Jewish Life + Values
Inclusive – Exciting – Joyful – Warm
At Camp Tevya, campers experience exciting, inspiring Jewish daily life in a community that celebrates heritage, Israel and Jewish values. We call these philosophies and values Our 10 Jewish Commitments.
Eli and Bessie Cohen founded the three Cohen Camps 1935-1945 to connect young people to their communities. They envisioned trans-denominational, welcoming summer homes in which youth could explore their individual and collective Jewish identities and prepare themselves for their role in the larger Jewish community and the world. We continue this legacy today, every day, through Jewish music, learning about Israel, Israeli dance instruction, daily prayers in the Kosher dining hall, daily culture experiences, and special programs designed by our staff, including the very popular annual Israel Day. At Camp Tevya, Jewish life is both personal and connected, thoughtful and fun!
Camp Tevya is deeply committed to building an inclusive community. Our families reflect the breadth of the Jewish experience, including many interfaith families. Our approach invites each young person to explore how Judaism can inform and inspire their life in the ways most meaningful to them–with the joy that summer camp brings out!
Shabbat at Tevya
Shabbat is a special time at Camp Tevya…one that campers treasure and alumni warmly consider one of the most memorable and life-changing parts of camp.
Dressed in blue and white, we welcome Shabbat each week with services in our pavilion, where we gather with the whole community in our airy space. After a traditional Shabbat dinner, the entire camp participates in an exuberant song and dance session.
Campers play a big role in helping to lead Shabbat evening and morning services. Shabbat has a completely different schedule than the rest of the week: afternoon activities encompass a variety of Jewish and Israel-oriented themes for all campers, and Shabbat ends with the songs, scents, and candles of Havdallah.
My son came home with a stronger bond to his Judaism and the state of Israel.
Israel Teen Travel
Jewish life and learning at Camp Tevya can culminate in an extraordinary experience, the Dor L’Dor (Generation to Generation) Israel travel capstone program for our oldest campers, an intensive four-week tour of Israel. Younger Tevya campers relish the weekly Shabbat updates sent in by the Dor L’Dor travelers. This program and its teen role models help even our youngest campers discover the deep value in connecting with the historical, religious and cultural aspects of the State of Israel.
