25 July, 2024
When is a Jewish summer camp experience more than just fun in the sun? When it also provides some respite for a caregiver who is feeling overwhelmed and when it fosters a deep connection to community.
For families of modest means and for kids with troubled lives, time spent at camp can be a much-needed escape. That’s what it was for Dany and Avi1 who spent a month at Camp B’nai Brith last year.
The boys had been through more pain and stress than kids should ever have to experience. Their mother had recently died. And with their father not in their lives, their grandfather, Morrie, stepped in to raise the boys on his own. Single parenting can be challenging at the best of times, let alone for a man who thought his child-rearing days were behind him.
Morrie knew that the kids needed some stress-free summertime fun. Thanks to a financial subsidy from Federation CJA, Dany and Avi made new friends, learned new skills and connected to Jewish life at camp.
Jewish summer camps are more than just a summer getaway—in fact, studies reveal that they have a profound impact on Jewish identity. The cherished memories, lifelong friendships, and enriching experiences gained at camp play a pivotal role in fostering future Jewish leaders, creating deeper connections with Israel and prioritizing Jewish values.
That is the power of community.
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- Federation CJA supports 31 summer camps, enriching the lives of more than 1,700 campers.
- 7 out of 10 of today’s Jewish leaders previously attended Jewish camp.
- 55% of those campers are more likely to feel emotionally attached to Israel as adults.
- Over 400 campers have received a financial subsidy to attend a Jewish overnight camp.2
1Names have been changed to protect privacy.
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