Growing up in Teaneck, there was structure to every school year and summer. School ran from September through June and then off we went to day camp or sleepaway camp. I was lucky enough to attend fantastic programs such as Camp Morasha, IBA (in Bainbridge, New York), and Mach Hach Ba’Aretz. Then, as a counselor I went to Mesorah, IBA and HASC. The summer was a time to have fun and create friendships and long-lasting memories. A time for singing, cheering and bonding.
Upon my move to Israel in the summer of 2020, it became clear that this important element of childhood development was missing for the youth of Israel. Yes, school was from September 1 to June 30, but for July and August, in the midst of intense summer heat, there were not many options for campers and counselors. Parents were scrounging for opportunities for their elementary school-aged children as well as their teenagers. This planted the seeds for Camp Kesher v’Kef, CKVK.
Once it was clear that a camp like this was needed, a group of mothers from Bet Shemesh, including myself, Ariella Lustiger (olah 2020), Miriam Rybak (olah 2003), Abby Weisz (olah 2011), Meredith Ickowicz (olah 2012), Tzivia Kramer (olah 2020) and Yehudit Schindel (olah 2018) volunteered our time in between their daytime jobs and endless carpools to build Camp Kesher v’Kef. As olim, and olim to Bet Shemesh specifically, we understand that in order to integrate our children into Israeli society we need to introduce them to and immerse them with children from other places.
The idea for Camp Kesher v’Kef (Connection and Fun) was also born from a deep understanding of the challenges that the children of Israel have faced since the outbreak of the war on Oct. 7. The need to heal as a nation and to do so as one, with achdut, is clear. To this end, CKVK’s mission is to bring together Israeli children from South and Central Israel in a unique, innovative and exciting camping experience. At CKVK, campers going into fifth to eighth grade, as well as counselors from Sderot, Bet Shemesh, Jerusalem and Bnei Dekalim, come together to create meaningful relationships, share experiences and have fun. Through building meaningful connections between Israeli children of all backgrounds, we hope to sow the seeds of healing that we as a nation must undergo in order to forge ahead.
Campers are assigned to six bunks, named Emunah (faith), Ahava (love), Gevurah (strength), Geulah (redemption), Shalom (peace) and Tikvah (hope): six essential elements for Israeli unity. As mentioned in our mission statement (above), we believe that bringing campers together from varied backgrounds to form a new cohesive unit provides a solid foundation for us to recover from the national trauma we recently experienced, בעז״ה! The days are jam packed with Torah, infusion of good middot, spiritual growth and plenty of fun! To see the connections develop between campers and counselors alike is indescribable. While the summer camp includes ordinary activities such as swimming, arts and crafts, baking, sports, drama and dance, the importance of unity has permeated all aspects of Camp Kesher V’Kef.
Abby Weisz reflected so perfectly that, “After just a few days, all 120 campers who previously didn’t know each other came together cheering, singing and creating lifelong memories, united as one.”
Camp Kesher V’Kef is a project of Israel365, a non-profit organization that supports the land and people of Israel. Since October 7, Israel365 has been at the forefront of Israel advocacy and innovative charitable activities, with a special focus on helping the people of Sderot. Funding for CKVK was also provided largely by American summer camps including Camp Morasha, Camp Lavi, Camp Moshava Alevy, Camp Seneca Lake, Sephardic Adventure Camp and Anshei Lubavitch Day Camp in Fair Lawn. We are grateful to our American camping partners who understand how important summer camp is for kids in normal times and generously provided a healing experience for Israeli kids in war time. This epitomizes unity, and the unity that Klal Yisrael is capable of. We look forward to continuing the camp every summer, providing kesher and kef for the children of Israel, the future leaders of Am Yisrael in Eretz Yisrael. כאיש אחד בלב אחד!
The camp was made possible by individual donations as well. If you would like to donate, please send an email to [email protected] so that we could continue to create this meaningful and fun camping experience for kids in Israel.
To help Israeli children heal, please consider donating now: https:///israel365charity.com/donations/camp-kesher-vkef/
Ariella Lustiger, a Teaneck native, made aliyah with her family in the summer of 2020 and currently lives in Ramat Beit Shemesh. She is one of the founders of Camp Kesher v’Kef.
