Welcome to YJ Gives…
A 36-hour giving campaign to support the growth and needs of YJ. Never in our 85 years has the case for Jewish summer camp, and YJ in particular, been more compelling.
We have always believed that Jewish summer camp is a transformative experience for our children and grandchildren. However, this past year has been an extraordinary reminder of how important YJ is.
YJ Gives ensures that we have the resources to remain a beacon of light for our Jewish community. This coming summer - and throughout the year - we plan to double down on our efforts to provide a space where our campers and staff can build a strong Jewish identity, and to stay true to our history as a camp with an unbreakable connection to Israel.
By joining our work, you will:
Help us to reaffirm our campers and staff's confidence and pride in their peoplehood.
Support us in hiring Israeli counselors to enrich the experience of all our participants.
Provide us with the ability to create programs and invite outside guests that instill Jewish communal values.
Whether you've been a part of our community for years or are new, your support matters immensely. Every donation, no matter the size, will make an impact and be deeply appreciated.
Thank you for being an essential part of YJ. Together, let's make this campaign a resounding success!
The Lable Family
Why do you love YJ?
For the past 40 years, Camp YJ has played a central role in our family's life and Jewish identity. My brother Jeff and I were campers in the 1980s, and then my wife Cori and I also sent our children, Ben and Dara, to Camp YJ.
Even though we lived in Asia at the time, we felt that it was essential for our children to have a Jewish summer camp experience. We wanted them to create deep friendships with other Jewish children and build a lifelong connection to Israel, and we could think of no better place to do this than Camp YJ. So, every summer, we would pack the kids up for an 8,000 mile trip to Lake Baboosic in New Hampshire.
During their camp years, Ben and Dara made great friends and developed into young adults with the confidence and independence to take on and overcome new challenges. YJ presents such a unique opportunity for personal growth, and we are grateful that our children could attend Camp YJ and experience all it has to offer. Attending Camp YJ was a life-changing experience for me, and it will similarly impact everything Ben and Dara do in the future.
Why do you support YJ?
We give to Camp YJ because we want to ensure that future generations of the Lable Family and other Jewish children will have the opportunity to attend a warm, loving, and safe environment in which to develop their Jewish identities. Now more than ever, Jewish summer camps need our support.
We support Camp YJ to preserve and protect a place that has positively affected the lives of so many children for 85 years. Cori and I appreciate this institution that has meant so much to our family and many others. At this moment in history, our collective support of Camp YJ is paramount.
Written by Stephen Lable
YJ Alumnus, YJ Past Parent & YJ Past Board Member
Q&A with Dara Lable, Daled ‘24
What is your favorite spot at YJ?
Lake Baboosic
What is your favorite meal at YJ?
Grilled Cheese
What is your favorite camp song?
One Day
What is your favorite memory from Summer 2024?
Being with my friends and my brother
Helen Simon
Why do you love YJ?
I love YJ because it’s a place that gathers people from all over the world that I now call family. YJ makes friendships feel like family. YJ is a place where no one will judge you for who you are and everyone will give you a huge hug anytime you need it! And after this past year, that was the best feeling in the world.
What is your favorite part of YJ?
The evening activities!! Each activity forces you to connect with different people in camp - regardless of age, how long you’ve been at camp, etc. Everyone is just in one place having the best two-hours of the day.
What is your favorite memory from summer 2024:
My favorite memory from Summer 2024 was the last night with my girls. All my campers came to sit with me on my bed. We played cards and we all shared our favorite memories of our summer. It was just a magical night that I will never forget.
What is your favorite meal at yj:
Chicken Tenders
What is your favorite camp song?
Deep in the Hills
Emily Rosen
Why do you love YJ?
I started at YJ in the summer of 1996. A scared and timid 10-year old, I never could have imagined that my bunkmate that summer would be my best friend as an adult or that, even today, I would continue to feel so connected to the friends I made deep in the hills over the 11 summers I spent at camp. Although we may go months, and sometimes years, without seeing each other, a special bond holds all of us together.
Through highs and lows, laughter and tears, the YJ camp community has been a cornerstone of my life since my very first summer. For me, it truly is a sense of home and has impacted my life in more ways than I will ever know.
Why do you support YJ?
I grew up in a home where education, Judaism, and giving back to others was modeled to my siblings and me by our parents. It was important to them that I was able to attend YJ during such a formative time in my life and for that, I am forever grateful.
In the spring of 2021, my father unexpectedly passed away. In those early weeks and months after his death, the YJ community showed up for me, helped me, and provided me and my family with incredible support during this difficult time. My YJ friends have continued to remind me that they are always by my side. We are forever connected.
My hope is that my support will enable future campers to benefit from the kinds of experiences that I had in this very special place, and to form lifelong, meaningful connections that will help to sustain them in the years ahead.
What are your favorite memories of YJ?
