Nearly two dozens Jewish students will come to Israel this summer to give low-income children the chance to experience a traditional summer camp.
The Yeshiva University Center for the Jewish Future will be sending 22 students from the United States and Australia to serve as staff for the Fifth annual "Counterpoint Israel Program," which aims to provide the traditional summer camp experience for these Israeli children.
The camp stresses traditional Jewish values while working to improve the camper's English skills through workshops on such topics as music, dance and sports.
This summer's program will mark the 35th year since the creation of Counterpoint International, which emphasizes the approach of teaching Jewish education in an open atmosphere.
Seeing the program's past success in Dimona, the city's municipality has become a full partner in the program. The number of participant campers will double this year, from 60 to 120.
“Counterpoint Israel has become such an integral part of the lives and Jewish identities of the teens in Dimona that there is no other way this could have played out,” said Gila Rockman, CJF's Director of Counterpoint Israel.
Rabbi Kenneth Brander a past head adviser of Counterpoint Canada, stressed the impact that the program has not only on the campers but on the student counselors.
"So many leaders of Jewish communities throughout North America and in Israel are products of Counterpoint. It is exciting to think that the counselors and campers of today will be among the Jewish leaders of tomorrow," said Brander.
