Camp and Israel Fair

I have always considered Camp Ramah to be my home away from home. The friends, food, lake, activities – it all felt just right. Taking a break from the school and neighborhood kids, I loved hanging out with these faraway friends, those I didn’t get to see as often as I’d like. It was an exciting part of my life. Receiving bar and bat mitzvah invitations from them was always a highlight. What could be better than spending time with my camp friends even after the summer had ended?

My girlfriend, another Ramah alumna who lived in the same town, and I liked to visit these distant friends. Our dads volunteered to chauffeur us, alternating weekends, to various synagogues and venues. We bonded with our friends from camp, often starting the visit with a lovely Shabbat service and ending it with dancing, pictures and games.

Fast forward four years – I’m now in Israel. The sun is slowly rising as I attempt to catch my breath. Along with members of my Tzofim Chetz V’Keshet Israel group, I made it to the top of Masada! The view is breathtaking, but what really captured my attention were the other groups, of all ages, also hiking up Masada, a place with so much history! All of us united on this special site. Nearly indescribable.

I walk around, absorbing the scenery and, by now, I feel the heat of the sun brightly shining down, allowing me to take great photographs. What a view! I notice a group of kids my age praying together. My initial reaction is, “That’s nice; they are all praying together.” My second thought is, “Is that Sefi, Raffi and Alex?” I excitedly run over to the three guys from my USY group back home.

We exchange some information about our program and ask a series of questions, such as, “How has your trip been so far?” “How much longer will you be in Israel?” “I see you’re praying; my trip doesn’t do that. Do you pray every day with your group?” We make plans to get together once we return. Here I am, at the top of Masada and I just saw friends from Camp Ramah and USY. We may not have kept in touch between those years, but we still had our friendly and warm relationship and, surely, a strong connection with Judaism and Israel.

Fast forward five more years. I am now working for the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island, promoting my two passions – camp and Israel. I often reflect on how I was able to get to this point in my life. I realized that my parents, camp and travel programs all have instilled values and lessons in me and have shaped me into the person I have become. Now, I am able to give back and help connect kids to camps and people to the right Israel programs, just as someone once did for me.

I have shared a part of my story; I ask you to think about your story. What were the activities, choices and experiences that made you the person you are today? Are you happy with the choices you made to get to where you are? Do you want your children to experience the same things? What do you want your children to remember when they look back on their younger years?

According to a study by the Foundation for Jewish Camp, campers grow up to be adults who are 21 percent more likely to feel that being Jewish is very important and 55 percent more likely to feel very emotionally attached to Israel. Do you want your child or grandchild to have a Jewish identity?

Israel travel programs inspire Jewish leadership. Through a study by Masa Israel, 64 percent of Israel travel participants affiliate with a Jewish organization soon after their return to the United States and 45 percent of participants seriously consider a Jewish career. Do you hope your child or grandchild will be inspired to be a Jewish leader?

The Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island is holding a statewide Camp and Israel Fair on Sunday, Nov. 17, noon to 3:30 p.m. Local, national and international representatives will be available to provide information, answer questions and offer incentives relevant to Jewish and Israel camps. This is a great opportunity for participants to meet face to face with representatives to discuss their own individual concerns, learn about Jewish Overnight Camp Incentive Grants and gather information about Israel Travel Incentive Savings Program.

For more details: Elanah Chassen (echassen@JewishAllianceRI.org) or 421-4111 ext. 140.

Elanah Chassen is an Education and Planning Associate for The Jewish Alliance.