The Power of Israeli Campers and Teens at URJ Camps

In a world where screens dominate teens' lives and antisemitism is on the rise, fostering personal connections with Israel and Jewish peoplehood has never been more important.

The URJ has a long history in bringing Israeli teens to camp in a way that transcends borders and lasts a lifetime. This past summer, with the backdrop of the war in Gaza, it felt a little different.

In 2025, URJ Camps hosted 170 teens from Israel. The impact of bringing the Israelis to camp to foster peer-to-peer relationships, is best captured through the testimonials of the participants and their families who experienced it firsthand.

Inbar's son, Uriya, attended a URJ camp last summer. She shared that it was a life-changing experience for her son: "Uriya came back full of experiences, with a deep pride in being part of a larger story." While Inbar recalled meeting Jewish peers from the U.S. only after her undergraduate degree, she knew she wanted Uriya to have that experience at a younger age. As she so eloquently put it, Uriya "made new friends who were at once different from him and very much the same, and with a new sense of what those two words really mean: Am Yisrael - the People of Israel."

Uriya himself couldn't be more enthusiastic about his experience. "I can confidently say camp was the most fun and meaningful experience of my life," he says. "It was a unique blend of friendship with kids I hadn't known before and who didn't even speak my language. With guidance from counselors, I learned so much and they [the counselors] supported me in countless ways." This kind of experience is exactly what URJ Camps provide: a chance for teens to form lasting connections and grow as individuals.

Part of what makes these connections so powerful is that camp offers something rare in today's world: a chance to truly disconnect to reconnect. Away from screens and notifications, campers engage in face-to-face conversations, shared adventures, and spiritual experiences that ground them in the present moment. In this screen-free environment, Jewish values and relationships take center stage. Campers discover what it means to belong, lead, and be part of something larger than themselves. Their understanding of people is not restricted to what social media says about "those people"; instead, they build moments of human connection.

For Uriya, the camp experience was about forming meaningful connections with peers and developing a deeper understanding of his Jewish identity. "Today I know, and feel that we are one people," he says. "I am proud to be a Reform Jew, who prays in ways that truly connect and fills Shabbat with melodies and meaning both at camp and at home."

The testimonials from other families and teens paint a similar picture. Ronlee and David, parents of Alma, share that their daughter's four weeks at camp were a "peaceful and relaxing time out" that she desperately needed after two stressful years in northern Israel, with her dad being in reserve duty most of the time. They shared, "Alma was able to connect with herself and with Judaism in a way that best suited her. She loved every second."

That "time out" is more than just a break, it's a sacred pause. At URJ Camps, the absence of screens allows space for reflection, laughter around a campfire, shared songs, and stories that build lasting bonds. When young people unplug, they become more present, empathetic, and connected to each other, nature, and their Jewish identities.

The world has a lot to say right now about Israel, and Jews in general. Limiting our understanding of Jewish peoplehood to ideas reflected only on social media can be devastating. Bringing Israeli and American youth together fosters a sense of belonging and peoplehood that extends far beyond camp. One of the most significant benefits of this exchange is the opportunity for American teens to learn from their Israeli counterparts and vice versa. For American teens, experiencing life in Israel or interacting with Israeli peers can be a powerful way to deepen their understanding of the complexities of Israeli society and the challenges faced by Israeli teens.

This exchange allows them to learn from each other's perspectives and experiences, fostering a deeper understanding of one another's lives and challenges. As Israeli teen Ayelet noted, "It showed me how American Jewish teens deal with the current situation. I am glad I could listen to them and tell them what is really going on in Israel."

In these moments of deep listening without distractions or screens mediating their words, campers experience what it truly means to be in relationship with each other. This is where sacred connection happens: shared vulnerability, curiosity, and presence. By disconnecting from the digital world, teens are free to reconnect with the essence of Jewish peoplehood: shared stories, song, and spirit.

For families looking to provide their children with a meaningful and transformative experience, the URJ's camps offer a unique opportunity to connect with Israel and Jewish peoplehood. In 2025, the URJ surpassed our goal of hosting 100 Israelis at camp, welcoming 170 teens from Israel. Our commitment to building Jewish peoplehood through sacred relationships is more important now than ever. Building a brighter future for Jewish teens and fostering a sense of connection and peoplehood that will last a lifetime starts today, with camp.

Registration for summer 2026 is now open - find your camp and register today!