Monday Morning Message – August 27, 2012

The summer is coming to a close, our beach days are starting to be numbered, and it is almost time for parents to send their children back to school. Many of our synagogue youth have recently returned from summer camp and are resuming their lives on the Jersey Shore. Below is an interesting article about the importance of Jewish summer camp and the correlation between Jewish summer camp attendance and Jewish identity.

In a recent blog post, Paul Lewis wrote the following:

Summer is over and the kids are back from overnight camp. After 17 loads of laundry you discover your child lost two pair of shorts, a towel and three shirts. But fear not, he gained three pair of sweatpants and a jacket with other kids’ names printed on the tags.

What else did your child bring home? If you sent her to a Jewish overnight camp, you hope she returns with an increased sense of Jewish identity, perhaps Jewish friends for life and maybe even a deeper understanding of, and commitment to, Jewish tradition. That is, after all, what Jewish camps promise.

In 2011, the Foundation for Jewish Camp released a study called Camp Works – the Long-Term Impact of Jewish Summer Camp that makes the case for Jewish summer camp as an effective way to assure Jewish continuity. They analyzed recent population surveys in 25 American communities, comparing attitudes and behaviors of adults who attended Jewish overnight camps with adults who did not.

The results were striking. Adults who spent summers at Jewish overnight camp were:

• 10% more likely to marry a Jewish partner
• 21% more likely to feel that being Jewish is very important
• 26% more likely to belong to a synagogue
• 37% more likely to light Shabbat candles
• 25% more likely to give to Jewish charities, and
• 55% more likely to feel emotionally attached to Israel

To read the rest, click   here.

There is no question that Jewish summer camp has a positive effect on Jewish identity for most children who attend. As a camper, counselor, and eventually division head at Camp Ramah in California, I can safely say that I would not be the Jew, or Rabbi that I am today were it not for Jewish summer camp.

I know that affordability is often a factor and there are resources in our community that are available to help with that challenge. As a Conservative Rabbi, I highly recommend Camp Ramah and hope to provide opportunities for our youth to learn more about Ramah during the year. It is never to early to be thinking about next summer!

If you are interested in thinking about Camp Ramah, or other Jewish summer camps for next summer- or just want to share some of your own Jewish summer camp experiences- I would love to hear from you! Have a great week!