By Betzy Lynch in La Jolla, California
Nearly three years ago, the LFJCC launched Shine A Light Shabbat, an engagement program that brings JCC professionals and Jewish community ambassadors together with church communities across San Diego to share Shabbat.
Since then, we’ve gathered with more than 45 churches and 3,500 friends and allies of our Jewish community.
One of my favorite parts of these evenings is the opportunity for open conversation. I tell our guests they can ask us anything, we promise not to be offended. We also promise to let them know if something they ask could be offensive, so they’ll know for next time! The questions range from “Why don’t Jews eat pork?” to “Why do Jewish holidays fall on different dates every year?” to “How can someone be Jewish and not practice Judaism?”
But one question caught me completely by surprise: “Why do all Jewish kids go to summer camp?”
Of course, not all Jewish children go to camp. But the question gave me an opportunity to explain why Jewish summer camp has become such a powerful experience for building Jewish identity. And as another incredible summer at Camp Jaycee comes to an end, I’ve been thinking about that question again.
What makes camp so powerful is that it transforms Judaism from something young people learn about into something they live.
At camp, Shabbat isn’t simply explained, it’s anticipated, celebrated, sung, tasted, and experienced together. Hebrew words become part of everyday vocabulary. Jewish music becomes their music. Values like kehillah (community), chesed (kindness) and (welcoming others) aren’t lessons on a page, they become ways of living together.
And perhaps most importantly, belonging comes before knowledge. Campers don’t need to know a lot about Judaism to know they belong. They build Jewish identity through friendships, role models, traditions, laughter, independence, and memories.
Camp also gives young people something incredibly important: ownership. Campers become counselors. Counselors become leaders. Young people move from participating in Jewish experiences to creating them for others. Camp becomes a laboratory where Judaism can be interpreted, adapted, experimented with, and made their own.
That is the magic of Camp Jaycee.
Sandy and our incredible camp team don’t make Judaism the subject of every activity. Instead, they create an environment where Jewish values, relationships, ritual, creativity, and joy are simply part of the air our campers breathe.
And thankfully, that doesn’t have to end with summer. Through ATID, our JCC team, with the support of some wonderful camp parents, is creating a monthly Saturday-night opportunity for children to reconnect and keep that camp magic alive throughout the year. I hope you’ll check it out and join the fun.
As camp comes to a close, I am deeply grateful to our counselors, unit leaders, specialists, song leaders, lifeguards, swim instructors, inclusion support team, carpool squad, security and guest services team and everyone who helped make this summer so special.
The days of summer may be ending, but the friendships, memories, values, and sense of belonging our campers found here will travel with them into the year and well beyond.
And lucky for us, we get to do it all again in less than 365 days.
As Shabbat fades and the new week begins, I pray that the magic of camp stays with us all year long.
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Betzy Lynch is the CEO of the Lawrence Family JCC.