On Friday afternoon, February 27th, we welcomed 59 participants to URJ Camp Newman’s first Grief and Growing retreat. This uniquely Jewish, intergenerational, and community centered retreat was inspired by the 30+ year program of the same name run by the Bay Area Jewish Healing Center and marked the first time such a program had run since 2019. 

From the Bay Area to Vancouver, Canada, with attendees from as young as 7 months old to those in their 80s, participants at all different stages of the grieving process gathered together surrounded by the beauty of the Santa Rosa hills for a weekend of mourning, healing, reflection, and community. 

Supporting them on this journey included our staff of over 30 individuals with expertise in combining clinical and spiritual lenses in grief and bereavement care through workshops, group work, activities, and informal conversations. 

“I was so wowed by the retreat staff and felt so confident we would all be cared for so we didn’t have to go overdrive taking care of each other. It allowed me to more authentically reach out in small acts of care and it also allowed me not to and to stay with my own story.”

– 2026 Participant

After arriving and settling in on Friday afternoon, the evening program began with a warm welcome and acknowledgement of the courage it took to show up. Our clergy led an inclusive and spiritual kabbalat Shabbat that included readings and songs in Hebrew and English, opening the portal to the weekend. Friday evening continued with the first of many delicious meals, singing, sharing people’s personal stories, and setting the stage for the weekend.

“In creating this unique and vulnerable space, we were intentional about establishing clear expectations of trust, respect, and confidentiality, while inviting participants to be fully present by stepping away from phones and the outside world. Behind the scenes, counselors and clinicians remained closely attuned to participants’ needs, ready to offer support in a range of ways—through a hand on the shoulder, a hug, quiet check-ins, one-on-one conversations, or simply a steady, attentive presence.” – Yael Galinson, Assistant Retreat Director, Grief & Growing

We began Saturday by grounding ourselves as a community through Shabbat morning services full of music, connection to Torah, and spirituality.

Participants spent the remainder of the morning and afternoon in their choice of workshops geared to how they wanted to engage including verbal processing (including Men and Grief, Surviving Suicide), creative expression (art) and movement (dance). 

For those interested in something less structured, a trip to the Climbing Tower invited participants to challenge themselves and take physical risks and a stop at the art table was available throughout for people to create, talk, and express themselves.

One particularly impactful workshop was “Anger and Grief”:

Adults and children were supported at their specific developmental needs. Parents who attended with children were able to focus on their own grief and process while their children had dynamic, engaged, and well-trained professionals to attend to the kids and lead them in programs from the typical camp activities, to age-appropriate projects related to the children’s own loss and grief.

The combination of the nurturing Jewish environment and expert hospitality of the Camp Newman retreat team enabled participants to find comfort, meaningful connection, and the strength of community.

“I was able to let go of the internal voices that tell me to express myself but to stay strong, to share my feelings but don’t overwhelm others with the full force of my “messiness”; for one weekend, I didn’t need to censor myself or worry about seeming strong. My weakness and vulnerability and pain were welcomed and encouraged, and that is a true gift. I felt safe. I felt held. I felt seen. This realization spurs me to commit to creating safe, authentic, vulnerable spaces to witness grief and be witnessed upon returning home from the magical “Grief and Growing” space.”

– Tricia, participant 2026

Sunday Morning, our teen and adult participants gathered for a healing circle to give space for spiritual and emotional expression, acknowledging regrets, and transforming loss into legacy led by Rabbis Chaya Gusfield and Dan Goldblatt with Zoe Goldblatt and Jonathan Ferris. In a separate circle down by the creek, the children had their own space with stories, art, and sharing. 

As the adult circle came to an end, staff held up a “Sukkat Shalom,” a cloth canopy that had been decorated by participants the evening before. Children joined their adults and all gathered beneath to receive the priestly blessings. With these ancient words guiding the staff and participants, we had a final meal together, packed up and received a succulent plant with resources for the transition back home. Our final goodbye circle was a time of songs, hugs, and sharing gratitude for an amazing experience for staff and participants alike. 

We are indebted to the dedicated staff who worked tirelessly to ensure a successful weekend. And without the courageous participants who showed up during a time of personal transition and uncertainty, our work would be meaningless.

