By Rabbi Alex Kress
Beth Shir Shalom, Santa Monica
Session Gimmel Camp Faculty

I grew up at URJ Camp Harlam in Pennsylvania. I started camp the summer before my Bar Mitzvah. Just before that giant milestone, I discovered a Judaism at camp that felt joyful, unbound, and completely my own. Camp changed my life in a way religious school never could–it helped me fall in love with being Jewish.

When I began serving Beth Shir Shalom in Santa Monica, I brought my love of camp with me. I know its transformative power–for our kids, our families, and our community–because I experienced it. In just a few years, our Southern California community has gone from two Newman campers each summer to twenty-three, and we feel the impact all year long. Yet in a world full of choices–and with plenty of Jewish camps closer to home–why do so many of our families send their kids so far north?

Simply because Camp Newman is worth the journey.

At Camp Newman, Jewish life isn’t something that happens once a week—it’s woven into everything. From friendships to sports, music to prayer, our kids live in a rhythm that feels joyful, grounded, and totally Jewish.

What our kids love most about Newman might sound small: silly talent shows, Shabbat dancing, nighttime cabin rituals, climbing the tower, or swimming in the pool. But those moments reflect something much deeper: a community where kids feel safe, known, and loved; an oasis where they can be goofy, vulnerable, scared, curious, brave, and challenged and still know they belong.

This culture of acceptance and belonging is a hallmark of Camp Newman and the entire URJ camping system. It’s carefully cultivated by the year-round staff and brought to life each summer by the Nefesh (camper care) team. Campers who feel homesick or struggle socially are met with compassion. And when unkindness arises–as it sometimes does–Newman doesn’t look the other way. Staff respond with love, structure, and a clear commitment to keeping camp safe, inclusive, and kind.

Another reason the journey to Camp Newman feels so worthwhile is the URJ’s commitment to Israel and to Klal Yisrael—the idea that all Jews, across generations and geography, are part of one connected family. At camp, that idea isn’t taught abstractly; it’s lived. Each summer, our kids come to see Israel not as a distant place or a divisive political talking point, but as a community of people they know and care about. The mishlachat–Newman’s delegation of Israeli staff–helps build those bridges not through formal programs, but through real relationships, shared meals, inside jokes, and deep conversations. These connections aren’t loud or performative–they’re personal and lasting.

And they’re just one expression of a larger truth: that Camp Newman is part of something bigger. As a Union for Reform Judaism camp, Newman is rooted in the values of progressive, inclusive, justice-driven Judaism. Our kids return home not only with stories and friendships, but with a deep sense of belonging–to Judaism, to Israel, and to a global Jewish family.

This summer, we had more Beth Shir Shalom kids at Newman than ever before. And though we’ve just returned home, we’re already counting down the days until next year. Because Camp Newman isn’t just another camp–it’s our summer home where friends become family.