each year we return to the same haggadah, the same story, but we bring new questions, new voices, and new meaning to it. That is how I see this moment: one that will allow me to honor Yavneh’s masoret, while investing in what comes next. I begin this journey with a commitment to building upon the stellar foundation that exists at Yavneh, and to doing so in partnership with all of you.
Chag Kasher V’Sameach,
Josh