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by Wendy Rose Bice
On August 1, 2002, the grim details of another terrorist bombing in Israel
— this time on the peaceful campus of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem
— made headlines across the world. Just two days before the start of the
fall semester, the inconspicuously placed bomb killed nine people and
wounded more than eighty.
Thousands of miles away, in the rustic, wooded land of Ortonville, Michigan,
located some fifty miles outside of Detroit, dozens of Tamarack Camps’
second session campers gathered together and erected a Pinat Shalom, a
peaceful corner where campers and staff came to share their concerns and
feelings about the tragedy. They draped the area with white sheets; peace
banners; slogans; and hand-made anti-war, anti-terrorism posters in Hebrew
and English.
“Sitting with those kids and listening to them talk about life in Israel,
their fears and feelings, was one of the most moving moments of the whole
summer,” reflected Harvey Finkelberg (past executive director) of Tamarack
Camps. By all accounts, the summer of 2002 stands as one of the most remarkable
for this 100-year-old Jewish camping program. The camp hosted more than
300 Israeli teens, ranging in age from seventh to tenth grade, who came
upon these American shores to spend a summer at camp.
“In April, we came up with the idea of bringing Israeli campers to Tamarack,”
explained Finkelberg, a Montreal native who had been at the camp’s helm
since 1992. “We thought this was the right time to invite Israeli kids
to spend a summer far from the terrors they face at home and experience
American Jewish camping. We also recognized the important opportunity
to integrate American and Israeli campers into the same cabins and villages
so they could live together, learn about each other’s culture and develop
long-term friendships.”
Planning Commences
Finkelberg proposed the idea to Robert Aronson, Chief Executive Officer
of the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit. Without hesitation,
Aronson embraced the notion. “Most certainly, this was one of the best
things we’ve ever done. It was a masterful collaboration between the Federation,
the people of Israel, and one of our agencies,” said Aronson. “Our children
connected with the Israeli children.”
Donations poured in. Within a month, the Federation raised $1.1 million
dollars — enough to cover airfare and transportation and to reimburse
Tamarack Camps for its per camper cost, which was approximately one-half
of the normal camp fee. Campers were charged a $500 fee, and each, upon
their arrival in Detroit, received a welcome package stuffed with Tamarack
T-shirts, hats, sweatshirts, a water bottle, and other goodies.
Communication between the Detroit contingent and the liaisons in Israel
was swift. Naomi Rockowitz and Tova Dorfman, both from the Jewish Federation
in Israel, took charge of the recruitment and screening process at Israeli
schools while Finkelberg’s and Aronson’s teams organized efforts here.
All campers came from one of two Israeli organizations — the Israeli Scouts
and the Jewish Federation’s Partnership 2000 region in the Galilee.
Hundreds of prospective campers applied, making the task of narrowing
the field wrenching at best. The Israeli Scouts tapered their final group
to 108, along with five staff and a social worker, who came to help campers
deal with any issues. This group arrived on July 8, 2002 — halfway through
the first-session of camp.
Of the 800 Galilee region teens who applied, 212 came to Michigan. This
contingent, traveling with three staff representatives and a social worker,
arrived four days prior to the camp’s second session.
Communicating with the Israeli Families
In its usual style, Tamarack Camps left no stone unturned when it came
to making these visitors feel welcome. Once campers were selected, families
were sent informational brochures and packing lists. To make sure there
were no misunderstandings, the materials were translated into Hebrew.
In early June, Tamarack’s assistant director, Jonah Geller, traveled
to Israel to meet with staff, campers, and their families. The opportunity
to hear, first hand, about the charm of Tamarack, to address questions
of safety, and to participate in Israeli/American culture workshops quelled
many fears. None- theless, Tamarack dedicated two of its five fax lines
to the Israeli families, enabling them to communicate regularly with their
children. In addition, the camp uploaded photographs of campers to its
Web site daily, giving parents the opportunity to observe camp life from
afar.
