Camp Miriam is a place where chanichimot (campers) feel free to be Jewish, to celebrate their traditions and to be part of a community guided by compassion, curiosity and joy. (photo from Camp Miriam)
Last year was another remarkable one for Camp Miriam. It was our biggest summer yet, with more than 350 chanichimot (campers). As I reflect on my past two summers as rosh (camp director), I find myself flooded with memories and filled with gratitude for the Camp Miriam community. Two years may seem brief in the 77-year history of the machaneh (camp), but they have been the most meaningful, inspiring and impactful years of my life.
Over the past two summers, I’ve witnessed countless moments of growth and transformation. I’ve seen chanichimot arrive shy and uncertain, only to leave a few weeks later with their eyes full of tears, reminiscing with their kvutza (age group) about their favourite memories. I’ve watched tzevet (staff) bring passion, kindness, care and love to every activity and experience with their chanichimot. Each summer is filled with magical moments, from special theme days to Shabbat rikkud (Israeli dancing) to impromptu singing and dancing in the chadar ochel (dining hall).
In a world that often feels complicated and uncertain, machaneh remains a place for belonging and safety. It’s a place where chanichimot feel free to be Jewish, to celebrate their traditions and to be part of a community guided by compassion, curiosity and joy. A place where it is encouraged to ask questions, feel deeply and be yourself. For so many of us, the magic of machaneh exists in the connections we form: to one another, to traditions and to the generations who have come before us.
When I first arrived at Camp Miriam in 2010, I knew immediately it was special. However, I didn’t realize how influential it would be. I have made lifelong friendships and incredible memories, and have learned countless lessons that will stick with me for the rest of my life. Camp Miriam provides a space and community where the dreams, ambitions and ideas of youth are taken seriously. Spending a summer at a camp offers young people an opportunity to step out of their comfort zone, build confidence, gain independence and form friendships that feel like family.
Camp Miriam has changed my life in ways I couldn’t have imagined. Having the privilege of watching campers and staff grow, form lasting connections and take on new challenges has deepened my own sense of purpose, appreciation and hope. The experience is made possible by the entire community, the chanichimot who return each summer, the tzevet who choose to spend their summers creating magic, the volunteers who support us behind the scenes, and the parents who trust us to create a home away from home.
For more than 75 years, Camp Miriam has been a place where young people discover their voice, their community and a sense of possibility. The experiences built each summer continue to empower youth long after they leave camp.
Ariella Smith-Eidelman was director of Camp Miriam, 2024-2025.