URJ Ethics Accountability Update - June 2025

As our hearts continue to be with our Israeli family and friends, we are praying for their safety and the shelter of peace for all.

Here in North America, the arrival of warm weather and long days means summer camp season is upon us. The URJ is committed to ensuring all campers, staff, faculty, and guests have a safe and fun summer at our 14 camps across North America. One way we make that happen is by prioritizing wellbeing, safety, and belonging – including establishing and training around clear standards of ethical behavior.

URJ Camps are lifelong, year-round communities of belonging. Campers and staff celebrate and often discover their best, most authentic selves, fostered by these 24/7 nurturing sanctuaries. There is no place in our camps for harassment and discrimination against any person based on their religion or religious practice, citizenship or nationality, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, ethnicity, race, age, neurodiversity, body size, appearance, disability or impairment, social class, or any other aspect that makes them a unique and irreplaceable human being.

All staff, including short-term staff such as Faculty, Health Center, and Camp Care staff, complete training on Abuse and Harassment Prevention, Discrimination Prevention and Inclusion Practices, Reporting Protocols, and Mental Health and Wellbeing.

All people who interact directly with campers and staff, including Artists-in-Residence, Day Trainers, Staff Spouses/Partners, and Chaperones, complete training on Abuse and Harassment Prevention. All of the above are required to complete annual background checks.

Camp lay leaders also are trained in the URJ Ethics Code for Volunteers and must affirm their commitment to abiding by it.

Our vision and deepest aspiration are to create and foster communities of excellence in which Judaism enables all people to experience peace and wholeness (shalom), justice and equity (tzedek), and belonging and joy (shayachut and simcha). Required ongoing training of our year-round teams and annual training of our seasonal staff brings us closer to that goal.

All of our campers deserve an unforgettable summer of Jewish joy in a safe, secure environment rooted in the highest ethical principles. We wish you and your loved ones a safe and joyful summer.