Jewish day and overnight camps and alternative educational programs are more than just fun places for children to go – they are a cornerstone in strengthening Jewish identities and securing a vibrant Jewish future for generations to come.
Jewish day and overnight camps and alternative educational programs are more than just fun places for children to go – they are a cornerstone in strengthening Jewish identities and securing a vibrant Jewish future for generations to come. Camps offer a home away from home where children form long-lasting friendships, make lifelong memories and experience new connections with Judaism.
Funding Formative Jewish Experiences
“Jewish summer camps are an important way that we work to connect Jewish children with their heritage and culture, helping the Jewish Federation to actualize its mission of securing a vibrant Jewish future.”
- Jewish Federation’s Chief Strategy and Impact Officer Dr. Kelly Romirowsky
The Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia prioritizes creating accessible experiences for all children to learn about their heritage and feel Jewish pride. One of these pivotal experiences is summer camp. By providing scholarship funds to a number of Jewish day and overnight camps in the Greater Philadelphia region, the Jewish Federation works to ensure that families facing financial barriers can still participate in these formative summer adventures. Last summer, the Jewish Federation granted over $645,000 in need-based aid and scholarships to 60 local Jewish day and overnight camps to support children attending them.
“Camp is meant to be a fun summer experience. It is the goal of the Jewish Federation to continue this tradition while providing the tools necessary for our Jewish camps to ensure their security.”
- Jewish Federation Community Security Director Scott Kerns
This summer, in a post-Oct. 7 world, camp preparation involved a greater focus on safety and security. In just one week, the Jewish Federation’s Community Security Director Scott Kerns and Deputy Community Security Director Cortney Vorhees trained 383 camp staff at 7 different overnight and day camps throughout the region last month. Kerns and Vorhees offered Stop the Bleed® and Active Shooter trainings, where camp counselors learned how to assess their surroundings and utilize tourniquets in emergency situations.
In addition to these trainings, the Jewish Federation Real Estate group allocated $83,500 to three local camps for safety projects last year, ensuring that all facilities are updated and ready to welcome campers this summer.
“Camp Harlam has been one of the most life-changing experiences. The friendships you make are stronger than any other friendship that I have outside of camp.I think everyone should have that experience, especially my cousins, because they're so young and they have so much more life to live.”
- Scarlett, daughter of Jewish Federation Donor Lisa Schreiber
For so many families, the opportunity to go to Jewish summer camp means so much more than just meeting new friends and singing around campfires. Camp can be a transformational place – one where children connect with their spirituality and even begin healing from difficulties endured in their day-to-day lives.
This was the case for Lisa Schreiber’s niece and nephews, who were orphaned after a family tragedy. In the welcoming environment of the Jewish Federation-supported URJ Camp Harlam, these children were able to heal from their emotional wounds and refind happiness.
“With the Jewish Federation’s support, we have continued to grow, reaching many families who aren’t otherwise accessing Jewish community. The Jewish Federation gives us more than funding, they provide guidance and support, from security to experienced lay leaders who have guided us.”
- Makom Community Founder Beverly Socher-Lerner
The Jewish Federation has been a long-term partner in supporting all types of summer educational programs, extending beyond just traditional summer camps. In the Greater Philadelphia region, one of these programs is Makom Community, which the Jewish Federation has championed for over a decade.
Makom Community offers afterschool and summer programming for children, intended to adapt to parents’ and caretakers’ busy schedules and make Jewish learning more accessible during all seasons of the year. Recent funding from the Jewish Federation enabled Makom Community to launch a larger facility, which is scheduled to open in Graduate Hospital this fall, to accommodate its growing number of students and to address safety concerns that were raised following an antisemitic incident that the organization experienced last December.
“Thanks to the longstanding support of the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, we’re able to [make] such an impact in Israel. With your support, with your knowledge and with your heart, we’re able to ... build the future and the hope that we all need.”
- CEO of Unistream Ifat Bechor
Camp and other summer programming in Israel this year is more important than ever to provide a moment of respite and normalcy for children displaced because of the ongoing crisis. One of the organizations offering this critical enrichment is Unistream, a Jewish Federation-supported organization that enables youth in Israel’s geographic and socioeconomic periphery to unlock their hidden potential. Unistream participants acquire professional and life skills through hands-on entrepreneurship programs that take place throughout the school year and summertime. Since Oct. 7, Unistream has pivoted with the support of the Jewish Federation to provide resilience-building activities, an "on wheels" experience to expand access to the curriculum and community-based volunteering initiatives.
You can help the Jewish Federation finish the year off strong by making a donation or a meaningful increase to your gift before the Annual Campaign closes on Aug. 31 by clicking here.
Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, Two Commerce Square, 2001 Market Street, Suite 2300, Philadelphia, PA 19103, United States, 215.832.0500
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