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by: Foundation for Jewish Camp Articles & Press Releases October 18, 2023

Virtual Camp Collaboration Fosters Unity and Hope for Israeli Youth 

Virtual Camp Collaboration Fosters Unity and Hope for Israeli Youth 

Russian Speaking Camp Gesher and Camp Makom.IL bring smiles to children in Israel 

Los Angeles, CA – In a time of uncertainty and conflict, Camp Gesher, a signature program of Shalom Institute, has been working on a heartwarming collaboration that connects young Israelis with staff and children in Los Angeles through a virtual camp program. 

Camp Makom.IL in Israel and Camp Gesher in Los Angeles are uniting young minds, regardless of geographic boundaries, offering education and games, language exchange, and a sense of community to children ages 6-17. This innovative partnership is shining a light of hope for children living in Israel during these challenging times. 

Lena Geller, Director of Camp Gesher, reached out to Camp Makon.IL with an offer of support. Both camps share a common mission of running camps from Russian-speaking Jewish families, and the result has been nothing short of history in the making.  

“I am doing this to help these children take their minds away from what their daily life is bringing them,” Lena Geller shared. “It is heartbreaking, but every day, these children are learning, laughing, and enjoying themselves when they are not running in and out of the bomb shelters.” 

In this exceptional collaboration, children have the opportunity to choose a breakout room of their choice, where a Camp Gesher counselor is always waiting with a warm smile and a fun way to learn something new. This initiative underscores the resilience and strength of these young minds, offering a ray of hope and inspiration for all involved. 

For further details or media inquiries, please contact Lena Geller, Director of Camp Gesher, at lena@shalominstitute.com or 1-858-232-1109. 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Contact: Kathy Morgenstern, Foundation for Jewish PR 

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About Foundation for Jewish Camp: 

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FJC advocates for over 300 day and overnight camps that provide nearly 180,000 campers and counselors each summer with a meaningful, personal, and lifelong connection to Judaism. FJC is the only public 501(c)(3) charitable organization solely focused on Jewish camp. https://jewishcamp.org/ 

About Camp Gesher: 

Camp GesheЯ is the only overnight camp in North America designed especially for campers from Russian-speaking Jewish families. Camp GesheЯ summer camp is for campers entering 3rd through 10th grades, with a CIT program for entering 11th and 12th graders. Camp GesheЯ is a partnership initiative of Shalom Institute and the Jewish Agency for Israel. Additional funding is provided by the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles. https://www.campgesher.org 

About Camp Makom.IL: 

The international Jewish camp Makom.IL in Israel is a project that brings together teenagers from Israel and the Jewish communities of the world. We develop the leadership and creative abilities of the participants, acquaint with Jewish and Israeli history, culture and tradition. We treat each participant with respect and attention. We know that we can change the world, and together are looking for opportunities to do this here and now. https://makomil.org/