The next Grief and Growing retreat will be held at Camp Newman February 19-21, 2027. If you would like to be notified when registration is open, please complete this short interest form:

Grief and Growing Interest Form

If you would like to support our programming and the mission of Grief and Growing, please consider donating to help us continue to develop this meaningful program:

Support Grief & Growing

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Use your favorite thumb print cookie recipe or try one of Jordanna’s favorites!

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This year’s Fall Camp/West Coast Party Jr weekend was a huge success. Over 230 2nd-8th graders attended the weekend, with the most spectacular weather (especially for the beginning of November) and the highest level of energy I have seen at one of these weekends. You would have thought we were smack in the middle of July with the energy, games, ruach, smiles, laughter, top-notch food, It’s Its, and so much more! If the plan was to give the students a taste of what Camp Newman has to offer, SUCCESS!!!

This is why, beginning over 10 years ago, I arranged for Temple Emanu-El’s (San Jose) 3rd-5th graders to attend Camp Newman’s Winter Camp Retreat. The premise was simple—in lieu of running a weekend retreat on my own for our Religious School students, we would “piggy-back” on a weekend retreat that Camp Newman was already running…they provide all the infrastructure (housing, transportation, meals, staffing, programming, medical oversight, etc.). The cost is cheaper per student than running our own retreat, and my headaches were much less as well! I’m proud of the long-standing partnership between Temple Emanu-El (TEE) and URJ Camp Newman and that the model has expanded and been adopted by many other congregations in the Bay Area.

But why is being at camp so important to the success of a retreat like this? Jewish camping has achieved an almost universal recognition as a top-notch arena of informal education. Various studies conducted over the years on the power of Jewish camping indicate that young campers who experience some form of Jewish camping (weekend retreats, day camp, overnight camp, etc.) have seen a major impact on their positive Jewish development.

These studies show that the very future of the Jewish peoplehood is tied directly to those who have chosen to attend a Jewish summer camp. Numerous Jewish communal leaders – both lay and professional, including Rabbis, Cantors and Jewish Educators – cite camp as an influence in their career path or where they commit time for volunteer leadership. Thousands of Jews gather each summer to live and eat together, learn and celebrate Shabbat together, play sports and learn theater arts together. Jewish summer camps also focus on the development of each young person’s self-esteem, to the extent that every camper is valued for exactly who they are all while inspiring them to connect meaningfully to their Jewish identity.

It is more important now than ever before that Jewish youth get exposed to Jewish camping. With our community facing real threats to its future growth, the excitement, energy, and camaraderie that campers experience while at camp – and that they get a taste of while at a retreat like Fall Camp & West Coast Party – will only help stem this tide.

Our entire congregation benefits from a more Jewishly active student base because of this annual retreat attendance. Camp provides a special “Emanu-El only” bus for our students to take them to and from camp on that weekend. I join the students at Camp so they have a “familiar face” while there. I also help out the camp staff by continuing my role as part of the Summer Education Faculty team. And our kids benefit from mixing with other kids from all over the Bay Area and the West Coast.

I will leave you with a Quote from one of my 4th grade students who participated in Fall Camp, as told by her mother:

“Rory had a wonderful time at camp. The first thing she said when I picked her up on Sunday was that she was feeling “camp-sick.” She said, “You know how sometimes when you’re away from home, you feel homesick? I’m away from camp, so I feel camp-sick.”

She is eager to return to Camp Newman. Thanks for all your help and guidance!”

As the educator of the TEE program, I cannot think of a more powerful way for our students to receive a high impact Jewish experience.

The post From Temple to Camp and Back Again appeared first on Camp Newman.

Witnessing the love between grandparents and grandchildren is sacred. Seeing them sharing holy moments – singing songs to welcome Shabbat, sharing evening blessings, and wildly applauding every act in the talent show – reminds us how Jewish continuity works.

When asked about the highlights of the weekend, Richard, a single grandpa who brought his 12- and 15-year-old grandsons, said, “Top of the list: spending time with James and Ben. Next, reconnecting with old friends I didn’t know were coming. Third, the discussion on the ‘Oys and Joys’ of Jewish Grandparenting.” Ben, age 12, thinks he’ll register for camp this summer.

Lisette, age 7, loved making tie dye t-shirts and conquering her fears to climb to the top of the tower. She also shared that losing a tooth at camp was even better than at home because instead of money she got a glow-stick star.
Axel, age 4, barely left the Gaga pit, and only to play with older boys on the field.
Max, age 10, told his Zayde that he thought about it and wants to have a Bar Mitzvah.

