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Find a Program
Find the right program for you: search through camps, Israel and social justice travel programs, youth group, and leadership opportunities for kids from elementary school through college.
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Discover the Magic of Jewish Summer Camp
Jewish summer camps fuse the activities, friendships, and communal life of traditional camps with the Jewish values, role models and culture our shared heritage. This uniquely immersive experience provides a confidence-building opportunity in which campers experience joy and discovery in a communal Jewish setting.
What's New
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Enhancing Mitzvot on Simchat Torah with Three Nature Crafts for Children
September 18, 2023
As summer changes to autumn in St. Louis, we seek ways to find nature-based connections in celebration of Simchat Torah. North of the equator, children and adults alike marvel as the natural world dazzles in majestically colored autumn leaves, as if in celebration of the Torah. At Shirlee Green...
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Simple Ways to Make Yom Kippur Meaningful at Home with Young Children
September 13, 2023
As the high holidays approach, we are reminded that there are so many meaningful Jewish moments to celebrate. Within the joy and ruach (spirit) of holidays like Rosh Hashanah, Sukkot, and Simchat Torah, lies the solemn and serious Yom Kippur. There are a myriad of ways to make Yom Kippur meaningful for young children, for whom especially, Yom Kippur is not an easy holiday to understand.
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Talking to Children About Jewish Identity in an Interfaith Family
September 1, 2023
For children in interfaith families, clarifying the role of religion in the family dynamic is important.
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Interfaith Families: Reform Judaism Sees You, Welcomes You, is You!
Reform Judaism has made a commitment to welcoming interfaith couples and their children into congregations, and offering support and education for their extended families.
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Intro to Judaism
Learn the fundamentals of Jewish thought and practice in 16-20 weeks. This course is perfect for interfaith couples, those from different faith backgrounds considering conversion, and Jews looking for an adult-level introduction.
Family Activities
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Make Your Own Havdalah Kit
The beautiful ritual of Havdalah is the ceremony marking the end of Shabbat. Learn more about Havdalah rituals then create your own ritual items to observe Havdalah on your own, the perfect activity to enjoy with your family.
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Beeswax Candles for Shabbat and Havdalah
Try this beeswax candle activity with your family.
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3 Fun At-Home Science Experiments from Jewish Summer Camp
At URJ 6 Points Sci-Tech Academy, a Reform Jewish summer camp with locations in Byfield, MA, and Thousand Oaks, CA, every summer morning starts with a “Boker Big Bang” – a brief prayer followed by a (contained) explosion. Here are a few of the camp’s favorite experiments.
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8 Thematic Ideas to Make Every Night of Hanukkah Shine
Here are eight wonderful things about Hanukkah, one for each night, that can enhance our celebrations of this beloved holiday.
Parenting
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Helping Today's Kids Grow Into Tomorrow's Adults
One of the hardest parts about being a parent is preparing your children for when they leave home. Watch the video below to see Jordanna Flores, director of year-round programs at URJ Camp Newman, explain how sending your kids to camp can prepare them to be resilient and independent adults.
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How to Be the Grownups that Creative Kids Need
Being able to nurture your child's creative talents is one of the most exciting and overwhelming aspects of parenting. URJ 6 Points Creative Arts Academy Director Jo-Ellen Unger explains how you can encourage your child's creative growth without over-programming them and their schedules.
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Find a Jewish Name for Your Child
Learn the meanings and history of Jewish names to find the right one for your child.
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What It's Like to Live on an Israeli Kibbutz in a Global Pandemic
As a family mediator and the parent of four children, I have found comfort and logic in the kibbutz response to this crisis – a laser focus on the responsibility to its members.
Divorce
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When Jews Divorce: What Do We Tell Our Children?
In consultation with a child development expert and depending on children’s developmental and emotional needs, spouses should agree on how and when they will explain their divorce to their children and how they will relate to their children following the announcement.
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The Jewish Way of Divorce
Judaism has always viewed marriage and the rearing of children as essential for personal gratification, the fulfillment of one's communal obligations, and as a religious obligation. Still, Jewish tradition entertained no illusions about the possibility of strife within marriage. Therefore, divorce, while not encouraged, is not deemed sinful or forbidden, but rather a sad, occasionally necessary solution to an unhappy marital relationship.