Lifelong friends
Spending 7th period on Foster Field
Evening activities
Cookouts
Written by Emily Rosen
YJ Alumnus
welcome to yj gives - young alumni edition!
Meet gabi cortez, daled ‘09
Why do I love YJ?
YJ is family. Of course, literal family sometimes, but also there’s this inherent connection and tie with the YJ community that really feels akin to a familial tie. It doesn’t matter how long it’s been or if I even overlapped with someone during my time at camp, we’re still so interconnected by the fact that we know what it feels like to have been a part of this incredibly unique camp experience. I feel it whenever I see my camp friends or meet a new YJ connection.
I have reconnected with friends from my Daled at different times in my life, always at the time when I’ve needed them most. These people know me to my core, knew me while I was finding out what it meant to be Gabi and that means a whole lot to me. Being lucky enough to have people in my life like that feels like something magical.
Why is Jewish camp important to me?
Although I grew up in the Massachusetts suburbs, I didn’t have many opportunities where I was around many other Jews, unless it was at synagogue. Being Latina with a name like Gabriela Cortez, my Judaism was a bit hidden outside of camp by people’s assumptions and I realized that it would take me a bit to figure out what that really meant to me. I wanted to fully embody both of the rich cultures that I felt lucky to be born into and being at camp gave me the opportunity to fully drop into that as a kid. I could have a space to explore.
Currently, having this strong Jewish community to lean on in times of difficulty is really important to me. It’s where I find my grounding. I truly believe that it is because of my YJ family that I will never worry about feeling isolated in my Judaism. I felt that during my time as a camper and it has continued ever since.
How did my YJ experience help get me to where I am today?
I feel so lucky that, from an early age, I got to learn so much about who I am within an intimate community like YJ. I've found that I always want to be surrounded by people, but always strive to maintain my individuality. It taught me how joyful it feels to find the balance of expressing myself fully while being so interconnected with others.
It started to become clear to me that trying to create similar experiences like YJ for others who might not typically have the opportunity was important to me. Because of this, I started volunteering at Camp Jabberwocky to help create a camp environment that celebrates each individual’s differences as a part of a whole collective camp experience. I realized that this was where I’d like to spend most of my time and ended up transitioning into a full-time directing role.
Knowing what it feels like to first step into the camp atmosphere, I knew so deeply that I wanted to establish a sense of welcoming from the top down, making sure that people felt that they could step out of their comfort zone to become a part of the camp community and know that they’d be embraced every step of the way. That’s what I got at YJ and what I will always strive to recreate.
My favorite meal at YJ was:
Egg salad at picnics, going to dream about that now that this memory is unlocked.
My favorite camp song was:
Jack and Diane! I play it in my pilates classes just to feel a little camp squeeze.
Favorite Maccabiah color:
Red all the way!
meet abi genser, daled ‘15
Why do I love YJ?
There are so many reasons I love YJ. The place itself is absolutely magical. I still reminisce about Friday night services in the Grove, song sessions in the dining hall, free swim in the lake, and talking with my friends in the bunk at night. Having eight weeks without technology allowed me to be present and learn how to make meaningful connections with my friends as well as my counselors. But I think what makes YJ the most special is the culture of buying in and going into every activity with spirit and joy.
Why is Jewish camp important to me?
Jewish camp further enabled me to be proud of my Judaism, create traditions around prayers and celebrations like Shabbat, and find a Jewish community that can be found in so many cities across the globe.
my favorite part of yj?
It is so hard to narrow down to just one thing, but it probably was my evolving love for Baboosic Lake. As a 10-year-old I was petrified of the murky water and slimy seaweed. Then as a staff member, there was nothing I Ioved more than jumping in the water between periods and floating around looking at the beautiful trees and houses that surround the lake.
How did my yj experience help get me to where i am today?
YJ gave me amazing role models to look up to, friends who support me during the happiest and hardest of times, and a deeper connection to Judaism than I otherwise would’ve had.
My favorite meal at yj was:
Something about the grilled cheese with sugar on top!
My favorite camp song was:
The Middle by Jimmy Eat World
Meet jacob kaplan, daled ‘13
Why do I love YJ?
The people. I love Foster Field and Lou Brown Park as much as the next person, but to me, camp is nothing without the people who make it up. I love it when everyone embraces the spirit of “buying in.” The spirit of saying yes, and not shying away because something seems uncool.
Why is jewish camp important to me
I think a big part of growing up Jewish is developing your own, personal relationship with Judaism. As a kid, you tend to default to your parents’ “brand” of it. But for me, Jewish camp was my first opportunity to explore and develop my own connection with Judaism.
And the other thing about camp is that the connection is not purely religious. It’s this unique time and place where you’re surrounded by other Jewish kids and living a Jewish life, but the activities aren’t strictly “Jewish.” And I think that’s important—it’s a reminder that Jewish identity encompasses much more than religious observance. It’s a reminder that you’re part of a community.
My favorite part of YJ?
