At the reunion, Israeli campers add beads to their dog tags.
Last year in Detroit, Nikki, Drewe and Jadyn Raimi of Birmingham, hosted their
Israeli campers Michal Magid and Hila Ziv.
Uri Reuveni, Israeli
Host parents Mark and
camper program chair;
Bonnie Kowalsky of West
Sherri Ketai of Franklin,
Bloomfield reunited with
Detroit progam chair
former camper Sapir
of program and reunion
Ayanot at the reunion in
Israel.
co-chair; Doron Herman,
former Israeli camper
and TSS; Karen Kaplan,
Federation program
coordinator; Steve
Goodman of Bloomfield
Hills, previous program
chair and reunion co-
chair; Naomi Rockowitz,
program coordinator in
Israel.
Photos in Israel
by Israel Perets
of the cost.
When the Israelis come to the United
States, they are paired with an American
family that adopts them during their visit.
The Detroiters send packages and letters
to camp and host the children for a few
days after their stay at Camp Maas.
In Detroit, Federation staff matches
the Israeli teens with host families. (This
year, so many families have signed up that
there's already a wait list.) Some ques-
tions to consider: Does the family keep
kosher? Do they have pets? Would it be
better to match them with boys or girls?
Every aspect of the teens' stay in Michigan
must be coordinated, from the host family
to transportation, which means lists and
scheduling and organization.
"What's amazing about this program is
its impact on the individual and society,"
says Federation CEO Scott Kaufman.
The children become involved, and then
they encourage their parents and other
adults to step forward, too. The program is
"really building community in a different
and very effective way."
Kaufman recalls two visits to Israel
where he met up with former program
participants. One is now a military com-
mander who said she found her confi-
dence on the Israeli Camper Program.
The other was an Israeli girl wearing
a Tamarack Camps T-shirt. When she
learned Kaufman was from Detroit, she
had just one question: Did he know "my
family" back in Detroit?
"In just two days, they have 'family,"
Kaufman says. "That speaks volumes."
Fast Friends And Bonfires
The Israeli Camper Program consists of
two sessions with about 40 campers in
each. When the boys and girls arrive, they
meet their adoptive families, spend a day
at the Jewish Community Center and then
head off to Camp Maas, where they share
bunks with American children and do all
that regular camp stuff: swimming, mak-
ing bonfires, sports, arts and crafts, sing-
ing, talking late into the night with new
friends and leaving clothes everywhere in
a way that would totally creep out parents,
but look, they're not here to nag, so life is
great!
When the four weeks are over, the
Israelis meet up with their host families
and spend a weekend together.
It takes no time for the teens and fami-
lies to become friends, and what they take
from the experience is often unexpected.
"I was given a unique opportunity to
meet other teenagers from America and
to succeed in showing them our real life
in Israel," says Or Klein of Nazareth Illit.
"Being part of the program at Tamarack
Camps strengthened my identity as a Jew
and as an Israeli."
Talya Porre of the Jezreel Valley was
part of the 2009 program and will return
as teen staff in 2011. "I'm bringing Israeli
spirit, Jewish tradition and linking our
Jewish communities. I'm proud to repre-
sent Israel and to be an Israeli camper','
she says.
"I was asked by my friend Ben
Rosenthal to help house two Israeli camp-
ers one summer," says Ken Korotkin of
Bloomfield Hills. "I thought it would be
fun for my kids to meet them. It turned
out to be a life-changing experience. Now I
have extended family in Israel.
"When I go to Israel, I am treated like
royalty in many different cities," he says. "I
have learned so much through the camper
program and have become a better per-
son!'
Very few, if any, families and campers
end the connection when the summer
is over. They visit each other, talk on the
phone, send e-mails and meet up on
Facebook.
Sherri Ketai of Franklin became
involved with the Israeli Camper Program
five years ago.
"Since then, I have kept in touch with
my kids (they became immediate family
to us), see them when I go to Israel twice a
year and have hosted more children.
"Being the chair of this program for the
past three years has been an honor and
a gift to me and my family. We have met
such special children.
"When I go to Israel and our partner-
ship region, everyone knows and has
been touched by the Israeli Camper
Program," she says. "They thank everyone
in Michigan who has taken the time and
made the commitment to host their chil-
dren.
"The Tamarack Camps experience is
incredible. Making friends in Michigan
has turned into many unique lifelong
relationships. But the highlight of the trip
for the Israeli kids is being hosted by our
Michigan families. The Israeli Camper
Program has bought so much to so many"
Even the skeptic.
Bloomfield Hills resident Steven
What A Summer! on page 10
June 9 ?Gil
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