Camp Yavneh
| Camp Yavneh | |
|---|---|
  Camp Yavneh Location within New Hampshire | |
| Location | Northwood, New Hampshire |
| Coordinates | 43°10′57″N 71°9′57″W / 43.18250°N 71.16583°W |
| Campus size | 65 acres |
| Established | July 5, 1944[1] |
| Website | campyavneh |
Camp Yavneh (Hebrew: מחנה יבנה) is a 65-acre residential Jewish summer camp in Northwood, New Hampshire.[2]It was established in 1944 by the Boston Hebrew Teacher College under the leadership of Louis and Leah Hurwich, initially as a Hebrew study camp.[3][4]
Yavneh is accredited by the American Camp Association. It offers children aged 8–17 a camp environment where Jewish values and activities are emphasized. The camp is not affiliated with one religious movement, considering itself K'lal Yisrael (lit. 'all Jews are one').
History
[edit]Dean Louis Hurwich (1887-1968), a co-founder of the Hebrew Teachers College, became the third dean of the institution in 1932. He promoted Hebrew education for youth and sprouted the idea of a Jewish summer camp.[5]
Dean Louis Hurwich and Leah Hurwich first conceived Yavneh in the early 1940s. Originally, it was intended as an all-Hebrew summer school program. In late 1943, Dean Hurwich gained approval for his summer school camp from the Board of Trustees of Hebrew Teachers College. He formed a group of 37 founders, each donating $1000 (about $18,236.59 in 2025) towards the founding of Camp Yavneh.[6]
Hurwich purchased Camp Hickory in New Hampshire for $18,000 ($328,258.61 in 2025). He renamed the camp to "Yavneh" after the region in east Israel.[7]
References
[edit]- ^ Margolis, I. (1964). Jewish Teacher Training Schools in the United States. National Council for Torah Education of Hapoel Hamizrachi. p. 231.
- ^ "Campus". Camp Yavneh. Retrieved 2025-01-12.
- ^ Benor, S. B.; Krasner, J.; Avni, S. (2020). Hebrew Infusion: Language and Community at American Jewish Summer Camps. Rutgers University Press. ISBN 978-0-8135-8875-9.
- ^ Gamoran, H. (2006). "The Roah to Chalutzim: Reform Judaism's Hebrew-Speaking Program". In Lorge, M. M.; Zola, G. P. (eds.). A Place of Our Own: The Rise of Reform Jewish Camping. University of Alabama Press. pp. 131–132. ISBN 978-0-8173-5293-6.
- ^ "Past Leadership". Hebrew College. Retrieved 2025-01-12.
- ^ "Yavneh History". Camp Yavneh. Retrieved 2025-01-12.
- ^ "Yavneh". The BAS Library. Retrieved 2025-01-12.