12/29/2025
Our next People of Perlman feature is Aliza Berger, a Perlman camper and staff member from 2001–2010. After nearly a decade growing up at camp, Aliza has taken her creativity to LA, where she works as a television writer.
🔵What’s your favorite part about camp?
Bonfires and rope burning at Maccabiah had to be my favorite camp activity. Ok, so I may be a little bit of a pyro. But I just loved making s'mores with my friends every night as a Pio. It brought us all together and we got to share all the hot gossip from the day. I was a very competitive firemaker, and one of my proudest moments was coaching the girls fire burning Maccabiah team of 2010.
🔵How has camp positively impacted your life?
Camp is where I got to express myself artistically and is one of the main reasons I pursued a writing career. I always loved being a part of the college day skits or the Maccabiah entrances. When I was old enough to finally write them I was hooked. Having campers laugh at something I came up with was the best feeling in the world. And I've been searching for that feeling ever since.
🔵What’s a favorite memory you have of camp?
One summer my bunk was having a heart to heart with Director Joe. For some reason, I decided this was the perfect time to air my grievances. Specifically: why weren’t we allowed to go on raids anymore? Head staff said it was too “dangerous” and anyone caught would be punished. So I had a brilliant idea, what if we just brought our counselors with us? Problem solved, right? I felt like a genius, I had gamed the system! But of course the next night, my bunk was woken up by our counselors at 2am. We were brought outside and told we were going to the canteen to meet the boys. We couldn't take out our retainers, take off our pimple cream, or brush our hair. It was a total nightmare. Every girl in my division was furious. I had asked for this, and I would never live it down.
🔵Shoutout someone at camp that has had a big impact on your life.
Benni was my counselor for many years, and is now one of my closest friends. Love you!
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