Jonathan “J.C.” Cohen became Director of the URJ’s Henry S. Jacobs Camp in Utica, Mississippi in 2000. Raised in Tupelo, Mississippi, he proudly considers himself a product of Jacobs Camp and NFTY’s Southern Region. J.C. received a bachelor’s degree in Religion from Colgate University, a Masters in Social Work from the University of Southern California and a Master of Arts in Jewish Communal Service from the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Los Angeles. Prior to becoming Director of Jacobs, J.C. served for four-and-a-half years as Assistant Director at Greene Family Camp and four years on the URJ’s national youth staff in a range of capacities, including Director of NFTY.

Jonathan is married to Valerie Cohen, who serves as Senior Rabbi at Beth Israel Congregation in Jackson, Mississippi. They have a son, Gabriel, a daughter, Marisa, a cat, Xena Warrior Kitty and two dogs, Bridges and Temple.