The Jews of Summer

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After the Holocaust, about half a dozen American Jewish sleep-away camps created a Yiddish-themed environment for their campers and counselors as a way of strengthening their Jewish identity. 

Join us as we speak to Sandra Fox, author of the new book The Jews of Summer: Summer Camp and Jewish Culture in Postwar America, which describes the effect this cultural milieu had on the young Americans who spent their summers there.

We’ll also hear what the experience was like from three people who came of age in a Yiddish cultural camp: Filmmaker and musician Josh Waletzky who attended Camp Boiberik for 20 years, and two people from Camp Hemshekh: George Rothe who was there for 11 summers, and Yiddish singer-actress Joanne Borts — for three.

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The discussion will be in English.

This event is supported by a generous grant in memory of Rabbi Max Ticktin.