I think this article says a lot more about Allison than the fine camps her parents sent her to. In the latter years of CYJ-Midwest (the camp on Lake Stratton), the campers focus on Israel: the dream and the reality, during which they have very meaningful and open-minded discussions and activities exploring Israeli politics and society from all points of view. One of the beautiful things about Young Judaea camps is that campers and counselors (Israeli and American) have a wide range of views and are not afraid to share them. Likewise, at Tel Yehudah and during year-round activities participants, especially those who like to question and delve (a quality this author illustrates to have lacked) have a chance to explore and develop a much more well-rounded view of Israel than the average American Jewish teen who does not have this kind of experience. Even those who go to the many excellent socialist camps that have been touted in comments do not get this experience, as they have a strident and consistent point of view that is consistent with their philosophy. The same exposure to a wide range of views exists during Israel summer and year-long programs. For many people, experiences in Young Judaea camps and programs result in deep love and affection for Israel, as well as a nuanced understanding of Israel's many political and social ills. Israel's environmental movement was formed and is led by people who grew up in the same camps and movement as Allison. They chose to move to Israel and make a difference - to improve Israel instead of turning against it. Likewise, many leaders in Israeli civil rights organizations and other NGO's working toward positive change in Israel come from the same peer-led, Zionist movement where they learned the importance of tikkun olam (repairing the world). Young Judaeans on Israel's Year Course work with Darfuri refugees, volunteer in programs to bring Jews and Arabs together on the basketball court, and help victims of terror. They live the YJ theme of "You and I will Change the World." Allison's children will never have the opportunity to experience the wonders of Jewish/Zionist camping (which she clearly appreciated as a child) because she is not able to see that the problem is not with the camps or her movement, but with her inability to question and explore and her need to see Israel as good or bad rather than as a complex and difficult place - the only difficult and complex place the Jewish people can call home. How sad....
On Life After Zionist Summer Camp
I think this article says a lot more about Allison than the fine camps her parents sent her to. In the latter years of CYJ-Midwest (the camp on Lake Stratton), the campers focus on Israel: the dream and the reality, during which they have very meaningful and open-minded discussions and activities exploring Israeli politics and society from all points of view. One of the beautiful things about Young Judaea camps is that campers and counselors (Israeli and American) have a wide range of views and are not afraid to share them. Likewise, at Tel Yehudah and during year-round activities participants, especially those who like to question and delve (a quality this author illustrates to have lacked) have a chance to explore and develop a much more well-rounded view of Israel than the average American Jewish teen who does not have this kind of experience. Even those who go to the many excellent socialist camps that have been touted in comments do not get this experience, as they have a strident and consistent point of view that is consistent with their philosophy. The same exposure to a wide range of views exists during Israel summer and year-long programs. For many people, experiences in Young Judaea camps and programs result in deep love and affection for Israel, as well as a nuanced understanding of Israel's many political and social ills. Israel's environmental movement was formed and is led by people who grew up in the same camps and movement as Allison. They chose to move to Israel and make a difference - to improve Israel instead of turning against it. Likewise, many leaders in Israeli civil rights organizations and other NGO's working toward positive change in Israel come from the same peer-led, Zionist movement where they learned the importance of tikkun olam (repairing the world). Young Judaeans on Israel's Year Course work with Darfuri refugees, volunteer in programs to bring Jews and Arabs together on the basketball court, and help victims of terror. They live the YJ theme of "You and I will Change the World." Allison's children will never have the opportunity to experience the wonders of Jewish/Zionist camping (which she clearly appreciated as a child) because she is not able to see that the problem is not with the camps or her movement, but with her inability to question and explore and her need to see Israel as good or bad rather than as a complex and difficult place - the only difficult and complex place the Jewish people can call home. How sad....