By the time Nikita Khrushchev took the premiership of the
former Soviet Union in 1958, most of the 5,000 synagogues
functioning prior to the Bolshevik Revolution were closed.
During this period, the practice of Judaism had became
impossible in a land so many Jews called home.
Campers in Siberia in front of the local
synagogue
In the last two decades, however, the region has seen a
revival of Jewish life spearheaded by religious youth camps
established in the Former Soviet Union (FSU). If Stalin were
alive to see the flocks of Jewish children congregating at the
growing number of camps, he may have wondered where his vision
for an atheist society went awry.
Gan Israel, which has been running for 19 years is the
largest network of Jewish camping in the world according to
their website. The network has locations across the FSU from
Siberia to St. Petersburg, with 85 day camps hosting
approximately 2,000 participants, and 24 overnight camps with
approximately 6,000 campers.
"The goal of the camp is that children who are year around
not exposed to anything Jewish can come and enjoy 24 hours
surrounded by Jewish tradition, history and fun," explained
Rivka Klein, director of Gan Israel camps in Moscow.
"We hope they see how interesting, pleasant and fun being
Jewish can be, which is so opposite of what their parent's
grew up with."
The FSU camps spend a little over $2 million annually and
are funded exclusively by private donors.
"Around 20 to 30 percent of the funds come from local
donors and the rest is international," Klein said.
While each camper requires $240 in funds, the families
themselves only pay about $20 per child.
All staff and counselors are volunteers, and in Moscow the
counselors are alumni of Gan Israel while in other camps
counselors often come from the US and Israel, according to
Klein.
"I think the first seed is planted at Gan Israel. When you
have a child that is excited, impressed and learning it's a
very important part of the community. We hope that [the camps]
will give them tools and good memories," said Klein. "It
should inspire them to find out more and research and develop
their roots."
The summer getaways were formed to do much more than just
entertain children.
"The long-term goal of the camps is to fight assimilation
and intermarriage," said David Mondshine, general director of
the Or Avner Foundation, a fund for Jewish education in the
FSU. "Most of the kids do not have Jewish fathers. It is hard
to find kids with two Jewish parents, which is reflective of
our situation."
The camp identifies a child as Jewish exclusively by the
mother's religion.
"You see a big change in the families. We hear a lot from
the parents [who] didn't have a chance to learn the things
that the kids are learning now. They are learning from the
kids and are happy about it," continued Mondshine.
With about 50% of the children attending public schools
upon returning to their communities, Gan Israel must address
the issue of absorption back into secular society after the
summer is over.
"What I hear from the children is that Russia is becoming
more and more accepting. I don't think that being a minority
is extremely hard for them because they get bad stuff for it,
it is hard because they are alone without a support system,"
said Klein. "That is why we try to provide events weekly."
Gan Israel has established centers throughout the FSU for
children seeking to continue their Jewish education throughout
the year.
Other organizations have also begun establishing camps
throughout the FSU in an effort to extend religious education
into the world of Russian Jewry. The American Joint Jewish
Distribution Committee and the United Jewish Communities of
MetroWest New Jersey have been running a camp in Cherkassy,
Ukraine for 11 years. The camp has about 100 participants
including parents, who are directly integrated into the camp's
activities. Families pay a minimal fee for participation, most
of the cost being covered by the MetroWest Jewish Community.
"I can see a change in the community. They are celebrating
a new Jewish life. You see a family learning together how to
do a Shabbat and celebrating together for the first time,"
said Michal Zur, program director for MetroWest Jewish
Communities Israel office. "It's sad that they had to go
through dark periods of nothing connected to Judaism, but now
they are rediscovering [their heritage] and we feel that
people are committed and really want to learn more."
The UJC is sending two counselors each from the US and
Israel to the Ukraine this year. The representatives will be
training for their summer positions this week in Jerusalem.
"I have worked with Jewish teens from all over the world
and [my experiences in the Ukraine] were the most inspiring
for me. You see people that have a desire to connect and to
learn. The connection triangle between the Americans, Israelis
and Ukrainians is exciting. Even with the language barriers
they make connections," Zur said.
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