“Hot, Humid and Jewish” – Planning Ahead Now for Summer

For adults as well as children, now is the time to begin planning for our summer Jewish experiences. Today, summer Jewish learning opportunities are open to adults as well as children, and, as for young people, adult summer programs can be thought provoking and challenging. Jewish life should not be reserved only for the school-year months. I strongly recommend that adults – as well as children – seek out summer Jewish opportunities. Here are a few I recommend you consider, for children and adults alike:

Jewish Summer Camps for Kids
The Reform movement camps in the northeast, Camp Eisner in Great Barrington, and Camp Crane Lake in West Stockbridge offer nurturing programs that help build children’s Jewish identity and pride in a liberal Reform Jewish setting where Shabbat is observed with joy among a whole range of camp activities. The Cohen Foundation camps, including Camp Tel Noar, Camp Pembroke, and Camp Tevya have strong reputations, and highlight Jewish culture and customs. Camp Micah, in Bridgton Maine, teaches kids about their responsibility to repair the world through social action experiences. These are just a few of the outstanding Jewish summer camps in the area.

For High School Students
The Reform movement runs NFTY L’Dor VaDor, the outstanding trip that includes three days in Prague, three days simulating the Exodus ship’s journey to Palestine, and four weeks touring in Israel. (I first traveled to Israel with NFTY years ago.)  Safety is a first priority for NFTY in Israel. Kutz Camp holds the three-week Reform camp for teenagers in Warwick, NY, and teens gather in the Berkshires for the one-week NFTY Summer Institute in August, our Reform leadership training program. In Washington, Panim el Panim offers “JAM” (Judaism, Activism and Mitzvah Work), teaching Jewish teens to advocate for social justice on Capitol Hill and at home. Brandeis University provides its four-week “Genesis” program, an academic program that brings together a diverse group of students with scholars, artists and activists. And there are many more excellent opportunities that help bring connections between Jewish teens and which teach Jewish values and learning.

Jewish Summer Experiences for Adults
Each June in New Hampshire, Reform Jews gather for a week of study at the Summer Kallah, which features leading rabbis and scholars in a week of community and Jewish learning.  Courses are offered on a wide array of engaging topics. To learn more, send an email to "educate" at urj.org. The “Tzevet Mitzvot: Adult Mitzvah Corps” is open to members of Reform congregations, a week in August of building a home in Orange County California in partnership with Habitat for Humanity. ( http://urj.org/csa/mitzvahcorps/ )  The Outreach Fellows Program in Cincinnati is a week-long study program in June for those who seek training to support Jews-by-Choice in our congregation. And more than 300 adults and children attend the annual National Havurah Summer Institute, held this year in early August, also in New Hampshire. Singles and couples, children, teenagers, and seniors join together to create an inclusive community to celebrate the multiplicity of Jewish experience. 

I encourage you to consider attending any of these wonderful Jewish summer expereinces, to expand your Jewish horizons and use the relaxed summertime for your own personal Jewish growth. I would also be happy to assist with scholarship funds for any of these, or other, worthwhile programs, whether it is you, as an adult, or your child who is attending. I cannot recommend the experience of Jewish summer camp highly enough. It is a life-changing experience for campers of all ages.

Rabbi Andy Vogel