Summer Camps: New Experience for Ukrainian Jewish Children

Irina and Miri are practicing their roles in the camp play. Irina is playing the bride and Miri will be the rabbi. They giggle as Miri pronounces her new friend married. "...And may you have many good babies!" she says through the laughter.

Summer camp moments like these are relatively new to the Jewish children of Ukraine. JDC started its first Jewish summer camp in the former Soviet Union in 1996, but in Ukraine the movement is just starting to take off.

This year, more that 2,700 children have registered for low-cost Jewish camp experiences. Due to budget cuts, participants must now pay $27 per 10-day session plus another $15-$20 for transportation. While the price is steep for many members of the Jewish community, the camps’ reputation and the overwhelming response from prior campers has made the program increasingly popular.

This summer, five camp sessions are planned to take place at a picturesque resort in Crimea. The camps will serve members of the Ukrainian communities of Donetsk, Dnepropetrovsk and Zaporozhe, as well as a session for young families thinking of joining the Mazel Tov program for children and their mothers.

There will also be a special encampment held for children with special needs. These children, members of Dnepropetrovsk’s Tikvah program will stay at a seaside location with fully trained health and education professionals. The seaside environment will provide the children with a chance to socialize and improve health conditions.

And now that they have met at camp, how long will Irina and Miri, who live on opposite sides of the city remain friends? "Forever!," they shout with a smile.