As hundreds of Israeli teenagers prepare to arrive at Jewish summer camps across North America this summer, UJA's partnership with The Jewish Agency for Israel (The Jewish Agency) continues to ensure that young people most affected by October 7 and the ongoing war have the opportunity to heal, build resilience, and forge lifelong connections with Jewish peers around the world.
This summer, UJA Federation of Greater Toronto's support will help send 38 teenagers from Sderot to Camp Shalom and Ramah Canada through Campers2Gether, an initiative led by The Jewish Agency that has grown from an emergency response into one of its flagship programs.
The program is carefully designed to support teens who have experienced trauma while allowing them to fully participate in camp life. Campers travel in small cohorts of up to 20, remaining with a familiar group throughout the journey. Each cohort is accompanied by two Israeli counsellors and a dedicated mental health professional, ensuring participants have consistent emotional support while also experiencing everything that makes summer camp so transformative. Behind the scenes, The Jewish Agency coordinates the travel, logistics, staffing, and security that make these experiences possible.
For many participants, camp offers something they have not experienced in months: the opportunity to simply be teenagers. Alongside swimming, sports, campfires, and friendships, they begin to rebuild confidence, experience a sense of normalcy, and create joyful memories in a safe Jewish environment.
The impact extends far beyond the Israeli campers. An independent evaluation found that Campers2Gether strengthens resilience, belonging, and Jewish peoplehood on both sides of the ocean. Israeli teens leave with a deeper appreciation for Jewish life in North America, while Canadian campers strengthen their connection to Israel and their confidence in expressing their own Jewish identity. Through honest conversations about life under rocket fire and the realities of rising antisemitism in Canada, both groups develop a deeper understanding of one another—and both report feeling heard.
"I wanted to attend the Campers2Gether program because I speak English very well and I like speaking to everyone, regardless of their language. This program made me appreciate my Judaism much more, especially seeing how proud the campers in Canada are of being Jewish... After the program, I felt much more proud of being Jewish."
— Uri, Sderot
As the program continues to expand, The Jewish Agency is investing in enhanced training for the Israeli counsellors and Shlichim who accompany each cohort, ensuring they are equipped to support both the emotional needs of participants and the broader camp community. With a goal of reaching 700 Israeli teens this year, Campers2Gether is helping shape a generation connected not only by shared history, but by shared experiences, lasting friendships, and a renewed sense of responsibility for one another.
