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. We will do this by using the modern history of the State as a lens through which teens can better understand contemporary Israel.

Yisrael Sheli will create this 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, campers will 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 will be implemented for ninth-grade students in three pilot JCC camps in the summer of 2008, and in six additional camps in the summer of 2009. The program will be available for all JCC resident camps in the summer of 2010 and will contain new and different programs for ninth, tenth, and eleventh grade campers.
The 2008 summers’ pilot camps are:
1. Surprise Lake Camp, New York, NY
2. JCC Maccabi Camp Kingswood, Boston, MA
3. Emma Kauffman Camp, Pittsburgh, PA