Israeli and American Tzevet: Camp as a Respite
As we prepared for kayitz 2024, we worried about the challenges of bringing together Israelis and Americans at this fraught moment. We are pleased that our preparations have yielded robust and respectful conversations among people with varying experiences since October 7 and with differing opinions. Good relationships among members of our camp community have been fostered.
Equally important, Camp Ramah New England has proved to be a real refuge from what’s happened in the world. Many of our staff members – young and not-so-young, Israeli and American – and have told us that camp has been a safe place for them this summer and has provided an opportunity for respite. A few of them share their feelings about their summer in camp:
“Coming to the camp for me was a very big departure from my comfort zone, but after two months here I feel that it has become my new comfort zone. In my entire life I have never felt as safe as I feel in camp here, I can be who I am 100% without fear of being judged or rejected, and in today’s reality it is so not obvious.” – Elazar Danino
“For me, the end of summer camp is also the end of my gap year. I started it in South Africa and following the war I moved to several places. I couldn’t have asked for a more fitting ending than here at Camp Ramah New England. At every moment I felt that the camp was my home and a place of comfort. So the question is, how do I move out of this comfort zone? The answer is – I’m not leaving, I’m taking the memories with me to the new road that awaits me and keeping them close to my heart. Who knows, maybe we’ll meet again soon.” – Liya Plavin
“As a college student, I was personally exposed for the first time to antisemitic and anti-Zionist rhetoric. It was shockingly draining. Camp has provided an empathetic community and a supportive environment. Being at camp has been healing and soothing and has helped me to reset my personal equilibrium.” – Zoe Fischman
“We are an Israeli-Jewish family attending CRNE for the fourth summer, and we are enjoying every moment of it. 😊 The camp serves as a dynamic educational hub for American Jews from diverse backgrounds, fostering a sense of community and shared values. We have chosen to come to CRNE because we understand that for many attendees, their primary connection to Judaism is through their camp experiences. We hope to actively contribute by sharing our Zionist-Israeli perspective and forming bonds of friendship. We believe these interactions are crucial in ensuring a vibrant future for the global Jewish community. In these challenging times, the friendships and bonds formed at camp become even more significant. They provide us with a sense of belonging, strength, and hope.” – Einat and Modi Hershkovitz