Meet the Staff
Josh Levine
Josh Levine has served as Executive Director of Santa Barbara Hillel since 2023. He most recently was Executive Director of Herzl Camp, a pluralistic Jewish overnight camp based in Minnesota. Previously, he was Vice President for the Brandeis-Bardin Campus of American Jewish University and Executive Director of Camp Alonim. Josh was selected for the first class of the Wexner Foundation’s Field Fellowship, is a graduate of the Foundation for Jewish Camp’s Executive Leadership Institute, and has received training in creating unforgettable Jewish experiences from the JCC Association and M2: The Institute for Experiential Jewish Education.
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Josh received his A.B. from Brown University, where he was commencement speaker, and his J.D. from UC Berkeley School of Law, where he was Articles Editor of the law review. He was a Coro Fellow in Public Affairs, an attorney at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, and a federal law clerk at the trial and appellate levels. Josh enjoys the Dodgers, mockumentaries, design, and exploring new neighborhoods and trails.
Sasha Kaplow
Sasha serves as Santa Barbara Hillel’s Springboard Innovation & Engagement Fellow. A Los Angeles native, she moved to Santa Barbara after graduating from the University of Oregon in 2024 with a B.A. in Honors Sociology. At Oregon Hillel, Sasha led as Senior Intern Supervisor, supporting five student interns. She participated in Birthright, where she found deep meaning in Jewish culture, and Onward, where she advanced her skills in marketing and research for an Israeli mental health nonprofit. Those experiences inspired her passion for empowering young Jewish adults.
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Outside of work, Sasha enjoys spending time by the beach watching the superb Santa Barbara sunsets with friends, trying new restaurants, and playing her guitar. She’s passionate about art, music, social justice, and animals -- especially her dog Oatie, who frequents the Hillel office. Come say hi!
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Want to find your community and get more involved in Jewish life? Sasha heads student engagement and leadership at SB Hillel. Reach out to Sasha to connect!
Elana goldberg
Elana Goldberg, the Springboard Ezra Jewish Life Fellow, is really excited about being in Santa Barbara! Growing up in Tucson, AZ, Elana graduated from the University of Arizona with a BS in Human Development and Family Science. At the U of A, she worked as a Resident Assistant, was the Costume Manager for the Giving A Little Arizona Magic (GLAM) non-profit, and was choreographer for the Chai Notes Choir. She also helped lead Shabbat services as a member of the U of A Hillel Davening Team, and she spent most of each day hanging around the Hillel building and participating in Hillel programs. Elana spent summers as a camp counselor at Ramah Galim (AKA Camp Ramah in Northern California), has a solid background in Jewish learning, and deeply desires to help others along their Jewish journeys.
In her free time, Elana likes dancing, reading, making pottery, and being outdoors.
Shay Probstein
Shay (pronounced as "shy") is excited to be Santa Barbara Hillel’s Israel Fellow! Shay completed her degree in Politics and Communications at Hadassah Academic College in Jerusalem, where she took part in the President’s Excellence Program and the Honors Track in Diplomacy. She served as the spokesperson for the Student Union at Hadassah and has extensive experience in strategic communications, marketing, and social media. She has led campaigns for a national educational organization and managed digital platforms.
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Shay is passionate about people, storytelling, and building inclusive spaces for dialogue, identity, and learning. In her free time, she loves baking challah, bringing people together around food and conversation, and discovering new cultures. Shay is excited to be part of the Santa Barbara community!
Summer Foster
Summer Foster joined Santa Barbara Hillel as Development and Communications Director in 2026. She previously served as Director of Advancement and Admissions at a private school in downtown Santa Barbara, where she led fundraising initiatives, guided enrollment strategy, and cultivated strong relationships with families, donors, and the broader school community. Prior to her work in advancement, Summer was an educator in Santa Barbara and holds a graduate degree in education and an administrative credential.
Summer received her B.A. in Psychology from UC Santa Barbara and has been deeply rooted in the Santa Barbara community ever since. An active member of Congregation B'nai B'rith, she has also been involved in local schools, youth programs, and nonprofit initiatives. She is passionate about building connections and belonging, and about ensuring SB Hillel has the resources to create meaningful Jewish experiences for students.
She and her husband James are raising their three boys and two rambunctious dogs in Santa Barbara. When she's not cheering on her boys, Summer can be found on the yoga mat, hitting the trails, walking the beach, or getting lost in a good book.
Interested in supporting Jewish student life at SB Hillel? Reach out to Summer to learn how you can make an impact!
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Abie Safdie
Abie Safdie is a recent graduate from the University of Oregon with a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science. He is from the Bay Area, but has called Eugene, Oregon home for the past 4 years. While in Eugene, Abie was either spending his time at Oregon Hillel or exploring the beautiful Douglas-fir forests of Oregon.
Now in Santa Barbara, Abie is excited to see the sun, be involved in such a vibrant Jewish community, and leverage all he has learned to help make SB Hillel run as efficiently as possible.
Outside of work, Abie enjoys running, reading, cooking, hiking, and playing fetch with Sasha’s puppy, Oatie!
Oatie Kaplow
Senior Executive Canine Engagement Director
Oatie -- mini tennis-ball connoisseur -- is a small, hypoallergenic havanese-poodle mix with the soulful eyes of a poet and zoomies of a caffeinated toddler. At only two years young, Oatie has traveled to close to 20 cities and counting! She loves going kayaking and hiking with her mom, and napping for many hours a day. As unofficial lead SB Hillel Engagement Director, Oat takes pride in her role, making sure to drop her tennis ball at the feet of a diverse range of students, subtly insisting they join her never-ending game of fetch.
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You will find Oatie at the Hillel building five days a week, and she makes occasional campus visits! Come hang out with the cutest member of the staff!
