A Handful of Summer Camp Thoughts

In the American Jewish Calendar, summer camp season is almost upon us. For staff up at Camp Ramah, Shavuot — the celebration of Torah at Sinai — kicks it all off. I don’t view that as a calendrical coincidence. Camp is one of the most powerful investments in Jewish continuity that we can make. Over a year ago, I was having a very Jewish Driveway Moment listening to NPR; an extended piece about the importance of summer camping for the American Jewish community. To my amazement, I was hearing a snippet of audio from Camp Massad (in the Poconos) in the mid 1960’s — I was a camper there a few years later!

Jewish Camp was a critical shaper of my identity, along with the identities of my wife and children. The same holds true for many children and grownups who are a part of this Kehillah. Beyond the nostalgia that summer camp evokes is something that belongs high on the community agenda (here and elsewhere): Jewish summer camping must be available to any family that wants to make that investment in our future.

To all our 2025 campers — I hope you have a terrific experience with your friends and counselors, and I look forward to hearing some camp Torah from you!