From two camps to one: Summer camps and the Israeli and American Jews relations
Israeli society’s longstanding reliance on American Jews for social, financial, and spiritual support is on shaky ground. Might late-night conversations in Jewish summer camps hold the key to strengthening the future of American-Israeli relations?
Relationships are built on trust and mutual understanding. The American-Jewish and Israeli relationship has recently suffered a setback, with efforts underway to address current challenges. When politics, war, and distance challenge shared values and hope, introspection becomes necessary, and personal identities are put to the test. American Jews may wonder, ‘Is Israel truly a part of who we are, and can we support it in any case?’ Israelis might feel that they can do without American Jewry’s support—‘Can they understand what we’re going through?’
In times like these, an old-new bond could be created based on what connects people rather than divides them. Jewish summer camps have long been a melting pot of Jewish culture, youth slang, Hebrew, Americanism, and Israeli connections. Thoughtful programs on Israeli society, Israeli dance, and sporadic references to Israeli costumes pave the way for personal experiences and discussions. Adding a bit of planned spontaneity could transform camps into the perfect setting for Israelis and Americans to build a new kind of relationship.
After October 7th, some summer camps remained supportive of Israel, while others were more ambivalent. All experienced challenges recently with Israeli counselors unable to attend the 2025 summer camps on time due to Israel’s war with Iran and the ongoing campaign in Gaza. Balancing fun with education while fostering young Jewish-American identities is challenging enough without adding political drama to programs and discussions. My research at camps in the summer of 2024 revealed that cultural curiosity and the need to connect exist on both sides. When conversations about Israel were avoided, it was usually due to fear of causing offense or darkening the mood. Making more space for informal conversation might provide opportunities to overcome such self-censorship and establish new ground for relationship building.
People don’t need instructions to connect. They need the opportunity, and sometimes an awkward situation, to get them to speak up. Every summer, over 1500 Israeli emissaries participate in Jewish camps, blend with local staff, and contribute to the camp experience. Israeli campers join American youth and spend time together in activities and in their tents or cabins. The language barrier and the cultural gap often constrain spontaneous bonding. But, among staff, lack of free time is a major bond-killer. Self-censorship doesn’t help, either.
For new, honest, and long-lasting bonding to occur, staff need time at the end of the day to mingle, speak freely, connect, and learn about life in a foreign country. Personal stories, which support understanding and allow others to identify, usually come out when “the boss is not around”. Studies show that sharing experiences and mutual desires creates a strong foundation for enduring relationships by fostering a sense of self, understanding, and empathy between individuals. Israel education programs are still crucial for the American-Israeli connection based on common history and shared values. But camps should also provide staff with more opportunities for spontaneous bonding. This might require more personnel to ease the workload. But it is in both sides’ interest to support more Israelis coming to work in camps, allowing for cultural exchange to happen organically.
Supporting the participation of Israelis in American Jewish camps is more than a nice gesture—it’s an investment in the future of American-Israeli relations. The real bridge between American Jewry and Israelis may lie in late-night talks, shared laughter, and newly formed memories. But for such connections to become meaningful and long-lasting, camp settings should expand their repertoires from structured programming to creating designated space and time for honest, unfiltered conversations.