Some grandparents flew in from as far away as Montreal and Miami to spend quality Jewish time with their Bay Area based grandchildren. A pair of grandmas were in attendance who share grandchildren, having each been married to the children’s late grandfather at different times over the years.

Highlights this year included the flashlights and shadow puppets found in each room, sharing stories about family kiddish cups and creating a Lego based kiddish cup to take home.

Grand Family Camp – no parents allowed – is a Shabbat filled with magical moments and Jewish memories to be treasured for years. Be sure to save the date for Grand Family Camp 2026: November 13-15!

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When I think about this past summer at Camp Newman, what stands out most isn’t just the sunshine, the songs, or the late-night laughs with friends—it’s the way camp gave me the chance to step into leadership in a new way. Being a CIT pushed me to be present, to care for younger campers, and to see myself in a leadership role. But honestly, I wouldn’t have felt ready for that without NFTY.

In NFTY, I grew as a leader through my role as the religious and cultural vice president for NFTY CWR. I learned how to bring people together through music, create moments of connection, lead programs, and step up when something needed to get done. Those skills came alive at camp this summer, especially because I was asked to take on the role of songleader for Tzofim in the last part of camp. It wasn’t something I had planned, but NFTY had already prepared me to lead with confidence, adapt to new challenges, and to be open to new experiences.

What I’m taking back with me into this next year of NFTY leadership, as NFTY CWR President, is the understanding that leadership is about relationships. It’s not about having the loudest voice, but about listening, lifting others up, and building a space where everyone feels like they belong.

That’s why immersive experiences like camp and NFTY retreats matter so much. They give us the chance to unplug, to step into Jewish community in a way that feels alive and real, and to discover who we are when we’re surrounded by friends who truly get us. Some of my strongest Jewish memories—and my strongest friendships—come from these spaces.

I’m so excited to keep building that feeling at NFTY events this year. West Coast Party is one of the best chances to experience that magic: singing, laughing, learning, celebrating, and making memories with teens from all over the west coast and even the country. If you’ve been to Newman or another NFTY event, you already know what I mean. And if you haven’t yet, this is the perfect chance to see for yourself why these weekends are so special – save the date for West Coast Party 2026: January 17-20, 2026 right here at Camp Newman!

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During the final Shabbat of the summer, several members of our Mishlachat – Israeli staff members – offered readings about their connections to camp, home, and community at such an uncertain time. We hope you will find as much meaning in their thoughtful words as our camp community did this summer.

Daniel, Noam, and Renee – At the Culmination of Kabbalat Shabbat

Daniel:
When Shabbat enters in Israel, it’s not only heard in synagogues. It’s felt in the emptying roads, in the soft air, in the sound of kids playing in the park, in the smell of fresh challah at the local bakery, and in music floating out of a small café down the street. In Israel, Shabbat takes on many forms. Each community, each family, even each person, finds their own way to connect. Some stick to long-held traditions, while others discover new ways to pause, reflect, and gather each week.

Noam:
Shabbat in Israel is a mosaic – mosaic of languages, melodies, flavors, and customs. From north to south, from new immigrants to long-time residents, from cities to small towns – somehow, Shabbat touches almost everyone, each in their own way. We, the Israeli משלחת come from different parts of the country, with different backgrounds, stories, and experiences – but when we think of Shabbat, we all recall familiar smells, favorite tunes, and a shared sense of calm.

Renee:
And here, at URJ Camp Newman, far from home, we are rediscovering the magic of Shabbat. A Shabbat of community, of meaning, of connection. A Shabbat that makes space for everyone – just like in Israel. It reminds us that there is a Jewish way that is personal, inclusive, and open. Shabbat becomes a pause, a breath, a chance to remember that we are part of something bigger than ourselves – a people, a story, a culture, a hope. And a big loving community

Linoy, Osher, and Ziv – Reading before the Aleinu

Linoy:
Our brothers are there, and we are here. Since October 7th, 2023, Israel has been going through one of the most painful and challenging times in its history. As Israelis and as a global Jewish community, no matter where we are in the world, we’ve all felt the pain in some way.

Osher:
We pray that those who are still held in captivity will be back home. May all of them be brought from distress to relief, from darkness to light, and from bondage to redemption. Our hearts are with their families and friends, who are hurting and missing them.

