Kadimah’s Professional Staff
Sarah Atkins
DirectorSarah has worked in the field of education and experiential education since 2002. Sarah brings to us a wealth of knowledge and experience having worked in the field of Jewish communal service and informal education. Previously, Sarah was the Director of Informal Education and the Director of the March of the Living at the Bronfman Israel Experience Centre in Montreal. Sarah has worked as an educator for the iCenter for Israel Education and before that as a high school teacher. Sarah earned a Masters of Arts in Jewish Professional Studies from Spertus Institute of Jewish Learning and Leadership in Chicago, as well as an Honours B.A. from McMaster University and B.Ed. from Nipissing University. Sarah also holds a professional certificate in Israel Education from the iCenter for Israel Education and serves as a faculty mentor in the iFellows program. Sarah is passionate about Jewish camping and using her skills to make camp fun and memorable while developing young leaders who feel a profound sense of belonging and community. Sarah’s creativity and leadership skills enable her to thrive at nurturing campers’ connections with Jewish values, Israel and the fostering of lifelong friendships.
Peter Svilik
Associate DirectorPeter was born in Russia and moved to Israel at a young age. He grew up there until he and his family moved to Halifax. In Halifax, Peter has been involved in a variety of Jewish organizations and initiatives, including as the Co-President of Hillel Atlantic. Peter has been returning to Camp Kadimah since 2011, when he first attended as a camper in Machar. Since then, he has worked at camp as a bunk staff in Giborim, a Section Head of the Goshrim and Kochot sections, as Head Counselor, and as the Assistant Director. Peter holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Dalhousie University, a Master’s degree in Sustainable Energy Engineering from Carleton University, and a Master's degree in Israel Education from George Washington University. Peter is always excited to interweave science, sustainability and Israel into camp programming both for campers and staff. He speaks English, Hebrew and Russian, and he is very excited to continue to serve Kadimah’s diverse and ever growing community!
Jason Bergman
Assistant DirectorJason is proud to be the Assistant Director of Camp Kadimah. Born and raised in Toronto, Ontario, Jason first arrived as a camper and immediately fell in love with Kadimah, its warm and inclusive community, and the East Coast of Canada. Passionate about leadership, community engagement, and social entrepreneurship, Jason recently graduated with an Honours Bachelor of Commerce degree in Integrated Business and Humanities from McMaster University. Jason has been a member of our staff team since 2018, serving in a variety of roles, including Kochot general staff member, lifeguard, and Program Director. Outside of camp, Jason enjoys spending time with friends and family and is a die-hard fan of the Toronto Blue Jays, Raptors, and Washington Commanders.
Sharon Friedberg
Director of Camper CareSharon Friedberg was born in Jerusalem and spent part of her youth in the United States and England. She graduated from Ben-Gurion University Medical School and worked as a Family Medicine resident in Haifa. Since relocating to Canada in 2006, Sharon has developed a deep appreciation for the importance of Jewish community and the powerful role overnight summer camp plays in shaping children’s Jewish identity, which continues to guide her work at Camp Kadimah.
As Head of Camper Care, Sharon works year round to prepare for each season, supporting individual campers’ needs and helping facilitate a smooth and successful transition to camp. She brings a wealth of experience from the health care sector, along with a thoughtful and compassionate approach to her role. She is dedicated to ensuring that every camper has a wonderful and meaningful summer.
Sharon knows firsthand the positive impact of summer camp on children and is proud to be part of the Camp Kadimah leadership team. She looks forward to continuing to help make camp a special and memorable place for all members of the Kadimah community.