New Family Camp Fosters Jewish Tradition in Romania

In July 2003, twenty-five Romanian Jews gathered for a unique family camp in the mountain resort Busteni. They retreated from their daily secular lives to the scenic hills where they studied, celebrated and relaxed amongst other Jewish families.

Sponsored by JDC, Camp Biachad (Together), the first Jewish Family Camp in Romania, hosted nine families from three regions, Bucharest, Braila, and Cluj, for four days of Jewish cultural and religious exploration. The itinerary was organized by the Compartimentul Tineret of Romania's Jewish Federation.

One of the goals of the camp was to familiarize the families with Judaism. Separate discussion sessions for children and adults allowed everyone to benefit from and learn with their peers. Conversation topics included: Jewish history and culture, the place of Jews in Israel and in world culture, the Holocaust, Anti-Semitism, Jewish ethics, contemporary Middle East politics, the prospects for peace in Israel, and the future of Israel and the Diaspora communities.

Together, children and their parents enjoyed learned Israeli dances and participated in trivia contests, outdoor activities, and lessons on Jewish symbols. They were introduced to the traditions of Kabbalat Shabbat—welcoming in the Sabbath with Friday night candle-lighting, Saturday morning prayer, and Torah study—and the Havdalah ceremony, marking the end of Shabbat. For many of the "campers", it was their first exposure to the customs and observance of Shabbat.

"We rested, relaxed and had a lot of fun," says Laura, who attended the retreat with her husband and young son. "We became more learned, found out more about our religion and what it means to be a Jew."

Most of the participants said they signed up for the seminar as an opportunity to spend some pleasant days in the company of other Jews—an unusual occurrence in Romania, where Jewish families are scattered across the map. The Salamons were also looking for "closeness, intimacy, lots of love, and familiarity," and their expectations were far exceeded. "We had the satisfaction of meeting an exceptional madricha [counselor], Bianca, who has so much to offer." They hope to be reunited with her, and all of the other friends they made this summer, on a future Biachad retreat.