Meet The Staff

Rabbi Gil is a Princeton alumnus who has dedicated his life to teaching, inspiring leaders, and creating a vibrant Jewish community. He has a passion for teaching and fostering dynamic new leaders within the Jewish community and the world. He has a deep love of Princeton and the Princeton Jewish community, which shaped his life's path as a Rabbi, and sees his return to Princeton and the CJL as a "homecoming long in the making." He is excited to use his skills as an institutional leader, as a teacher of Torah and spiritual wisdom, and as a pastor who derives profound meaning from sitting one-on-one with young people at the moment in life when they are asking the big questions.

Robin joined the CJL staff in 2012, bringing nearly 20 years of fundraising and marketing experience in the Jewish community to her work as the CJL’s chief resource development professional. A graduate of both Brandeis University and Drexel University, she is deeply committed to informing our many stakeholders

Amy brings years of experience in the field of education, supporting students, parents and administrators. She holds a Master of Science from Brooklyn College and a Bachelor of Arts from McGill University. When she’s not working, Amy treasures moments with her husband and 2 teenage children, and can often be found pursuing her passion for art in the ceramics studio in her spare time. 

Rabbi Ira cannot wait to get to know you and what inspires you! He comes to the CJL from BBYO, where he served as South Jersey Regional Director in Cherry Hill, NJ and Director of Jewish Enrichment based in Washington, DC. He was ordained at the Academy for Jewish Religion (AJR) in New York. He and his wife Shaina and two young children, enjoy exploring the outdoors, seeing movies, and bowling.

Marni is thrilled to advise the CJL student board and several affiliated student groups, to supervise the CEI and JRC engagement interns, and to oversee the dynamic and diverse programming in our community. She works closely with a wide variety of campus partners to enrich the experiences of all Princeton students.

Debbie joined CJL in 2018, bringing over 20 years of business and marketing experience to the CJL.  Debbie's professional career includes small business owner, Marketing Director at one of the largest JCCs in the country and most recently Executive Director at a synagogue in Princeton.  Debbie's passion for Jewish connection and community began at Camp Ramah and continued throughout USY, BBYO, Hillel, study abroad at Tel Aviv University, and ulpan and post-graduate work in Israel. Debbie and her husband Craig Provorny have a blended family with one son and four daughters.  Debbie enjoys the gym, pickleball, traveling and spending time with her family in her spare time. Strengthening Jewish peoplehood has always been an important part of her life and she is thrilled to continue that precious work here at CJL.

Rabbi Azi Horvitch was born and raised in Jerusalem and then Beit Shemesh. He learned at the High School of Mercaz Harav. From there he continued to a Yeshiva in Cochav HaShachar where the emphasis was on intense Talmud and Jewish thought learning. He drafted into the army as a combat medic. Over the next few years, he participated in various learning programs including a tour guiding course, Mizmor, a music school and a yearlong leadership program in Yishivat Siach. He also worked as a counselor in the same high school he attended, and as a tour guide in Jerusalem.

Atara was born in New York and made aliya with her family to Bet Shemesh in 2005. After High School, Atara served one year of National Service (Sherut Leumi) in Israel and then learned at Nishmat, the Jeanie Schottenstein for Advanced Torah Study for Women for five years. During that time, she also worked as a counselor for overseas students. While at Nishmat, Atara earned her bachelor’s degree education at Herzog College. Atara has spent many summers in Bnei Akiva in Camp Moshava Indian Orchard and at Mach Hach Ba’aretz, as a camper and in both programs as Counselor and Division Head.

Engu Ambaw is CJL's Jewish Agency Israel Fellow. Engu was born in Ethiopia and made aliya to Israel with her family when she was 5.   She grew up in Rehovot, Central District of Israel, completed her military service in the Education Corps, and graduated with a BA in economics from Reichman University & an MBA from Tel Aviv University. She has worked as an economist at the Accountant General, Ministry of Finance for the past 7.5 years.

Engu has extensive experience working and guiding young adults. In high school she was a counselor in the 'Madatzim' youth movement, where she guided groups of teenagers, and also in the summer camp at her neighborhood community center. At the age of 18, she was chosen to be part of a delegation to meet with donors  at the New York Federation.  After the army, she was a counselor at 2 Jewish summer camps in Pennsylvania & Canada.

Maureen began working at Princeton University in Human Resources as a Benefits Administrator in 2022. Before Princeton University, she worked for over 20 years in higher education as a Director of Training and Organizational Development and Senior Compliance Associate.

She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Science from Stony Brook University and a Master of Public Administration degree from Long Island University. Her passion for working with students and educators led to her developing a Leadership Academy and Management Certification Program.

Rivky joins us with a breadth of experience in finance and strategic planning in the corporate, start-up, and non-profit worlds, both here in the US and Israel.  She is a Yeshiva University/Stern alum (Jan. 2000) with a background in literature and passion for connecting with great people, ideas, and projects that add beauty and purpose to the world.  Rivky is driven by the notion and daily recognition that we are all created as Gd intended and hopes to help CJL provide the opportunities for Princeton students to explore their Judaism in ways most meaningful to them.  She is also always up for an adventure, loves paragliding, driving endless unknown roads, and planning her North Pole experience!