The Jewish Diasporist

Summer Camp Conflict and Care w/ Dani and Ezra

In this episode, Ben and Jordan discussed an institution near and dear to their hearts, URJ Camp Newman, with additional former campers and recent staff members, Dani and Ezra. Throughout the conversation, we explore the way camps serve as a microcosm of the diasporic Jewish world, offering a crucial space for young Jews to develop their identities while also highlighting many of the tensions between the policies of the URJ (Union of Reform Judaism, more on that in a future episode) and the changing, growing, and questioning Jewish people they seek to contain. This interview follows several years of intentional efforts by staff (our hosts included) to challenge the uncritical Israel education that is so common within mainstream Jewish communal spaces.

Donate to support Ezra’s session’s charity work: https://donate.reformjudaism.org/fundraiser/5599537

B’tselem Mapping Resource Discussed:https://conquer-and-divide.btselem.org/

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