Lekhu Lakhem:
Jewish and Educational Journeys for JCC Camp Directors

Hemshekh:
A Program of Continuing Jewish Learning and Growth for Lekhu Lakhem Cohort I Alumni

“Our vision for Lekhu Lakhem incorporates taking our directors on personal journeys of Jewish learning and infusing them with the passion to provide Jewish and educational visionary leadership to their camps,” said Dr. Alvin Mars, founding director of the Mandel Center for Jewish Education at JCC Association.

Lekhu Lakhem: Jewish and Educational Journeys for JCC Resident Camp Directors is a two year program launched in 2004 and made possible by a generous grant from the AVI CHAI Foundation. Building upon the success and enthusiasm of this first cohort of Lekhu Lakhem directors, the AVI CHAI Foundation enabled the formation of both an alumni program called Hemshekh: A Program of Continuing Jewish Learning and Growth for Lekhu Lakhem Cohort I Alumni, as well as a second cohort for Lekhu Lakhem.

In addition and based on the impact of the resident camp directors program, Lekhu Lakhem: Jewish and Educational Journeys for JCC Day Camp Directors - A Senior Fellows Seminar was created. It was a two year professional seminar that concluded in the fall of 2007 and was funded by JCC Association’s New Initiatives Fund and MCJE.

Lekhu Lakhem Fellows participate in a series of five seminars in North America and one extended seminar in Israel, along with an ongoing program of Jewish learning and educational mentoring. Hemshekh Fellows also participate in ongoing Jewish learning and educational mentoring, as well as two seminars in North America.

The content of the seminars focus on Jewish education and camp leadership, using texts to grapple with issues of philosophy, Jewish vision, camp administration and Jewish educational leadership. All these subjects are examined within the context of JCC camps and the issues that our directors face in the course of their work.

Goals:
The Lekhu Lakhem and Hemshekh seminars aim to provide senior camp personnel with:

• An understanding that by virtue of their positions as directors of JCC camps, they are, in fact, Jewish educators, and that there is Jewish educational import to all their decisions

• An accessible, positive, enriching experience with Jewish learning

• The ability to articulate a vision for their camps as Jewish educational institutions

• A set of skills and strategies to translate their new Jewish visions into the life and programs of their camps

• An understanding of how a Jewish camp community is built and operates

• A professional development experience that will enhance the course and content of their careers and make them recognized, potent change agents and leaders within the field of JCC camping and within the greater JCC Movement