Summer camp in Poland brings Jewish kids together for first time since the war
"I can’t even describe how wonderful the experience was for our kids. My children came back home bubbling with energy. They can’t stop talking about it," said the mother of a Jewish child from Morocco.
Around 170 young Jewish boys and girls from Europe, Africa and Asia gathered in Warsaw for a summer camp at Hilton Hotel, marking the first such camp since the Holocaust.
The camp was organised by the Yael Foundation, a renowned Jewish organisation advancing Jewish education worldwide by strengthening Jewish youth’s connection to their Jewish identity and tradition.
Among the participant were young Jews from war-torn Ukraine, who had traveled more than 30 hours to get to the Polish capital. To ensure that everyone can participate regardless of the kids’ background, the Yael Foundation is covering all costs, including travel.
This year marks the camp’s third year in a row, with attendance doubling each year. Yael Foundation said that for some children, like those from remote locations such as Morocco and Georgia, it was their first interaction with their Jewish heritage.
The kids enjoyed kosher food at the luxurious hotel and went on trips around Poland as well.
“Creating unique and fun experiences for children who come from different cultures and languages is an amazing challenge. I am pleased that we met this challenge and that it even succeeded our expectations. I have no doubt that the children are returning to their countries full of experiences, lessons, and friendships that will stay with them the rest of their lives,” said Rabbi Shmuel Azman, the chairman of the Yael Foundation.
“One hundred years ago, Poland was the epicenter of traditional and vibrant Jewish civilization, one of the greatest communities in the Diaspora. This civilization was brutally and tragically erased in the Holocaust. This year, Jewish children from faraway countries return to Poland for a summer camp that strengthens their Jewish connection. I’m sure. that those Above are rejoicing in this,” he added.
The parents of several children from Georgia also praised the experience their kids had.
“I can’t even describe how wonderful the experience was for our kids. My children came back home bubbling with energy. They can’t stop talking about it,” wrote the mother of a Jewish child from Casablanca, Morocco.
Rabbi Azman received a particularly moving response from a Jewish father from Ukraine, saying: “My son will remember this summer for a long time to come. For a year and a half, he has been walking around with downcast eyes. You have restored the light to his eyes. Thank you, thank you, thank you.”
The Yael Foundation, established by philanthropists Uri and Yael Poliavich, operates across five continents, supporting over sixty Jewish educational initiatives.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
