The Meaning of Community for Our Mishlachat

During the final Shabbat of the summer, several members of our Mishlachat – Israeli staff members – offered readings about their connections to camp, home, and community at such an uncertain time. We hope you will find as much meaning in their thoughtful...
Exploring Our Relationship With Israel

Exploring Our Relationship With Israel

By Shayna “Shosh” Dollinger Summer Education Director Rabbinic Student at Hebrew Union College Jewish summer camp is the perfect place to learn about, process, and reckon with what it means to be a diaspora Jew in relationship with the state, nation and...
On Grit and the Bonim Cheer

On Grit and the Bonim Cheer

by Rachel Slaton, Director of Communications On Thursday, a member of our communications team (surprise: it was me!) was taking photos at the Low Ropes Course for a cabin of Bonim campers. Sadie, one of our wonderful ropes course specialists, was facilitating a series...
Newman is Worth the Journey

Newman is Worth the Journey

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,...
Kindness for It’s Own Sake

Kindness for It’s Own Sake

At Camp Newman, Jewish learning isn’t confined to books or classrooms—it comes alive in the ways campers interact with one another and the world around them. One of the most powerful examples of this is the “Mitzvah Mensches” elective in Tzofim (12- and 13-year-olds)....