Our Israeli Campers Are Home

On the night of July 13, something incredible happened at Herzl Camp.

After a month of uncertainty, delays, and dashed hopes, we welcomed 15 Israeli campers to camp. As they stepped off the bus, nearly 200 campers and staff surrounded them with cheers, glowsticks, and singing. Flags waved. Tears flowed. It was the reunion we had all been waiting for – and the beginning of the healing these teens so deeply need.

Many of these campers come from communities in southern Israel. Now, they’re safe at camp – singing in the Chadar, paddling across Devil’s Lake, and forming bonds that will last a lifetime.

It wasn’t easy to get them here. Travel plans shifted. Timelines changed. There were moments when it didn’t seem possible. But with persistence, creativity, and the support of our community, we made it happen.

The Israeli Camper Program is one of the most powerful ways we bring our values to life – and it’s made possible entirely through donor support. Since 2011, Israeli teens have joined us at Herzl to experience camp alongside their American peers, forming deep, lasting bonds through shared summer adventures.

“If you want to teach American kids to love Israel,” says Executive Director Tommy Hoffman, “have them spend the summer living and laughing alongside Israeli kids.”

To everyone who helped make this summer possible: thank you. You brought joy, safety, and connection to campers who needed it most.