It is hard to believe that we have reached our final Shabbat of the summer.
As part of our Parasha Project, we have spent the summer exploring Torah portions that are traditionally read outside the camp season. This Shabbat, our campers will explore Vayishlach.
One of the most memorable moments in Vayishlach comes when Jacob wrestles through the night. By morning, he emerges changed. He is given a new name, Israel, reflecting not only who he is, but who he has become through the challenges he has faced. Jacob leaves the encounter carrying both a blessing and a new understanding of himself.
Perhaps that is one of the most enduring gifts of camp.
Our campers will leave this weekend looking much the same as when they arrived. They will pack the same duffel bags and return to the same homes, schools, and communities. Yet something has changed.
Throughout the summer, we have watched campers create community, care for one another, step into the unknown, rediscover traditions, and make Jewish life their own. Like Jacob, they return home not as entirely different people, but as young people shaped by the experiences they have shared and the relationships they have built.
As we gather for our final Shabbat together, I am filled with gratitude for every camper, counselor, staff member, family, alumnus, donor, and friend who helped make this extraordinary summer possible. Thank you for believing in the power of Jewish camp to nurture confidence, character, connection, and Jewish identity in the next generation.
May this Shabbat give us the opportunity to pause with gratitude for the journey we have shared, celebrate the community we have built together, and carry its lessons, friendships, and blessings with us long after the summer comes to a close.
Shabbat Shalom,
Havi Goldscher, CEO