Sep 25, 2025

Israeli Teens Find Joy at Jewish Overnight Camps

For the second year in a row, nearly 800 teens from Israel’s war-affected communities spent their summer at Jewish camps across North America. Campers2Gether, a collaborative initiative supported by Federation and our longtime partner The Jewish Agency for Israel, among others, provided young Israelis a healing respite like no other and allowed them to form powerful connections with their North American Jewish peers. Accompanied by a large group of Israeli counselors and more than 30 mental health professionals, campers boosted their resilience, strengthened their connection to Judaism and learned about different kinds of Jewish culture. “Having these Israeli teens is not only a great experience for them, but it continues to be the most impactful experience of the entire summer,” said Eytan Graubart, Executive Director at Pinemere Camp in Pennsylvania, one of 34 camps that welcomed 37 cohorts of the Israeli teens. “Our campers and our staff are better for it,” he added.