Children's Summer Camp – Fun, Prayer and Education

In the history of the Hebrew speaking Catholic communities in Israel, the children's summer camps were an important institution. It was Elisheva Hemker, one of the pioneers of the community in Haifa, who understood the importance of the children's summer camp as a place where the children of the communities could enjoy the school holidays, meet other children from our communities, who generally are alone as Hebrew speaking Catholic children in their schools and in their neighborhoods, and also learn more about our faith. 

Two years ago, directed by Father Jan from the Jaffa community, a summer camp was held near Beth Shemesh. This year, it was decided to renew this experience and 19 children registered - 11 girls and 8 boys, between the ages of 5 and 14. There were 8 children from the Beer Sheba community, 5 from the Haifa community, 2 from Jerusalem, 2 from Jaffa and 2 from the Latroun community. Among them were children of different origins: Russians, Arabs, Sudanese, Filipino, American, French... all fluent in Hebrew and in Israeli slang. The six "camp counselors" were: Hani and Michele, Little Sisters from the Jaffa community who took care of the kitchen and of the girls and participated in all activities with joy and enthusiasm, Andrei from the Jerusalem community who directed all the variety of art works, Benedetto, who came especially from Italy (speaking Hebrew because of his studies) and he directed the music, teaching songs, playing the guitar and singing like an angel, Father Apolinary, who thought of everything that might be necessary for the camp and went out to get it, and Father David who also gave the religious instruction and tried to keep up with all the activities.

The camp took place this time in the Franciscan monastery near the Even Sapir moshav - Saint John in the Desert, where according to tradition, Saint John was hidden by his mother during the persecutions of the time of King Herod. The children took over and the monks received them with open arms.

Due to the location, the theme of the camp was John the  Baptist. Each day, there were prayers, morning and evening as well as daily Eucharist and the instruction was about John the Baptist's life and work. He had lived in the area until he went out to the Jordan Valley. Hours during the day were devoted to art work and to music as well as to fun, playing games and swimming in the small plastic pool that was set up in the courtyard of the monastery. Michal and Daniele from the Jerusalem community came to be with the children two afternoons to teach new games and to participate in them. On Wednesday, there was a trip to Ein Karem - the village of John the Baptist. They visited the churches linked to the tradition of John and shared a picnic in the wonderful gardens of the Sisters of Zion. There was also the occasion to celebrate mass there and visit the graves of two pioneers of the kehilla - Little Sister Ora and Rina Geftman - and to hear a bit about them.

Great joy, deep faith, companionship and friendship were the aims of the camp and there is great hope that they were achieved. One thing is clear: we have wonderful children who testify to the unity of the community despite every difference of origin, language and ethnicity. We can say thank you for the fidelity of God who is taking care of our future!