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How campinc helped shape one life
that is now shaping many others.

was camp — specifically,
Camp Wise, a residential,
three-week summer camp
I Name: Lisa Soble
affiliated with the Jewish
Siegmann
Community Center in Cleve-
land, Ohio.
Title: Director of
"My sister and brothers and
JEFF, Jewish Experi-
I lived for camp," Siegmann
ences For Families.
says.
I A native of Ohio,
"First we all went there,
Lisa Siegmann
then we all worked there."
came to Detroit on
Lisa's first summer at Camp
July 1, filling a JEFF
Wise was in 1973. She
Lisa Sable Siegmann:
I post that had been
remembers the camp as both
Music
and continuity.
vacant for more than
replete with tradition (the food
one year.
was kosher, Shabbat was
While growing up, Lisa Soble Sieg-
observed, evening programs empha-
mann had a home she loved — and
sized Jewish values, children were
la second home she loved, too.
expected to say brachot, blessings,
Her first home was the house in
before and after meals) — and inno-
I which she lived with her father, who
. vation. It was the kind of camp where
owned a chemical manufacturing/
a young girl named Lisa Sable could
supply company, and her mother,
develop her passion for Jewish music.
whose job was being a mom, and
She knew at a tender age that she
'her three siblings: iwo brothers and a
loved music. By the time she was 8,
I sister.
she was taking guitar lessons. At
Unlike those inveterate whiners on
camp, Lisa became the song leader
talk shows (the ones who blame
and helped lead services.
I everything from a failed marriage to
"Music was my special gift," she
I major surgery on "my unhappy
says. "At camp, I was able to share it
youth"), Siegmann had a wonderful
with others."
I childhood, she says. Her family was
She loved everything about being
Conservative and had dinner together
immersed in Jewish life. "Camp was,
'every night. Friday-night Shabbat
for me, probably one of the greatest
meals were festive and fun, the grand-
experiences I ever had: I loved the
; parents were very much a part of the
continuity of going year after year, the
family life, all the children were. active
long-term friendships [one camp
in youth groups, and the Sobles
buddy remains a best pal to this day]
always celebrated Jewish holidays.
and, of course, the Judaism."
"In our family," Siegmann says,
Lisa loved camp so much she never
'family always came first."
even thought of filling her counselor's
But about that second home ...
shoes with peanut butter.
Unlike the first, it was extraordinarily
"Yes, I was good at camp," she
I large. And never too neat and tidy.
admits. "Whenever the other kids
I Private time was almost unheard of. It
wanted to raid somebody's cabin I

I Elizabeth Applebaum
I AppleTree Editor

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would say, 'No! We'll get in trou-
ble.'"
Lisa's dream was to become direc-
tor of Camp Wise, but she got side-
tracked. She worked as the director
of a Jewish day camp in Columbus,
graduated with a master's degree in
social work administration/Jewish
communal service from Ohio State
University, and spent a year on the
01ZMA leadership development pro-
gram in Israel. It was after her year in
Israel that Siegmann decided she
wanted to work full-time in the Jewish
community.
"That's when I knew I wanted to
make a difference," she says.
These days, Siegmann spends her
days planning.creative, fun and edu-
cational programs for Jewish families
— and she still gets to go camping
from tune to time — but this time her
husband comes along.
Through JEFF, and working in
conjunction with the Fresh Air Soci-
ety, she helps coordinate family
camp programs (and perhaps a
cabin raid or two?) for local syna-
gogues and temples.
While she has no children of her
own yet, Siegmann is certain of this:
"When I have them, they will be
going to camp!" ❑

In 'Only Yesterday' AppleTree
speaks to men and women
who either professionally or
through volunteer work, show
outstanding commitment to the
Jewish community of metro
Detroit. Our focus: How specif-
ic events from childhood helped
influence their decision to dedi-
cate themselves to Jewish life.

