UNDER THE SURFACE: ADDRESSING MIXED EMOTIONS AT JEWISH CAMPS THIS SUMMER

Oct. 7, 2023, was my daughter Olivia’s 14th birthday. From Day One of this war, I have been learning to hold both moments of joy and grief simultaneously. To mourn and to persevere.

That evening, Olivia asked me to place the day’s events into context. We had traveled as a family to Israel five months prior. “Were we close to Gaza?” she asked with concern. Looking together at a map, I did my best to alleviate her anxiety and offer a sense of security at that moment.

As with many educators, the role of a parent takes precedence over the role of educator. Asking open-ended questions at home is often met with teenage eye-rolls and remarks acknowledging my “Israel educator” hat, so I have broached conversations about Oct. 7 by talking with her about the ensuing situations at school. She is responsive, sharing stories about the antisemitic memes certain students are sharing; she knows what it all means, and she asks questions. I tread lightly yet consistently, and she knows I’m here.

The past nine months have been a whirlwind of constant work-related travel to support educators and teens in various settings. With these communities, The iCenter educators explored how to navigate the current realities, focused on deepening nuanced relationships with Israel and Israelis, and examined the 24/7 news cycle with critical thinking. We are not just offering tools and approaches; we’re helping individuals identify their communities, develop crucial aspects of their identities and cultivate tools to navigate these challenging times.

My travels continued in early June through mid-July when I joined various summer camps across the U.S. and Canada. I found myself supporting the mishlachat, the Jewish Agency’s delegation of counselors from Israel; facilitating conversations with faculty, staff and older campers; and helping to integrate Israeli culture into the camp experience. What I encountered during all this was a complex mixture of emotions simmering just beneath the surface.

At one camp, for example, one-quarter of the staff were members of the mishlachat. Some had concluded their military service mere weeks before arriving, while others had spent the past year embedded in a community abroad. At several camps, a makeshift memorial was created in the staff lounge: flags on the wall, names of those lost (with names added weekly), and photos and stories of personal friends displayed between battery-operated Yizkor candles. For the staff who bore witness, these intimate tributes humanized a conflict that can feel distant, both geographically and emotionally, amid the constant noise of social media.

View full article on eJewish Philanthropy.

Dan Tatar is the director of engagement and strategic partnerships for The iCenter. With a deep passion for Israel education, Tatar led the Israel track at this year’s Cornerstone seminar through the Foundation for Jewish Camp. This summer he is spearheading The iCenter’s summer camp efforts, leading visits and support to nearly three dozen day and overnight camps across North America.