After a family tragedy in 2021 left siblings Emily, Noah and Sammy without birth parents, their relatives began searching for a way to start the healing process. The children’s aunt, Lisa Schreiber, knew from personal experience that the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia-supported URJ Camp Harlam could be a way for the siblings to begin to heal and find happiness again.
“My daughter had attended Camp Harlam for several years prior to her cousins joining and we knew from our time there that it is the most warm, accepting and welcoming place,” Schreiber explained. “The staff, particularly the Camper Care faculty, are so skilled in creating a nurturing environment for each child, no matter where they are coming from physically and emotionally, and we knew it would be the perfect place to send a family that was grieving.”
However, for the children’s Aunt and Uncle, who became their guardians, the cost of sending the siblings and their own daughter Olivia to an overnight summer camp was unfeasible. Determined, Schreiber reached out to Camp Harlam to see what could be done.
“The answer was ‘we will figure this out for you,’” Schreiber noted. “It was never a question of ‘if,’ it was just taking action and figuring out ‘how.’”
Soon after, Camp Harlam offered a scholarship to cover the remaining costs. That was four years ago, and the children have been able to return to camp each year since then.
“The support and bonding they receive at camp has been an antidote to some tough stuff,” Schreiber said. “We knew the children had to be distanced from the difficulties at home and put into an environment where they could just be themselves. The whole team, from the director to the cabin counselor knew the kids' story and watched over them like guardian angels. And they continue to do so every summer since.”
Much of this healing was facilitated through Camp Harlam’s Camper Care program, which includes a team of professionals working closely with families to support the mental, emotional, spiritual and social health of their campers.
“From the moment you come through the gates at Camp Harlam, you are greeted with the phrase ‘Welcome Home,’” said Lisa David, executive director of URJ camps. “This is not only something we say, but something we feel. Our staff excels at building community and facilitating deep, meaningful and lasting connections with peers.”
Schreiber’s own daughter, Scarlett, has felt this connection firsthand during her time at camp.
“Camp Harlam has been one of the most life-changing experiences,” said Scarlett, who is currently at camp. “The friendships and bonds that you make are stronger than any other friendship that I have outside of camp. I think that everyone should have that experience, especially my cousins, because they're so young and they have so much more life to live.”
For Scarlett, Camp Harlam’s focus on “Joyful Judaism” and weaving Jewish learning into moments of everyday life has strengthened her Jewish identity in a new way.
“I feel like camp has made my connection with G-d stronger than it would have been if I never went here,” she shared.
Wanting all children to be able to feel this type of Jewish pride, the Jewish Federation has been a long-time supporter of Camp Harlam and other Jewish summer camps.
“At the Jewish Federation, our mission is to strengthen our Jewish community for today and for generations to come. Jewish summer camps are a vital way to achieve this, since they enable children to foster their own Jewish identities and to understand the importance of community,” expressed Dr. Kelly Romirowsky, the Jewish Federation’s chief strategy and impact officer. “Ensuring that those camps are accessible to all in our community is a priority for us.”
This summer, the Jewish Federation awarded $560,000 in need-based aid and scholarships to 45 local Jewish day and overnight camps, including Camp Harlam, to help families like Schreiber’s and others.
“We are so grateful to the Jewish Federation for supporting our campers and helping to minimize financial barriers to attend camp through their gifts of need-based scholarship,” said David of Camp Harlam. “The Jewish Federation funding allows even more campers from our community to experience connection, Joyful Judaism and the magic that is camp.”
When thinking about the impact the Jewish Federation’s funding had on her nieces and nephews, Schreiber is thankful but not surprised.
“I give to Jewish Federation because they put into action the message that the Jewish community always has your back,” said Schreiber, a long-time donor with the Jewish Federation’s Women’s Philanthropy group. “I never imagined our family would be in a situation like this where we would have to regroup after such a tragedy and figure out a new family structure for three young children. The Jewish Federation showed up for us, so we, in turn, support them.”
As for Schreiber’s nieces and nephews, attending Camp Harlam has been transformative for them.
“Being part of Camp Harlam is kind of just one big giant family,” said Emily, who is currently at camp. “My favorite part of the summer is everyone singing the shema at the end of the day.”
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If you would like to make Jewish experiences accessible for all who want them, consider making a gift to the Jewish Federation’s Annual Campaign before it closes on Aug. 31 at jewishphilly.org/give.