Friends of the IDF (FIDF), which “supports thousands of bereaved families who have suffered the devastating loss of a loved one fallen during military service,” has just completed their 10-day East Coast Legacy Camp program for this summer. Legacy Camp is a program in which Israeli children or siblings of fallen soldiers spend part of their summer in the United States.
“The camp’s goal is for participants to enjoy precious moments of happiness away from the grief that has enveloped their families, while also providing them with the support and community that can help them process and cope with their loss,” said Steve Weil, FIDF’s chief executive officer.
Due to the October 7 attacks and the ongoing war, the Legacy Camp program is significantly larger than ever before. This summer, in addition to the original Legacy Camp for b’nai mitzvah at an American summer camp, the Legacy Program hosted programming and events for approximately 100 bereaved youth, ages 14 to 17. These campers were joined by 20 counselors who also lost loved ones, many of whom graduated from the program themselves. In total, this summer’s Legacy Camp and Travel programs hosted 340 participants in six delegations; three road trips and three camp trips between June 23 and August 29.
The second East Coast group recently returned from their road trip, in which they visited American Dream Mall, shopped at Jersey Gardens, had a barbecue party in Teaneck, and more. Sharona and Jacob Schulder, hosts of the barbecue on July 15, said, “We felt honored when FIDF asked us to host a barbecue for teens that have lost family members in the war. Seeing the strength these teens have is truly amazing, and the feeling was contagious. It was a privilege for our family to bond with these 60 Israeli young adults and hear their stories. FIDF planned an amazing week of excitement where the teens were able to connect with peers also experiencing similar loss while having fun and building memories. The whole night was filled with ruach, laughter and some tears. We don’t know who enjoyed the evening more, us or them.”
Approximately 50 kids aged 17 and 18 and 15 counselors attended the barbecue.
To learn more about Legacy Camp and FIDF, visit https://www.fidf.org/.
Eliana Birman is the assistant digital editor for The Jewish Link. She is beginning her studies at Barnard College in the fall and lives in Teaneck.
