A Gift to Jewish Sleepaway Camp is the Best Investment You Can Make
Written By: Debra Daitchman, Associate Director of Development.
Last year, Camp Nah-Jee-Wah turned 100 years young, and we had the privilege to honor one of our most generous donors, Paula Gottesman. In her remarks, she mentioned how often she is solicited for donations, and unsurprisingly, it’s multiple times a day. Paula emphasized that she gets great joy out of giving to Jewish camp because of the instant gratification she receives. She looked all around camp, pointing to the smiling faces of our campers, and that summed it up. Giving to a Jewish sleepaway camp brings joy to Jewish children, 24 hours a day- a joyous Jewish experience! And how do we ensure a vibrant and strong Jewish future? By bringing joyful Judaism to children! Jewish sleepaway camp is the best way for our children to be fully immersed in all that Judaism has to offer, through tangible, experiential fun.
Here are the top 5 reasons Jewish Sleepaway Camp makes a great investment
1. Preserving Jewish Traditions
Jewish sleepaway camp offers experiences that ensure the survival of Jewish traditions and continuity. By investing in these camps, donors are helping the next generation of Jewish youth remain connected to their roots and committed to preserving Jewish culture and values in perpetuity. One need not look further than the Foundation for Jewish Camp’s study on the Long-Term Impact of Jewish Overnight Camp to emphasize this point.
2. Fostering Jewish Identity and Instilling Jewish Values
Camp provides an environment where Jewish children are immersed in activities full of Jewish heritage, traditions, and values. This deepens their connection to Jewish culture and identity, often leaving a lasting impact that can form their Jewish identity. Jewish teachings are incorporated into activities, from Shabbat observances to Jewish-themed programs. This helps instill critical Jewish values such as kindness, charity, and respect for others, which Jewish youth can carry with them forever.
3. Building a Strong Jewish Community
Jewish sleepaway camp creates a powerful sense of community and belonging. It’s a fully immersive, 24/7 joyful environment—an experience unlike any other in life. Children build lifelong friendships with others who share their Judaism and create a community that extends beyond the camp experience. These connections often lead to active involvement in Jewish communal life as they mature. For many campers, their camp is the only Jewish community in their lives.
4. Leadership Development
Camp is an incredibly formative life experience. Children mature at an accelerated rate within a tremendously safe, warm, and nurturing Jewish environment. This allows children to take risks, try new things, and become resilient which is a recipe for raising confident, empowered, independent Jewish leaders. Many camps offer leadership experiences where older campers can take on responsibilities and mentor younger campers. This helps to build future Jewish leaders while also teaching important life skills such as responsibility, problem-solving, and teamwork.
5. Encouraging Future Engagement
Going to Jewish Sleepaway Camp can spark a lifelong interest in Jewish learning, communal involvement, and spirituality. When children attend camp and feel connected to their Judaism, they are much more likely to stay engaged in Jewish life, whether through Jewish education, synagogue participation, or community leadership.
Donating to Jewish Summer Camps
A donation to Jewish sleepaway camp is more than just a financial contribution—it is an investment in the future of the Jewish community, strengthening its identity, leadership, and values for generations to come. Few investments yield greater returns than Jewish sleepaway camp. By supporting this cause, you are not just enriching a child’s summer, you are laying the foundation for a lifelong connection to Jewish identity, community, and values. Dan Senor, in his State of World Jewry Address, identified the value of Jewish camping: “92% of parents said that Jewish camping strengthened their children’s Jewish identity”. Despite the long-term impact of Jewish camping, it remains grossly underfunded by donors; it is critical that we support the causes that have this level of demonstrable impact.
This upcoming summer, we have the distinct pleasure of honoring another one of our most generous donors. In addition to serving on our board, Bruce Tucker is an alumnus of NJY Camps and has been donating generously for decades. I asked him about the many causes he supports, and he reminded me that we are by far his top priority. He said that NJY Camps gave him another opportunity to make new friends, in a safe and wholesome environment, which brought a lot of comfort to his parents. He emphasized that going to camp was the best way to make connections and lifelong friendships and that he remains close to his camp friends to this day.
When it comes time to plan your giving, there is no greater return on your investment, and on the Jewish future, than a gift to camp!
