JUNE 15 • 2023 | 53

If you did not know the date 
and just happened to find 
yourself at Shaarey Zedek on 
the night of the “Send a Kid to 
Tamarack” event, you might 
think you arrived in time for 
a High Holiday service. The 
shul was filled to the max with 
generations of Tamarack Camps 
enthusiasts. The annual cam-
paign raises funds to subsidize 
the cost of camp and make 
camp accessible for everyone 
who wants to come to the “Best 
Place on Earth.”
Doreen Hermelin received 
the Community Leader Award. 
She shared how meaningful it 
was for her to visit Tamarack 
Camps and be at the Hermelin 
Village, celebrating the legacy of 
her beloved husband of blessed 
memory.

Jason Luckoff received the 
Distinguished Alum award. He 
shared the positive impact of 
camp in building confidence, 
competence, love for Judaism 
and the Jewish summer camp 
experience.
Event guests also had the 
pleasure to hear from Dylan 
Beznos, who got a chuckle 
from the audience sharing, 
“Everything I’ve learned — 
good and bad — I’ve learned at 
camp.” For his bar mitzvah, in 
lieu of gifts, Beznos asked guests 
to contribute to Send a Kid to 
Tamarack fund.
The event raised $710,000, 
the highest amount ever and 
welcomed 530 people. 

To support access to Tamarack Camps, 

donate at https://tamarackcamps.com/

giving.

STORY AND PHOTOS BY YEVGENIYA GAZMAN

Send a Kid to Tamarack 2023

Elle and Dylan 
Beznos pose in 
front of the sign.

Aaron Bass 
and Matt 
Lester

Gabe Neistein, Ilene Crane and Larry Wolfe

Aaron Brown, Lindsey Brenz, Brooke Bass and Ashley Fogel

Paul Blatt, Julie Zussman and Lee Trepeck

