Welcome to YJ Gives…
A 36-hour giving campaign to support the growth and needs of YJ. Never in our 86 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!
What makes YJ feel like home to you (or your family)?
There is truly no better feeling than turning onto Camp Road. I remember as a camper, I would count down the seconds until I got to Amherst, and now I can give that gift to my kids. There is something about entering the camp bubble that is completely unique and special – all cares of the real world disappear and you know that all that awaits you is weeks of fun with your best friends.
How do you keep the YJ spirit alive during the year?
We talk about camp almost daily. My daughter loves to regale our family with tales that her counselors told her this summer about their experiences as campers and on Gadna. She sees herself in her counselors and wants to emulate them. She also regularly tells her sister (who will be going to camp for the first time this summer) all about every activity. And we stay connected with our camp friends as much as possible – whether in person or over the phone. I write this as I am on the train to NYC to see my best friend of over 30 years, whom I met in Aleph!
How has YJ made a difference in your life?
When our oldest started camp, she was so nervous – she basically cried for months beforehand because she was so apprehensive about going. She came back essentially a different person: much more confident, open to new experiences, and generally more flexible. That first summer, she extended from two weeks to the full session while she was there, and now talks regularly about what it will be like when she and her younger sister go on Gadna and later become counselors.
Why do you support YJ?
I asked my older child recently to tell me three things that make up who she is as a person. Her first answer: camp. Camp has been a truly transformative experience for her (as it was for me as an alum). I think every child should have an opportunity to experience the pure joy of summer camp and to be able to explore their Judaism in a completely safe and loving place.
What is one word you would use to describe camp?
Special
What is your kid’s favorite meal at YJ?
Pancakes
What is your kid’s favorite camp song?
Touch this button with your tongue song that Jon Spack sings
What is your kid’s favorite memory from Summer 2025?
The last night of camp when we stayed up until 2:00am!
What makes YJ feel like home to you?
YJ feels like a home because of all the friends and connections I have made over the years. From starting as a camper in Lower Bet to coming back as a fourth-year counselor, I have met so many great people over my time at YJ, making it feel like a second home.
How do you keep the YJ spirit alive during the year?
I keep the YJ spirit alive during the year by keeping in touch with all of my friends and visiting them throughout the year. Camp helped to bring all of us together, and we love to keep our community together during the other 10 months.
How has YJ made a difference in your life?
YJ has taught me so much. By leaving home every summer when I was younger, I gained many skills, especially what it means to be independent, that have helped me develop into who I am today. Coming back as a counselor, I have been able to learn even more from my campers, who are in the shoes that I was once in years ago
Why do you support YJ?
I support YJ because of the positive community that it has created for so many people. Camp has changed the lives of so many for the better, including myself, and I hope that the camp spirit can live on and new campers can make so many memories like I once did.
What is one word you would use to describe Camp YJ?
Tradition
What is your favorite meal at YJ?
Grilled Cheese
What is your favorite camp song?
I See You
What is your favorite memory from Summer 2025:
Helping create so many fun projects with the campers!
What makes YJ feel like home to you (and your family)?
YJ is where our family’s story has truly unfolded - across generations, friendships and even love. Our three daughters attended YJ as campers then staff members and two of our daughters met their husbands at YJ, making the camp not just a summer home but the place where our family itself grew. It’s also where our shared love for Judaism and Israel has deepened, grounding us in values that have carried through each generation. From our oldest daughter’s first summer in 1998 to now watching our grandchildren begin their own camp journeys, YJ continues to be at the heart of who we are.
How does YJ stay alive during the year?
YJ stays alive throughout the year through the friendships and connections that never fade. Our daughters’ closest camp friends have truly become part of our extended family, and we’ve had the joy of watching them grow up, get married, and start families of their own. The songs, traditions, and shared memories keep YJ present in our daily lives, reminding us that its spirit isn’t confined to the summer months but continues to live and grow in our hearts year-round.
How has YJ made a difference in your life (or your children’s lives)?
YJ has given our daughters confidence, deep friendships, and a strong sense of identity and purpose. Camp taught them how to lead, how to care and how to find joy in their Jewish community. For us as parents, watching YJ nurture their growth, and now seeing our grandchildren step into that same world, has been one of the greatest gifts of our lives. Not to mention, two of our three daughters met their husbands at YJ and this has brought us SEVEN gorgeous grandchildren!!
What is your favorite memory?
Our favorite memory was the jubilation of visiting day. To witness the transformation of our girls in 3 ½ short weeks was nothing short of miraculous. Everyone had found their niche, whether with newly formed friendships, favorite activities and sports, sleeping arrangements within the bunk and chores they proudly performed. The overall unity, mutual support and compassion between each bunkmate was beautiful to witness. Their camp world transcended to their growth, independence and confidence well beyond the foothills of Camp YJ.
Why do you support YJ?
We support YJ because it is much more than a summer camp - it is a place that builds character, community, and a lifelong connection to Judaism and Israel. It has given our family love, friendship and memories that span generations, shaping who we are and who our children have become. Supporting YJ is our way of ensuring that future generations can experience the same joy, growth and sense of belonging that have been such a profound part of our lives.
What is one word you would use to describe Camp YJ?
Home
What makes YJ feel like home?
YJ feels like home because our entire life together exists because of it. Olivia’s grandparents met at YJ, so her family is here because of camp and now our closest friends, our community, and the foundation of our relationship all trace back to YJ. The people, the history, and the way it shaped every chapter of our lives make YJ feel less like a place we went to and more like a place we’re from.
How do we keep the YJ spirit alive during the year?
For us, keeping the YJ spirit alive is easy because it’s part of our daily lives. Our closest friends in New York are people we met at camp and are now like extended family. It comes back to the relationships we built and how involved we all are in each other's lives today.
How has YJ made a difference in our lives?
YJ has shaped our lives in every way possible, personally, professionally, and generationally. We met at YJ and multiple members of Olivia’s family did too. Professionally, we’ve stayed connected to camp friends over the years, and those relationships have led to opportunities and mentorship across different stages of our lives.
Why do we support YJ?
It created our future!
One word to describe Camp YJ:
Warmth
Favorite food at YJ:
Curly fries
Favorite camp song:
Stars in the Sky
What is your favorite YJ memory?
My favorite memory is Shabbat at camp—services in the grove, the way the light filtered through the trees, and everyone singing together in the dining room. To this day, every time I sing Shir Ha’Ma’alot, I’m instantly back there. It’s amazing how one melody can transport you decades in an instant.
How has YJ made a difference in your life?
YJ helped shape who I am. It gave me confidence, a sense of community, and a strong Jewish identity. So much of how I lead, how I show up for people, and how I think about values started at camp.
Do you have any traditions that keep the YJ spirit alive during the year?
I still find myself singing “Charlie on the MTA” every time I get lost—it’s a YJ reflex. And even in my Mussar practice, I still feel that same sense of community, grounding, and reflection that began for me at camp.
Why do you support YJ?
Because YJ gave me so much—community, confidence, and a strong Jewish identity—and I want today’s campers to feel that same sense of belonging and growth. Supporting YJ feels like giving back to the place that helped shape who I am today.
What is one word you would use to describe Camp YJ?
Transformative
What makes YJ feel like home to you?
YJ feels like home because it was the first place where I felt completely myself. The friendships, the music, the laughter, and the sense of belonging created a community that has stayed with me long after my camper years.