Legacy: Building
Jewish community
Over 75 years ago, Eli and Bessie Cohen began a mission committed to strengthening the Jewish people through education and building Jewish community.
That legacy continues to thrive in three dynamic Jewish summer camps in New England and a transformational leadership and Israel experience program.
Eli and Bessie believed in young people and in their Jewish heritage, and felt that Jewish education in all its forms was an important means of strengthening the Jewish community.
To that end, they founded Camp Pembroke, an all-girl's overnight camp in 1935; Camp Tevya, a "fresh air" camp for poor inner-city Jewish youth, in 1940; Camp Tel Noar, a camp for college students and young adults to spend a meaningful vacation imbued with Zionist spirit, in 1945; and the Dor L’Dor Leadership Program, a summer that combines a life-changing Israel travel experience with hands on leadership training, took its current form in 1996.
These camp communities transcend generations through a burgeoning alumni network that has nationwide and worldwide reach.
Today, in the same outdoor settings in New Hampshire and Massachusetts, Eli and Bessie's vision is carried on where, each season, new families are welcomed, and second- and third-generation families return home.
Experience: Three generations of leadership and professionalism
Throughout its rich history, the Eli and Bessie Cohen Foundation has honed its expertise in Jewish summer camping to make it possible for children to enjoy an ideal traditional residential camp experience while informally learning to define their Jewish heritage and identity.
The Foundation capitalizes on its talent and resources through the combined operations of all three camps in a single year-round organization. The Foundation staff; including an Executive Director, three camp directors, and a full-time staff recruiter; brings decades of experience in education, social work, youth development and business.
Eli Cohen managed the Cohen Camps for nearly 40 years with three part-time directors dedicated to his vision. Today, Arnold and Annebelle Cohen preside over the Eli & Bessie Cohen Foundation and with their children carry on the founders' vision. Arnold and Annebelle are the second of four family generations to actively participate in Jewish summer camping, the youngest of which are current campers.
In 2004, Jonathan Cohen became the third generation to lead the Cohen Camps organization and further Eli and Bessie’s philosophy. He is joined and supported by his siblings Etahn, Dahn, and Adina in their active role in the operations of the Foundation and their involvement in community affairs.
Pearl Lourie, the Executive Director of the Cohen Foundation since 1996, is also a former Camp Tevya and Camp Tel Noar staff member, and Camp Pembroke Director. She succeeded George Marcus who was Camp Tel Noar Director for nearly 40 years and served as the first full-time Executive Director of the Foundation.
Support: At home and in the community
The Cohen Foundation is guided by the philosophy that philanthropy starts at home and in our neighborhoods. To that end, the Foundation's commitment to a scholarship program insures that Jewish youth from families of all means, as well as the children of Jewish educational professionals, have the opportunity to attend the Cohen Camps.
In addition, the camps strive to be good neighbors in their local communities. Their facilities are utilized throughout the year by local government, non-profit civic and religious organizations for their educational and community-building programs.
In addition to establishing summer camps, Eli and Bessie were active in founding synagogues and day schools as part of their philosophy. They were passionate about the mission of Jewish education and Jewish continuity and focused on camping as the primary vehicle to achieve these goals. The Eli & Bessie Cohen Foundation supplements its commitment to building Jewish communities through additional endeavors that support Eli and Bessie Cohen's passion for and mission of Jewish education in the United States and in Israel.