Camp to Open for Jewish Deaf

By Yehoshua Soudakoff

You may have heard of Camp L’man Achai. But what you might not know is that it will serve as the home to fifteen deaf children this summer.

This year, for the very first time, a Jewish summer camp is being organized for American deaf boys. Along with deaf camp counselors and sign language interpreters, we will be providing them with a fun-filled program where they can thrive as Jews. We are organizing two age groups – one will join the younger division for boys ages 8-10, and one that will join the teens division for boys ages 14-16.

These boys will be coming from different parts of the nation – California, Massachusetts, Maryland, and many other states. In their hometowns, they may be the only Jewish deaf child. But at Camp L’man Achai, they will be part of a bigger community of peers with similar backgrounds. Perhaps for the first time in their lives, they will realize that they are not alone spiritually-wise.

To be sure, deaf children have joined Jewish camps in the past. The difference now, however, is that instead of them “following” along, they will now be integrated in a program that is tailor-made for them, with Jewish inspiration presented in a Deaf-friendly approach. They will be among role models who understand their Deaf background and communicate in their native language.

This ambitious camp project won’t be limited to children from the United States. We are flying in a fifteen-year old boy from S. Petersburg. And we just announced an exciting contest for deaf Israeli boys, where one lucky winner will receive a free plane ticket to join us at the camp. We are asking teens to submit a video of them explaining the reason why they should get the opportunity to come to America, and our three appointed deaf Israeli judges will be choosing the winning video. The contest is already creating a stir in the Deaf community there.

I may be relatively new to the camp scene, but I have already seen the enriching effects of such a project.

Last summer, I had the honor of traveling to Moscow, where I worked as a camp counselor for a group of Jewish deaf boys at Camp Gan Israel. I am so grateful that with the warm support of the chief rabbi, Rabbi Berel Lazar, this project became a reality. The boys who came to our camp did not know of Shabbos and kosher food, or even matzah and Chanukah candles. At home, they wear necklaces with a cross. But in camp, they discovered so much about what it means to be Jewish. I continue to stay in touch with the boys, and they are slowly becoming more comfortable about their Jewish identity. It is a process, and we have already lit the sparks.

Naturally, we are continuing the deaf program at Camp Gan Israel Moscow this summer, but we felt the need for a camp here in the states. That is where Camp L’man Achai comes in. I am confident that just as the children were transformed last summer, we too will be making an impact on our dear deaf children here in America.

You, too, can help.

We want to spread the word of this program out in the community as widely as possible. If you know a Jewish deaf boy that communicates in sign language who would benefit from our program this summer, please do not hesitate to contact me at [email protected]. Please encourage their parents to be in touch with us as well. Not one Jewish deaf child should be left behind! After all, they truly do not have anywhere else to go to for such an experience.

We are also looking for financial partners for our unique project. Each child comes with a large tuition rate, and many parents are not able (or willing) to pay the full amount. The Israeli contest comes with a price tag of its own. The family of the boy coming in from Russia is very excited about the idea, but they do not have the money to pay for the costs. If you would like to have the merit of being involved with our program, we are ready to hear from you. I may be reached at the email address above.

To see our camp website, please visit http://www.camplmanachai.com

The Israeli boys contest: http://www.facebook.com/deafcampcontest