Related Blog Posts on Yallah! Israel and Summer Youth Experiences

a tree with light behind it
Tu BiShvat

Taking a Breath for Life: the Union for Reform Judaism's Actions to Build Resilience

Ruben Arquilevich
On Tu Bishvat we celebrated trees and a season of new growth. I've been doing lots of thinking about trees, as I frequently do, and the role they play in providing oxygen for the planet. At the Union of Reform Judaism, we provide oxygen to our communities by creating compassionate spaces for our participants to grow and thrive. We can respond to current and future challenges by fostering resilience that reflect our Jewish values.
eisner_camp
teens

A Summer of Healing, Happiness, and Hope

Ruben Arquilevich
This past summer, our 15 URJ camps across North America and Israel programs provided the space where more than 11,000 children, teens and young adults could breathe free. Summer 2021 was clearly a summer of healing at our camps, as children returned to immersive in-person living, learning, laughing, crying, hugging where they can share their fears and dreams in a loving and accepting environment.
Summer camp staffer playing the guitar while standing in a circle of campers with their arms around one another
Yallah! Israel

The Opportunity of a Lifetime: A Summer Working at Camp

Ruben Arquilevich
Camp staff are our heroes, creating the space where campers make memories, meet friends, and become the best versions of themselves. They mentor, care for, and inspire the community, and help us realize our vision for a more whole, just, and compassionate world.