The Goodman Family Institute - Yisrael Sheli (My Israel):
A Teen Program of Israel Education and Experience for JCC Resident Camps

Yisrael Sheli is a three year JCC resident camp curriculum for teens, made possible by a generous grant from the Goodman Family Foundation. The goal of the program is to enhance teenagers’ knowledge of, familiarity with, and emotional attachment to the State of Israel. Camps use the modern history of the State as a lens through which teens can better understand contemporary Israel.

Yisrael Sheli creates the Israel learning experience through a series of different subject areas designed to build a teenager’s identification with and appreciation of Israel. Through engaging programs and perspectives led by Goodman Fellows, campers learn about:

1. Zionism – the pre-state movement to create a Jewish homeland
2. Medinat Yisrael – the establishment of the State of Israel
3. Eretz Yisrael – the Land of Israel
4. Am Yisrael – the People of Israel

The Yisrael Sheli program was implemented for ninth-grade campers in three pilot JCC camps during the summer of 2008, and for ninth- and tenth-grade campers in nine JCC camps during the summer of 2009. It will be piloted in an additional six camps in the summer of 2010, totaling fifteen pilot sites. The program will then be made available for all JCC resident camps in the summer of 2011 and will contain new and different programs for ninth, tenth, and eleventh grade campers as well as their young adult counselors.

The 2008 pilot camps were:
1. Surprise Lake Camp, New York, NY
2. JCC Maccabi Camp Kingswood, Boston, MA
3. Emma Kauffman Camp, Pittsburgh, PA

The 2009 pilot camps were:
1. Camp Barney Medintz, Atlanta, GA
2. Emma Kaufmann Camp, Pittsburgh, PA
3. Camp Interlaken, Milwaukee, WI
4. JCC Maccabi Camp Kingswood, Boston, MA
5. JCC Ranch Camp, Denver, CO
6. Pinemere Camp, Philadelphia, PA
7. Camp Sabra, St. Louis, MO
8. Surprise Lake Camp, New York, NY
9. Tamarack Camps, Detroit, MI

For more information, please contact melanie@jcca.org.