Camps provide refuge for war-weary Israeli kids

c. 2008 Religion News Service SUSSEX, N.J. _ Every few hours, the public address system at Camp Louemma broadcasts instructions about mealtimes and schedule changes to the campers and counselors scattered across 150 rustic acres in northern New Jersey. Among the groups of youths occupied by hiking, swimming, and arts and crafts, nine new arrivals […]

c. 2008 Religion News Service

SUSSEX, N.J. _ Every few hours, the public address system at Camp Louemma broadcasts instructions about mealtimes and schedule changes to the campers and counselors scattered across 150 rustic acres in northern New Jersey.

Among the groups of youths occupied by hiking, swimming, and arts and crafts, nine new arrivals jerked their heads up at every announcement, prepared to run to their cabins for shelter.


“We are still expecting to hear `Color Red,”’ said Shiran Jaldeti, 15, explaining that in their war-torn southern Israeli town of Sderot, such messages mean a two-minute warning of a Qassam rocket attack from nearby Gaza.

“We don’t really sleep at night because we always have to hear for the `Color Red’ announcement. In a car, you don’t wear a seat belt, you don’t put on the radio, you have the windows down so you can hear it.”

Jaldeti and 50 other Sderot teenagers have been given a break from bombings at five American Jewish sleepaway camps scattered across northeastern Pennsylvania, northwest New Jersey and lower New York state.

The initiative was coordinated by the Foundation for Jewish Camp, a national organization that develops programs at more than 150 North American sleep-away camps; and Kesher Cham, an Israeli program that sends students to all over the world.

Funding came from a $250,000 gift from the UJA-Federation of New York, an organization that funds Jewish education programs, and the camps absorbing some of their fees.

Jerry Silverman, president of Foundation for Jewish Camp, said organizers wanted to offer Sderot teenagers a much-needed vacation from violence, while also encouraging their new American friends to learn more about Israel.

“We can give these kids a sense of normalcy for a few weeks, to get away from the disruptiveness of their lives, and we’re hoping it will pique an interest in our teens to visit Israel,” agreed Hal Pugach, the director of Camp Louemma. “Our teens were very excited about these visitors.”


Camp Louemma is a nondenominational Jewish camp that attracts a range of youths, from modern Orthodox to unaffiliated families, although Sabbath services are observed every week and food is kept kosher. One unifying factor among the campers, as with many American Jews, is their emotional bond to Israel _ reflected in the Star of David flag waving just beneath the camp’s stars and stripes banner.

But despite their bunkmates’ eagerness to hear their stories, the visitors said they have had trouble explaining what life is like in Sderot, and not just because of their limited English vocabularies.

Speaking through a translator, Jaldeti and 15-year-old Tal Peretz said they don’t think Americans their age could grasp what it’s like to see a child killed by a bomb in their front yard, as Jaldeti did, or how Peretz felt when her big brother’s legs were blown off while he was guarding a government building two years ago.

Fortunately, some camp conversations transcend cultural and language barriers; within a day, their cabin echoed with giggles and the staples of Hebrew and English teenage chatter.

“We were talking about their boyfriends, and how they’re `chamud,”’ said Danielle DiCicco, 14, of East Meadow, N.Y., using her new Hebrew word for “cute.” “They must miss them a lot.”

When the Sderot campers return home in mid-August, they have a few more years of high school left before their required military service. Jaldeti hopes to study veterinary medicine, and Peretz has her eyes on law school.


Both would like to see the world, though they agreed they can’t imagine leaving their families for long. Even a two-week camp session seems like too long to go without checking in every day to make sure everyone is safe; one Sderot teenager decided to stay home for that reason, organizers said.

Talma Stav, a Sderot high school history teacher who accompanied the Camp Louemma teenagers, assured them that their families would call, fax or e-mail if anything happens.

“They want to call home every day, but if they call every day, they won’t enjoy this place,” she said. “God forbid something will happen, we’ll hear about it.”

Despite their concerns, within a day, the Sderot teenagers had begun to visibly enjoy their new outdoor freedom, stretching out in the grass during their free time rather than resting inside the cabins. They were especially excited to see the lake and swimming pool, and enthusiastically jumped into the water for their swim test.

“Our town’s pool is closed because everyone is afraid of the Qassam attacks all the time,” Peretz said, emerging from the sparkling blue water. “I can’t remember the last time we used it.”

KRE/RB END NEROULIAS800 words

A photo of Jaldeti is available via https://religionnews.com.

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