34 | FEBRUARY 2 • 2023 

Avodah, Jason Luckoff is a prime example 
of the program’s importance. Weinstock 
remembers when Luckoff was an “amazing” 
camper and as part of Tamarack’s camp-
aged inclusion program, he had his bar 
mitzvah at camp. Luckoff has gone through 
the Avodah program and was part of the 
group of Avodah Pros who won the Tikkun 
Olam Award. 
That’s not the only award for Luckoff. 
He is being honored at the Send a Kid to 
Tamarack event later this year as the distin-
guished alumni. 
“
And that’s an Avodah participant, an 
Avodah Pro,
” Weinstock said. “We loved 
seeing him grow up at camp; it’s his happy 
place. He thrives at camp.
” 
Noam Raphael, another Avodah success 
story, has been going to Tamarack since 
Deroy, one of the youngest villages. Raphael 
is 28 years old now. Aiden Silverton, in his 
mid-20s, has been going since Deroy as well. 
“The fact they keep coming back year 
after year really shows the impact and 
success camp has on them and their lives,
” 
Sacks said. 
“
And we have first-time participants as 

well that come in and they’re homesick their 
first few days, and then at the end of the 
session, they’re crying because they have to 
leave,
” Tagai added. 
Weinstock believes the impact the 
Avodah participants have on camp is just 
as magical as the impact camp has on the 
participants. 
“
Avodah is such an important piece of 
camp. When you’re walking down the street 
and see the Avodah participants, you can’t 
help but stop and smile or sing with them 
and just hang out with them,
” Weinstock 
said. “Their energy and having them around 
camp is a staple. I cannot imagine camp 
without our Avodah participants.
”
As a social worker overseeing the special 
needs programming and as a mom whose 
kids are also at camp, Tagai has a unique per-

spective on what Avodah brings to the table. 
“I think the participants are impactful to 
our other campers in teaching them empa-
thy and understanding and being integrated 
with individuals who have learning or cog-
nitive differences and how they enjoy the 
same things all the rest of our campers do,
” 
Tagai said. “We have staff that beg to work 
in Avodah. It’s just so impactful for every-
one across camp.
” 
The majority of Avodah participants are 
returning participants, but last year, Avodah 
had three first-timers who are planning on 
returning, including one from Chicago. 
“He’s not Jewish, which does not matter, 
but it was interesting because when I spoke 
to the dad and asked him how he heard 
about Tamarack, he was looking for an 
overnight camp that has a special needs pro-

CAMP GUIDE
ON THE COVER

continued from page 33

Avodah Village

 Hannah 
Fisch
 Sasha 
Must

