Blog

Camps are notoriously loud and raucous… Jewish camps especially. From the moment your child steps out of your car at drop-off to the moment they step back in they are Israeli dancing and Shabbos shaking to the beats of Jewish camps’ drums. Our day camp is exploding with Jewish values and Israeli culture everywhere you turn. With directional, program and even the ubiquitous bathroom signs in both English and Hebrew, campers incorporate Hebrew into their everyday activities. ...

Camp is raucous fun – days filled with friends, activities, and constant motion. The stereotype is that camp counselors are shirking “real” jobs and internships to enjoy final summers as kids themselves. Conventional wisdom tells us jobs at offices, behind desks, chasing coffee, offer better preparation for the brutal economy than a summer camp. That is not our experience. Yes, our counselors spend their summers wearing pajamas and superhero costumes, playing ga-ga and ...

Mah Nishtanah: How is Jewish Camp Different From All Others? It is true, every single year for over 20 years, I have run a Jewish summer camp. And, yes, when I write about sending your kids to Jewish camps, yes, it will sound like I am advertising the JCC’s camps. Let’s face it, I am. A bit. But I spend every single summer at Jewish camp, because I believe in them. The JCC believes in them. We believe they are great experiences for your kids and we believe Jewish camp is an ...

Everything seems like it is changing. In this era of the great quarantine, we shop, work, exercise, and eat (hello carbs!) differently. It won’t be a surprise to you, that Camp has changed as well with rules and regulations governing every aspect of fun and care. In addition to taking temperatures and conducting health questionnaires each morning, we are making huge efforts to reduce the number of people campers cross paths with. Cohort sizes are smaller and large group fun is a lot ...

When Matzah is Good According to Max, 6 years old, matzah tastes like a cracker. Sydney, 10 years old, is a bit more dramatic – and perhaps correct – that matzah tastes like “wet paper put out to dry.” It’s true, most commercial matzah is about as tasty as the cardboard box it comes in. Making matzah with our kids has to improve the “bread that tastes like the baker failed” (Ada, 10 years old), in at least it is a fun activity and we get to talk about ...

Fifth-grader Shahrez beams as he talks about his first business venture, a website “SBay Kids”. Designing and building the technology himself, Shahrez is already into audience development suggesting he created a site and product line that “attracts people”. “SBay Kids is named like ebay, I want people to come find things they like. I priced everything in the mid-range and selected items that I love then other people will love them too.” The website looks ...

Here in the OC, while fall does not mean fall sweaters, it certainly does mean “Back to School”. Back to heavy-laden schedules and carpools, homework and school lunches, sports and Hebrew school. Back to the world of “fine” and “good”. Despite enveloping our kids in rich activities and fun, when asked “how was your day?”, universally we hear the seemingly requisite responses of “fine” and “good”. Amazingly our children ...

Rosh Hashanah deals with serious topics, like forgiveness and thinking hard about how to be a better person. It is also said to be a celebration of renewal and of the world’s birthday. In addition to the traditional family dinners and going to services, there are many ways our JCC families add fun and meaningful activities into their holiday traditions. Below we share just a few. Of course, apples and honey are the cornerstone of many families’ traditions. Rather than just picking ...

In late July, Netflix revived the movie Wet Hot American Summer, turning it into an eight-episode series. The series, Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp, is a prequel to the original film and set during the first day of camp. When originally debuted in 2001, the film was a critical and commercial failure. Yet, thanks to its all-star cast of up-and-coming comedians and its 1980s-era soundtrack, it has achieved cult status. Many of the cast return in Netflix’ revival, including ...

According to the Corporation for National and Community Service, fifty-five percent of our youth, 12 to 18 years old, volunteer each year. That rate is nearly twice the adult rate. Youth involved in religious activities are even more likely to volunteer. So, it is not surprising to see communities of Jewish youth traipsing around OC making a difference. Yet, it can still be a challenge to find a volunteer experience. Each year Congregation Shir Ha-Ma’a lot hosts its Mitzvah Launch, ...