10 | JULY 27 • 2023 

I 

have to admit I took a double take 
when I first learned of a nonprofit 
program that is helping send Jewish 
Ukrainian kids to summer camp in 
Ukraine.
At first glance, I thought I had 
misunderstood the mission — they must 
be talking about sending 
the kids to a summer camp 
outside of the war-torn 
country, right? 
No, as we speak, as many 
as 2,000 children, ages 5-12, 
are actually enjoying the 
same fun and festivities in 
their home country that 
some child you probably 
know is currently having at Michigan’s 
Camp Tamarack in Ortonville, Tanuga 
in Kalkaska or Willoway Day Camp in 
Milford.
Heading up this effort is the Jewish 
Relief Network Ukraine (JRNU), with 

offices in Ukraine, the U.S. and Israel. As 
their website describes, “JRNU is unique 
among the aid organizations in Ukraine, 
with virtually no bureaucracy and 
minimal overhead, every dollar having a 
direct impact.” 
Thousands of people are currently 
relying on them for basic needs 
including food, medicine and shelter, 
as well as education and other critical 
services, and that includes summer 
camps. And there’s still time this summer 
to help.

LOCAL CONNECTION 
I learned about JRNU’s Jewish Ukrainian 
community camp initiative through 
Ethan Gross of West Bloomfield, one of 
the newer members of the Jewish War 
Veterans Dept. of Michigan. 
Ethan was an infantry officer who 
ended up serving stateside in the 
Michigan National Guard from 1986-

Ethan Gross is raising funds for Jewish 
Relief Network Ukraine’s program. 

Send A Ukrainian 
Kid to Camp

Alan 
Muskovitz
Contributing 
Writer

OUR COMMUNITY

Ukrainian campers enjoyed 
some time on horseback.

Campers make challah at camp, 
despite the war and strife their 
country is suffering.