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Can you remember a skill that you learned at Camp? When I was a kid, I was always timid to try new things. Yet, when I went to Camp I became more confident to experiment with stuff that didn’t always feel comfortable. Summer is all about exploration, going out of our comfort zone and doing something that might not feel natural. This year in anticipation of next summer, we are identifying program areas to devote greater resources so that campers can build those skills. Over the course of the year, you will be hearing more about what we will be focusing on. We are fortunate to have the program specialists that come to Camp every summer to work with our campers and are always looking to expand our offerings. We know that this is just one of the many compelling reasons that campers come to Yavneh every summer. We look forward to introducing you to our specialists over the course of the year. 

Bil Zarch

Executive Director

A Remembrance of Nathan Kaitz z"l

(K'68 and past president of the Yavneh Board)

By Debbie Sussman K'68 and past Director

Nathan Kaitz (z”l) unexpectedly, sadly and prematurely passed away this week. He was many things to many people, but most importantly, Nathan was a mensch to everyone. I came to know Nathan when we were Arayot campers together through Kerem ’68 - the best Kerem ever! As a camper, Nathan was a great athlete, and a fun guy to hang out with, always willing to stir up a little mischief. Then, as life happens, Nathan grew up and outgrew camp but not before he was a counselor, Rosh Tennis and Rosh Sport. After Nathan and Sally got married, they had two great sons, Robert and Josh, who of course also went to Yavneh as did Nathan’s three siblings and many nieces and nephews. But Nathan didn’t just send his kids to camp. He became a member of The Yavneh Corporation Board long before Robert and Josh were old enough to attend camp because of his love of Yavneh.

When I saw him at a Temple Israel of Natick event in 1990 he persuaded me to apply for the newly vacant job of Director of Yavneh. Although I had no related experience, I got the job and accepted it but only after Nathan promised me he’d stay on for another term as Yavneh President to help me out. Well, 2 terms turned into 3 terms and he came back for yet another term years later. While I was camp Director, Nathan enthusiastically worked in tandem with me to accomplish wonderful things for Yavneh, including many fundraising events. His Yavneh roots were deep and strong as was his conviction that Yavneh was a distinctive camp with an important Jewish mission. Yavneh’s ideals certainly helped mold his life. Throughout his life Nathan had many friends from his Yavneh days whom he kept in close touch with, and was always there for them if they needed help. To say, he will be missed by everyone he touched is an under statement. After all, his Hebrew name was Natan Lev - a giving heart. May his memory always be for a blessing.

Peulot Boker b’Machaneh Yavneh– פעולות בוקר במחנה יבנה

Kitot- Morning Classes

Campers participate in kitah each morning, engaging in lessons, discussing many Jewish texts and values, debating and investigating, and partaking in hands-on activities to bring the learning to life...

Get your Hanukkah shopping in!

Our online store is open and is full of awesome swag!  Click on the photo below to check it out!

 Alumni Spotlight: Rabbi Ben Lanckton K'84

Zichronot Shel Kayitz Ma’alot – Memories of my First Yavneh Summer

Rabbi Ben Lanckton was ordained at the Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS) in 1996. He has served two Jewish Community Centers and two Hillels. Since August 2002 he has been the Jewish Spiritual Care Provider at Massachusetts General Hospital.  His decision to go through with ordination was unduly influenced by the existence of the clergy pass to all regular season Boston Red Sox home games. He lives in Brookline with his awesome wife; they have two amazing adult children.

In late June 1983, I journeyed to Northwood, NH, for my Ma’alot summer at Camp Yavneh.  I had just finished my freshman year in high school and my first year at the Prozdor of Hebrew College.  I decided earlier that spring to join several of my Prozdor classmates at Yavneh, some of whom had been going there for years; it was my rookie summer.  I knew to expect Hebrew, Jewish living, and some spirituality.  My high expectations were happily exceeded, and in ways that lay the groundwork for living Jewishly in my family, and for the choice to become a rabbi...

Mazal Tov to the following campers who are celebrating their b’nai mitzvahs in November:

Ronen Shpindler (Arayot), Mali Dotan (Arayot), Leone Levi D'Ancona (Arayot), Deb Farca (Arayot)

Yom Huledet Sameach to the Campers celebrating November birthdays:

November 1 - Elisheva Appelbaum (Leviim); November 2 - Shira Skolnick-Einhorn (Gefen); November 3 - Talia Joffe (Arayot); November 4 - Ariella Preuss (Gefen), Eden Segal-Geetter (Gefen); November 6 - Jordi Farstrup (Gurim), Gavriella Weisberg (Gefen); November 7 - Abigail Ravid (Gurim), Sam Weintraub (Gurim); November 8 - Jacob Gersch (Maalot); November 9 - Maytal Exler-Kaunfer (Leviim), Yair Wechselblatt (Maalot); November 11 - Charlotte Farber (Arayot), David Vidomlanski (Arayot); November 12 - Asher Bisman (Arayot); November 14 - Max Abraham (Leviim), Teddy Abraham (Leviim), Adi Bielsky (Gefen), Jolie Waitman (Leviim); November 16 - Shai Schneider (Gurim); November 17 - Leone Levi D'Ancona (Arayot); November 18 - Itamar Assulin (Leviim); November 20 - Itai Citrin (Maalot), Yonah Citrin (Maalot), Isaiah Rosenn (Kerem); November 21 - Talula Enis (Leviim); November 22 - Ella Teichner (Gurim); November 23 - Erez Laufer (Gefen), Yuval Segev (Leviim); November 24 - Ronen Shpindler (Arayot); November 25 - Danielle Hayman (Leviim); November 26 - Ariel Konstantine (Leviim); November 28 - Natalia Rosenzweig (Leviim); November 29 - Bina Sapiro-Polishook (Arayot); November 30 - Lily Katz (Maalot), Leo Sohn (Leviim), Ginger Weinstein (Kerem)

Mazal Tov to:

​​Efraim Yudewitz (K’99)​​​​​​ in his new position as Camp Director of Crane Lake Camp, and Jessica Gould Yudewitz (K’99) as featured in JewishBoston.com about their summer romance at Camp Yavneh that led to marriage. Read the full article here: https://www.jewishboston.com/at-camp-yavneh-a-summer-romance-that-led-to-marriage

Jossie Forman (K’10) on her engagement to Mitchell Gronowitz

Will Barry (K’13) on his engagement to Nicole Berger

CJ Glass (K’99) on his engagement to Shoshana Sanbato

David Nathan (K’98) and Hela Nathan on the birth of their daughter, Chaya Tova

Jeremy Shaw (K’04) and Maree Marcus Shaw (former Yavneh camper) on the birth of their son, Henry Oliver. Also, Mazal Tov to grandparents, Maureen Hershman Shaw (K’71) and Greg Shaw!

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