Ten Gan Israel day camps from across the S Francisco Bay Area, met last week for a fun-filled day of Jewish unity and pride.
The Jewish Unity Day 2022 was held at the Jerry Garcia Amphitheater in S. Francisco, CA. The program included “Scotty & Trink”, a comedy-juggling show, a performance by “The Zu Zu African Acrobats”, and a concert by Yossi Rodal. Rabbi Raleigh Resnick of Chabad of Tri-Valley was the Master of Ceremonies.
The event was organized by Rabbi Mendel Liberow of Chabad of Morgan Hill with the major financial support of the Birthright Judaism Initiative of the Russian-Speaking Jewish Community (RSJC) of Northern California. Three summers ago, the RSJC established Birthright Judaism – a groundbreaking partnership with Northern California’s Gan Israel Day Camps that provides a free week for first-time campers. Birthright Judaism also matches, dollar for dollar, the financial aid that the camps provide to low income families.
Since 2020, more than 420 children have received a free week in Northern California’s Gan Israel day camps and another 150 children have received significant financial aid. This summer, thirteen camps in the Bay Area and three camps in the Sacramento Area, have partnered with Birthright Judaism. All the funds for the Birthright Judaism Initiative are contributed by the members and donors of the local Russian-Speaking Jewish Community.
“As an immigrant from Ukraine, I am very proud that the Jews from the former USSR realize the importance of Jewish engagement from a young age,” said Rabbi Shimon Margolin, the Executive Director of the Russian-speaking Jewish Community of SF Bay Area. Rabbi Margolin continued, “Our community believes that every Jewish child should spend a summer immersed in Jewish culture and tradition and surrounded by other Jewish children.”
Rabbi Dovid Bush, Director of Camp Aleph Petaluma, said this about the event: “Incredible chayus and a powerful experience! It was an amazing event that the campers will remember for a long time.”
Rabbi Chaim Zaklas, Director of Gan Yisroel of Solano County, added, “This brings tremendous nachas to the Rebbe. Especially the achdus between the shluchim and the powerful force it created.”
RSJC served as the lead sponsor of the event. Other sponsors included CKids International, EZRA USA, and S. Francisco’s Department of Recreation and Parks.
The camps that participated in the Jewish Unity Day 2022 are Camp Aleph of Petaluma, Gan Israels of: Fremont, Tri-Valley, Marin County, Berkeley, S. Francisco, Silicon Valley, Contra Costa County, North Peninsula, and Solano County.
See https://www.birthright-judaism.org/ for more information about the Birthright Judaism Initiative.
