Jewish Summer Camp; A Diaspora Utopia

Summer camp is song sessions, arts & crafts, and sailing on the lake, but in the Jewish American community, it’s also a diaspora utopia. For many Jewish kids across the States, summer camp is the one place where they are fully immersed in Jewish community for weeks at a time. This past summer, as war continued to rage on in the Jewish State, having this safe space outside of Israel was extra important, but also looked a bit different. 

Jewish camps began appearing in the late 19th century as a result of European Jews immigrating to the United States. These camps were formed to preserve Jewish culture and tradition by creating an immersive environment within the diaspora. According to the Foundation for Jewish Camp’s 2023 Census, over 300 Jewish summer camps in the States boasted an impressive 181,000 participants last year. A Pew Research study even suggests that a staggering 40% of Jews in America have attended one of these camps. It’s no surprise that Jewish summer camp is a symbol of Judaism in America. These camps help Jewish kids connect with other Jews, learn about Israel, and explore their Jewish identity.

Every summer teens are exposed to Israel at Jewish camps through Israel-oriented programming, interaction with Israeli counselors, and even something as simple as dancing to Israeli music on Shabbat. With the war in mind this summer, many American kids were coming to camp from communities where Israel’s image was portrayed by the war and not by the humanity of its people. Older campers were escaping the soaring antisemitism and misinformation about Israel online as they embarked on a screen-free seven weeks. Younger campers, some very new to Israel, had only the image of Israel at war, having not known much else. From 6 to 17 years old, all of these kids were affected by a conflict more than 6,000 miles away. Consequently, the Jewish camp’s approach to Israel and the war had to adapt to meet the community’s needs.   

One of the staple programs at Olin-Sang-Ruby Union Institute, a Jewish summer camp in Wisconsin, is known for engaging with Israel while exploring Jewish identity. In the Chalutzim program, campers live in an immersive Hebrew-speaking environment with a large cohort of Israeli counselors. The program has been a crucial part of the OSRUI camp experience for over 50 years and one that both my Mom and I have participated in. Most importantly though, over the program’s 50-plus years of existence, it has adapted to meet the generational needs of connection to Israel. 

This summer as a counselor in the Chalutzim program, there was no avoiding the obvious; the October 7th attacks and the ensuing Israel-Hamas war were top of mind for everyone. The wounds were still fresh, and the camp community was together dealing with the trauma. We spent weeks engaging in conversation about Israel with Israelis who had spent the months prior living through the horrors of war. Together, the Israelis spoke about their experience with war in Israel, and my teens talked about their experience with growing antisemitism in the States. For the first time in months, my campers were back at their home-away-from-home, and passionately ready to learn and talk about Israel. Even as a counselor, I felt comfort in having the space I, too, had longed for. 

I’ve always known that camp was special, but as a counselor this summer I learned that camp truly is a sanctuary. I find comfort in knowing wherever I am throughout the year, when summer comes, I’ll have this second home to return to. Camp is a place where Jewish life thrives and Jewish tradition prevails no matter the ongoing hate outside of its gates. Here at camp, summer after summer, generation after generation, the Jewish youth in America return to their safe space; their diaspora utopia.