During my Daled summer, Josh “Peach” Goldstein gave our bunk a lecture on the “Organic Camp Experience.” Which basically refers to those unplanned, unstructured moments at camp that become the most memorable parts of the summer. Everyone has their own “organic camp experiences,” and no two are the same. And that’s why they’re my favorite part of YJ. Unexpected, unique, but so unmistakably camp.
How did my yj experience get me to where i am today?
Literally, I owe my career to YJ. My camp experiences are the main source of my comedy. I’m currently touring a stand-up show all about my camp experience. And later this year I will be filming a movie I wrote, also about my camp experience. But I didn’t choose the subject of camp at random. My YJ experience was so vivid and so personal that I have this bottomless well of experiences to pull from. YJ was the first time in my life that I really felt like a part of something. And, in turn, I have this very emotional connection to it. And I think that’s what makes it such an easy, free-flowing place to write about.
My favorite meal at YJ was:
Either breakfast for dinner or the year mozzarella got added to the salad bar.
My favorite camp song was:
Too hard to choose one: “The Middle,” “Don’t Stop Believing,” “I See You.”
Meet Polly Lejfer, D’12
Why do I love YJ?
I love the lifelong connections that YJ fostered. Spending 7 weeks straight with your best friends every summer was the perfect recipe for lifelong friendship. I still talk to my camp friends every single day, and I genuinely think our group text will be active until our grandchildren are campers at YJ . YJ also helped strengthen my relationship with my siblings and older cousins who went to YJ as well.
Why is Jewish camp important to me?
YJ was an integral part of developing my Jewish identity. Camp made being Jewish feel so fun, and so special. Shabbat services in the grove and Friday night Hebrew song sessions felt magical, and even the long birkat on Shabbat was so spirited and fun. Jewish camp also taught me the importance of Jewish community, which has stuck with me to this day - whether it be in college or even traveling abroad, I have always felt the need to find fellow Jews no matter where I am.
My favorite part of YJ?
My favorite part of YJ was simply the pure, unadulterated fun. No matter what we were doing- evening activities, rainy days, meals, seventh period and even cleaning up the bunk in the mornings- we were always laughing and having the best time.
How did my YJ experience help get me to where I am today?
Leaving home for the whole summer starting at age 8 instilled independence, confidence, and integral social skills in me from such a young age. Learning about Israel every summer and then going on Gadna helped me develop my love and support of Israel which is so important today. Being on staff, I had young campers who confided in me about home and life issues outside of camp. And looking back, I think that helped point me to my career path of being a social worker and therapist for kids.
My favorite meal at YJ was:
Chicken patty picnic & taco picnic
My favorite camp song was:
I want to name 15 songs…but probably Free Fallin’
meet ethan samet, daled ‘08
Why do I love YJ?
YJ encourages the best in its campers and counselors. Campers who succeed tend to be those who are kind and accommodating to their peers, and the most beloved counselors are creative, warm, and caring.
Since leaving camp, I’m amazed at how often I’ll run into former campers, counselors, and friends all over the world–completely randomly. And even after not seeing each other for 10 or 15 years, there’s something deeply memorable about the people you spent those summers with, that you can’t help but remember their face and want to reminisce and catch up.
And of course, I’ll always be grateful to camp for facilitating some of the oldest friendships in my life. It’s hard enough to make new friends as an adult, but making old friends is actually impossible.
Why is Jewish camp important to me?
The practice of maintaining long-distance friendships in childhood enabled me to sustain those relationships as an adult. My camp friends remain among the most important communities in my life, probably because I learned as a kid how to maintain friendships even when you’re apart for 10 months of the year.
Camp is also an increasingly unique break from technology and cell phones. Eliminating excess virtual connectedness for a few weeks fosters an environment for realer human bonds, environments that seem fleetingly rare in 2024. And when a foundation for the environment is a shared identity and culture, the depth of the relationships forged is unparalleled.
my favorite part of yj?
Two locations and one experience. Boys’ Area old growth forest – every time I remembered to look up I was shocked how tall the trees are. Baboosic Lake – nothing is more summery than a super-dive off the dock and into the lake. Finally, the experience I remember the most is the fact that we have “Family Style” tables rather than just sitting with our bunk. I always thought that was super fun. I loved having a “big sister” or a “little bro” or a camp “Mom and Dad” to eat with, different from the bunk I was always around.
How did my YJ experience help get me to where I am today?
At first, I thought from my experiences as a counselor, I wanted to be a teacher (I taught sixth grade science for two years in Springfield, Mass). But really, camp demonstrated to me that I just loved being around people, particularly in times of growth and change. I feel proud to be granted the privilege of trust when folks are feeling vulnerable, whether it’s from homesickness, setting boundaries in bunk rules, or from a new medical diagnosis when I’m talking with patients in a clinic.
My favorite meal at yj was:
Mac and Cheese
My favorite camp song was:
Brown Eyed Girl & Kehila Kedosha