I met kids just like me

Every year, local children attend Jewish summer camps, providing them with an opportunity to connect to Jewish life, build their Jewish identities, and create lifelong friendships.  Thanks to camp scholarships available through the Minneapolis Jewish Federation, parents who may not have been able to afford camp, can now provide their children this important experience.

One such camper is Ellie, who feels strongly about the significant role Jewish camp has played in her life.  Ellie started attending camp at the age of 11 and continued to go every summer for the last seven years.  When she transferred from a Jewish middle school to a public school, it was camp that helped her maintain a Jewish connection.

"Camp helped me feel a part of the Jewish community,” Ellie says. “Learning and singing Jewish songs, celebrating Shabbat together. It was really fun. I made some great friends and always looked forward to my summers.”

Camp teaches children many facets of Judaism, from Hebrew prayers and language to fundamentals of the Jewish faith. “I began my Jewish education later than most kids and camp definitely helped me fill that gap,” Ellie says.  “Praying every morning at camp was amazing practice for my bat mitzvah.”

“I learned from friends and counselors how to integrate Judaism into my daily life in meaningful ways,” Ellie says.

This summer Ellie will be going back to camp as a counselor and hopes to provide her campers with the same positive Jewish experience she had.

Dollars raised through the Minneapolis Jewish Federation, support camp scholarships.  You can help make a difference in a child’s life. Donate now.