Campers Learn About Judaism Through Fun and Games

The children play games, make crafts and learn how to play sports like kids at other day camps, but what makes Camp Gan Israel different is that the kids also learn about their Jewish heritage.

“The goal of the camp is to make a fun summer Jewish and a Jewish summer fun—that’s our motto,” said Rabbi Baruch Hecht of Chabad of Brentwood, which operates the day camp. “So the idea is to incorporate their heritage and what Judaism is about into the camp activities without turning it into class work or a lecture. So then it becomes fun.”

So while the campers at Camp Gan Israel participate in all of the same activities as other campers, during each activity a certain message or theme is presented.

“So you teach them in the form of a craft, a song, stories or games that we play, so they have a tremendous amount of fun and at the same time all of the activities are theme-based,” Hecht said.

Even a field trip to the local bowling alley can be an opportunity to teach the kids an important life lesson, he said.

“Obviously they learn how to bowl, but they also learn how to overcome obstacles that are standing in their way, and that with focus and with purpose they can get rid of all their obstacles with one shot,” Hecht said.

Racheli Shatnani, 15, attended Camp Gan Israel for nine summers and this year was promoted to the position of junior staffer. Sometimes it seemed like she learned more about Judaism at camp than she did at her Jewish day school, she said.

“In school it’s different because it’s more of a curriculum but at camp you understand the information more because they make it fun and interesting,” Shatnani said. “I mean, school is also great, but we’re able to learn things from a different perspective when we’re at camp, because we’re doing all these fun activities.”

So a guessing game helps explain Rosh Hashana or a craft project symbolizes the rebuilding of the Jewish temple.

“The kids don’t always realize how much they’re learning, because they’re having so much fun,” Hecht said.

Camp Gan Israel is open to kids of all religions, but parents who are not Jewish should be aware that it is a very religiously intensive camp, Hecht said.

“So when someone who is not Jewish comes, they are always welcome, but the parents need to know that their child is going to be exposed to a tremendous amount of Judaism,” he said. “I tell them not to be surprised if their kid comes home from camp one day and wants them to light the Shabbat candles.”

The camp meets from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays at Chabad of Brentwood. Scholarships are available to families that are unable to pay the entire camp fee. For information, call 310-826-4453.