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<\/a>The issue features seven camps. In the order they are presented, they are overnight options Camp Miriam (Gabriola Island, BC), Camp Hatikvah (Okanagan Valley, BC), Camp Solomon Schechter (near Olympia, Wash.), Camp Kalsman (Arlington, Wash.) and Sephardic Adventure Camp (Cle Ulum, Wash.), and day options Camp Gan Israel (Vancouver) and the Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver\u2019s Camp Shalom. The basic structure of each profile is an overview of the camp and its history, then oral history segments from camp directors; all the overnight camp sections include interviews with former campers, as well.<\/p>\nMany Jewish Independent<\/i> readers will recognize the names at least of most of the former attendees of the BC overnight camps: Bernie Simpson, Selina Robinson, Robert Krell, David Levi, Danya Rogen, Sam Gutman, Ted Zacks, Arthur Dodek, Stephen Glanzberg, Susan Fine and Kayla Cohen. And, from the Jewish Independent\u2019<\/i>s annual Camp Guides, many of the directors and staff might even be familiar: Leah Levi (Miriam), Liza Rozen-Delman (Hatikvah), Zach Duitch (Solomon Schechter), Rabbi Ilana Mills (Kalsman), Rabbi Dovid and Chaya Rosenfeld (Gan Israel) and Ben Horev (Camp Shalom).<\/p>\n
The one camp that was new to the JI<\/i> was a long-established one, Sephardic Adventure Camp, whose director is Rabbi Kenneth Pollack. It\u2019s been around for decades and yet hadn\u2019t crossed our radar. There are always things to learn!<\/p>\n
In the interviews, people talk about how they became involved with their camp, how it is\/was to work there, what makes\/made their experience special. They are also asked why Jewish camps are important in their view, what they have learned, in what ways camp inspired them, and more.<\/p>\n
Interviewees share some of their personal history, as well as answer more light-hearted queries, like \u201cYour favourite food served at camp?\u201d \u201cYour favourite day at camp?\u201d \u201cIf you were still attending camp, what activity would you want to excel at?\u201d \u201cIf you weren\u2019t working in the career you\u2019re in, what would you be?\u201d<\/p>\n
As unique as all the camps are, there is overlap of such things as activities offered, lessons learned, inspirations gained, even though some camps are more ideological, some place more emphasis on Judaism and religious observance, others prioritize sports and outdoor life.<\/p>\n
\u201cRegardless of ideology or format,\u201d writes Elana Wenner, the museum\u2019s director of programming and development, in her introduction, \u201cthe camps are united in their intention to organically build community through immersive and engaging experiences.\u201d<\/p>\n
She observes: \u201cThrough the articles in this publication, three overarching themes emerge that serve to unite the experiences shared at all seven camps. They are: 1. The role of the personal camp experience as a grounding point for Jewish self-identity; 2. The influence of Jewish camp experience on personal values and ideals; and 3. The integral link between Jewish summer camp attendance and Jewish community involvement, both in childhood and later in life.\u201d<\/p>\n
While there is much data to support the personal and communal benefits of Jewish camp, there\u2019s nothing like personal expressions to bring that message home.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe personal stories shared by alumni and staff and supporters reveal how these camps forge deep, lasting connections that extend well beyond the summer months,\u201d writes archivist Alysa Routtenberg in the journal\u2019s concluding section. \u201cThese connections create a network of relationships that continue to enrich participants\u2019 lives and bolster their sense of belonging.\u201d<\/p>\n
And Routtenberg underscores the need to preserve, as the JMABC does, these experiences through oral histories.<\/p>\n
\u201cBy recording and sharing these stories,\u201d she writes, \u201cwe ensure that the essence of Jewish summer camps is preserved for future generations, offering them a window into a cherished aspect of Jewish life.\u201d<\/p>\n
That includes the serious and the less serious of life. Reading about how Jewish summer camp allowed people to connect more deeply with their Jewish identity, learn valuable personal and professional lessons, make lifelong friends and more, is as interesting as discovering that anyone has a favourite camp food and what camp activity people would have wanted to excel at.<\/p>\n
Carol Crenna was the managing editor and features writer for this edition of The Scribe<\/i>; Sonia Bishop, graphic designer. Among the many people who donated their time and skills to getting the journal to publication were Heather Glassman Berkowitz, as copy editor, and Helen Aqua and Judith Gurfinkel, who chair the Scribe committee, were editorial consultants. Other volunteers acted as interviewers and transcribers. The journal committee is Aqua, Gurfinkel, Glassman Berkowitz, Gary Averbach, Debby Freiman, Daniella Givon (president of the JMABC board), Barb Schober and Ronnie Tessler.<\/p>\n