Jewish Family Camps in Eastern Ukraine

Dnepropetrovsk and Kharkov Areas

When most of us think about summer camp, we imagine kids running around with their counselors, arts and crafts, and outdoor adventure.  No one would think of accompanying his or her kids for the summer, but that is exactly what 600 families did this summer when they took part in 19 family camps in eastern Ukraine. 

Some two thousand seven hundred family members, most from assimilated Jewish families, came together for a week at various beach resorts or forest encampments to reconnect with their Jewish roots, learn about Jewish traditions, and celebrate Shabbat together, some for the first time. 

Family camps are an ideal setting for assimilated Jews who are interested in learning more about their heritage through an intensive "Jewish experience".  Each camp is taught by trained local staff, who teach both children and adults together and individually in a very creative way.  Each week, a different theme is woven into the camp activities, which include lectures, games, contests, debates, dance programs, arts and crafts, prayer and drama.  Each day a different lecture is the main topic of discussion at camp meals, with subjects such as history of the Jewish people or history of the Jewish state. Morning prayers are also accompanied by discussions, this time on topics related to the synagogue and Jewish religious practices. Of course, the camps also include vacation time on the beach, or a walk through the forest, and fun activities for the whole family.

This summer, each camp was split into different interest groups, from Klezmer music enthusiasts to families with small children.  In these "theme" family camps, each family has more than just being Jewish in common, they have the opportunity to share their interest in specific subjects.  Besides learning the basics about Jewish family life, Jewish holidays, and religious traditions, participants in family camps build lifelong bonds to other Jewish families and to their local Jewish Community Center.  These are bonds that continue to grow as each family becomes more involved in the community.  One participant from Gorlovka commented at the end of "Jewish Calendar Family Camp", "I feel I have come back into contact with my long lost family.  I can’t wait to see them again soon."