20 | MAY 23 • 2024 
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ederation’s Israeli Camper 
Program began in 2002, in 
response to the terror attacks in 
Israel, which resulted in the cancellation 
of the 200-person Teen Mission. Bob 
Aronson, the then-CEO of the Jewish 
Federation of Detroit, 
asked the community: “If 
we can’t send our young 
people there, why don’t we 
bring their young people 
here?” 
In less than a month, 
$1 million was raised, and 
325 Israelis, ages 13-16, 
came to Tamarack Camp’s 
Camp Maas as participants. Most of 
them from our Partnership Region in 
Israel — including our current Shlicha 
Lior Zisser-Yogev and our past Shaliach 
Eviatar Baskis.
Now, in its 22nd year of bringing 
Partnership 2Gether teens to Tamarack, 
we are incredibly proud of what the 
Israel Camper Program has become. 
It is one of the cornerstones of our 
Partnership 2Gether and one of our 
department’s flagship programs.
As summer approaches, we have two 
announcements regarding the program: 
First, due to the war, we are almost dou-
bling the number of campers this sum-
mer and will be including evacuees from 
the north and south. 
We are so grateful to our partners 
in this program, Tamarack Camps, for 
finding the room at camp for the extra 
kids and staff for us to make this hap-
pen and for being so accommodating 
in altering activities that might evoke 
anxiety for kids who are coming from a 
country immersed in war (like fireworks 
and night raids). 
Second, we are thrilled to share that 
Elaine and Michael Serling have pro-

vided a substantial endowment gift to 
help secure the future of our program. 
We will now be known as the Elaine 
and Michael Serling Israeli Camper 
Program. Elaine and Michael are long-
time Tamarack supporters and have 
also given generously to Federation’s 
Shinshinim program. 
“Elaine and Michael represent the 
very best of our Jewish community, and 
their foundational support for this pro-
gram exemplifies their visionary com-
mitment to making a difference,” said 
Steven Ingber, Federation CEO. “Thanks 
to the Elaine and Michael Serling Israeli 
Camper Program, a new generation of 
Israeli youth will have an experience 
that enriches their entire lives — while 
kids from our own community deep-
en their relationship with Israel. The 
impact of this gift is extraordinary.” 

Jennifer Levine is senior director of JFD’s Israel & 

Overseas Department. 

Program renamed Elaine and Michael Serling 
Israeli Camper Program.

Israeli Campers to Double 
at Camp Tamarack

Jennifer 
Levine
Special to the 
 Jewish News

OUR COMMUNITY

Last year’s 
Israeli 
campers

Elaine and 
Michael 
Serling