“Our attitude was that we would do whatever we needed to make this work,”
said Finkelberg. “Our camp rests on 1,500 acres, has eleven villages,
and in a typical summer accommodates over 2,000 kids. Adding an additional
300 does not strain our resources. We added trips and shifted things around.
With appropriate modifications for size, this program could easily work
in other camps, as well.”
Everyone Looks the Samein a Pair of Jeans
Once at the campgrounds, campers were escorted to their villages and
cabins where a 50 percent American to 50 percent Israeli bunk ratio was
maintained whenever possible. Tamarack also increased the number of Israeli
counselors and specialists from a summer average of fifteen up to thirty.
This group proved to be an essential element of the program’s success.
“Within a day, we couldn’t tell the difference between the Israeli kids
and the Americans,” reflected Finkelberg. “They blended in and joined
in all of the activities. They were just like every other kid.”
Serendipitously, the summer of 2002 also happened to be the camp’s 100th
anniversary. Each village spent time re-enacting camp rituals of the past,
and the season culminated with a grand birthday celebration — attended
by both sessions’ campers and their parents and featuring the much beloved
folk singer, Debbie Friedman. Israeli campers and counselors were presented
with a special gift, a copy of Tamarack Camps’ own coffee table book,
A Timeless Treasure: 100 Years of Fresh Air Society Camp, and a special
commemorative camp musical CD.
Throughout the summer, there were moments — both planned and unplanned
— when the uniqueness of this special endeavor became as obvious as the
friendships that were developing among the campers — the night that campers
erected the Peace Memorial, American kids offering impromptu lessons in
slang, and the day, in the middle of a Tish B’Av ceremony, when one of
the young Israeli men told mesmerized campers of how he sat on a bus that
was bombed several months ago.
“Camp is supposed to teach values,” said Finkelberg. “This summer our
American kids saw what life is like for an Israeli. They came to realize
how something as insignificant as buying a pair of jeans is a big deal
for one of their peers in Israel. In Israel, kids can only go to the mall
when there are lock-ins, when the mall closes to the public so teens have
a safe place to go.”
Family Bonds
Wanting the Israeli kids to fully participate in all of camp’s rituals,
the Federation offered Detroit area families the opportunity to “Adopt
an Israeli Camper.” Adoptive families simply promised to send their camper
a few packages and letters and to attend one Friday night Shabbat dinner.
Bonds were created, new friendships made, and most importantly, the visiting
teens experienced the same joy as the American kids upon seeing that golden
brown package sitting upon their bunk.
During the five-day overlap between first and second session, when all
320 Israeli campers were still at camp, a number of special events cemented
the summer program’s success. After giving the newly arrived second session
campers a day to acclimate, the two groups, along with the six-week American
campers, boarded buses for the five-hour trip to Cedar Point, a regional
amusement park. The following day, Monday, first session Israeli scouts
went on a three-day canoe/hiking trip while the second session campers
integrated into their villages and bunks with the American kids. Finally,
on Wednesday night, both the first and second session campers joined donors,
community leaders, and their adoptive families at a gala dessert reception
to culminate their summer’s experiences.
Tears and Letters
If success can be measured by pounds of mail and e-mails, then surely
the program exceeded expectations. The less obvious barometers include
the number of applications already being received by Tamarack for next
year and the number of continuing friendships between friends across the
sea. Perhaps most telling though, were the tears shed as each group left.
“Seeing the Israelis leave camp was quite emotional,” remembered Finkelberg.
“What these teenagers experienced in just a few short weeks, coupled with
the fears of returning to their war-torn country, was truly something
to witness. The tears in their eyes, and in ours, showed just how significant
this summer had been for all of us.”
Tamarack Camps and the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit are
discussing plans to repeat the program again next summer. Perhaps with
fewer campers, perhaps with more. Time will tell. Finkelberg urges other
camps to consider doing the same. “As Jews, there was no greater thing
we could have done than to give these kids a safe and rewarding summer.
As a camp, I think we achieved something fantastic. We blended two cultures
together seamlessly. We made it possible, but the kids really made it
happen.”
Originally published in the 2003 January/February
issue of Camping Magazine. |
