Jewish Community Center of Chicago

JCC in the News

The Jewish Week – October 5, 2007

by Carl Schrag

If you had to choose between water-skiing or learning about the geography of Israel, which would you choose? How about if the choices were tennis or David Ben-Gurion? Frisbee or the Six-Day War?

If you’re like most teenagers, you’d probably opt for the sports activities, but what if you could do it all? What if you could enjoy all the attractions of camp, and also develop a deep connection to Israel?

While a trip to Israel may be the best eye opener, the fact remains that most young American Jews don’t take such trips and — unless we work to change the status quo — have little or no desire to do so.

If they drop out of Hebrew school at age 13 and shy away from high school Israel clubs or Jewish youth groups, what opportunities do we have to reach teenage Jews who never developed a passion for the Jewish homeland?

Perlstein Photo in Northbrook Star – August '07

Snapshot Section

Thanks to Northbrook's Donald H. Kraft for sharing his picture of an elderhostel in Lake Delton, Wis. He writes, "The picture, taken in the morning when the water was calm and reflections were beautiful, shows the dining hall of the Perlstein Conference Center cantilevered over Lake Blass."

JUF's JCRC/Hillel Israel Initiative Visits Camp CHI

JUF News Local Stories - August '07

JUF's JCRC/Hillel Israel Initiative Visits Camp CHI
By Lisa Klein
JCRC Associate Director

As students prepare to return to school, I’d like to reflect briefly on a recent visit I made to Camp CHI in Lake Delton, WI with Larry Goodman. It was the weekend preceding the final week of camp and it hadn’t quite sunk in for the campers that goodbyes, exchanges of emails and a few tears were soon upon them. Our purpose in going to camp was to observe the unique Modern Israel History program, now completing its second year of a generous three-year grant from the Larry Goodman Family Foundation. Throughout the school year, which is rapidly approaching, JUF’s JCRC/Hillel Israel Initiative is busy on college campuses and in high schools across Illinois, educating and empowering students to be confident, lifelong advocates for Israel on campus and beyond. But in the summer, the Initiative goes to camp.

Chicago Sun-Times: Lifestyles – August 16, 2007

Where will I go?
IN LIMBO | After camp, before school, kids need care

Six-year-old Chase Williams is one of about 6,000 kids spending his summer swimming and playing games through a YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago day camp, a fun break before he begins the rigors of first grade.

While the camp gives Chase a summer of fun, it offers his father, Ned Williams, reassurance that his son is in a safe place while he works at a Jewel grocery store's meat department. But YMCA day camp, like nearly every other summer program in the city, ends before school starts, leaving Ned Williams for a few weeks without the child care he relies on.

"It would be easier if he was going through all summer," Ned Williams said of the camp. "If I didn't have his grandmother [who will watch Chase when camp ends], it would be a big question."