Ziv:
And now, please join us in the “Acheinu” prayer which speaks to our brothers and sisters in danger and who are still held in captivity.
May we continue walking forward, together, with courage, clarity, and a commitment to peace.

Shachaf, Shani, Libby, and Shaked Y – Before the Closing Song

Shachaf:
As we close our tefillah and welcome Shabbat. We want to take this opportunity and talk about hope. Tikva. When talking about hope, each person has their own definition and idea in mind. In Hebrew when you hear this word the first thing that comes to mind is Israel’s national anthem “hatikva”- the hope, written by Naftalie Herts Himber.

Shani:
A phrase Naftali was using in his writing is “עין לציון״”. Looking towards ציון (no, not tzion from oky staff) Tzion, the abstract idea of a safe welcoming community for Jewish people. Here at Newman, the community we got to know in the past couple months is exactly how we interpret this phrase.

Libby:
Every good deed, mitzva, every tefilla, every voice that’s heard here, reaches us from across the ocean. Your support gives us strength in difficult times. All of that together is “עין לציון״”. In the past couple months, you, this amazing community created here showed us how united the Jewish people are around the world-You showed us light.

Shaked Y:
As Miriam Perez- a public figure and Israeli educator said: “״גם כששום דבר לא נראה ברור, אני שומעת את הלב פועם – וזה מספיק לי לדעת שהאור עוד לא כבה.״“ Even when nothing seems clear, I can still hear the heartbeat – and that’s enough for me to know the light hasn’t gone out.”
And this, you, us – is what gives us hope.

The post The Meaning of Community for Our Mishlachat appeared first on Camp Newman.

Jewish summer camp is the perfect place to learn about, process, and reckon with what it means to be a diaspora Jew in relationship with the state, nation and people of Israel. That’s why this summer, as director of Israel education, I leaned into building our campers’ relationships with Israel. 

When the Iran war began in June, one of our Israeli staff members, a commander in his unit, knew that he had to return home to Israel to fight for his people. As I sat with him to process this decision, he felt pained leaving camp and his campers behind. But what I explained to him in that moment is that he would teach our campers more by returning home to fight for our homeland than he would have by staying at camp. Our campers learned that to be Israeli means to sacrifice one’s own experience for the sake of protecting the Jewish people. 

This is the power of having a mishlachat, an Israeli delegate of staff at camp each summer. Campers build their relationship with Israel by building relationships with Israelis. Once per session, Israeli staff led programming about Israel. In junior camp they taught about culture – food, music, games, holidays, and more. In teen camp, our Israeli staff brought campers into more advanced conversations about Israel – inviting them to share their own relationships with and feelings towards Israel at this moment. They looked at Israel past, present, and future – imagining what Israel could look like in 2048, on the 100th anniversary of its independence. I was struck by the hope our campers held for a better future for this land, even during days as dark as these. 

During the year, our campers are faced with so much noise and polarized opinions about Israel, the war, and the ongoing crisis in the Middle East. Social media is so loud that it’s hard to hear anything beyond simple infographics. But at camp, the noise quiets. There is so much that is magical about the camp bubble and one of the biggest is the respite it gives our campers from technology, especially from scrolling through social media. That’s why, in this insulated space, we worked with our campers on leaning into nuance and practicing what it means to hold multiple perspectives. 

Camp Newman is a place where our campers feel safe to explore who they are. It’s a place where they can try on new hobbies, opinions, or personalities. At camp, their confidence grows. They learn how to think, act and live autonomously. They learn how and where to find and build community. It is this kind of space that is ripe for exploring challenging conversations, for exploring what it means to be a minority, and especially to think about what it means to be connected to a place thousands of miles away.  Our Israeli staff experience the same wonder – of discovering a more personal, inclusive way of being Jewish. Several of them helped to lead our final Shabbat of the summer and shared beautiful reflections about what it means to them to spend the summer at camp. 

In one of our weekly Jewish learning electives, campers were part of Debate Club: Israel Edition. In our first session we discussed what it means to have a healthy debate. Campers shared and learned that in healthy debates one person doesn’t “win,” but everyone grows. We learned to “visit” other people’s opinions and that it’s okay to change our minds. Based on stories from the book For the Sake of Argument, we discussed and debated questions like whether an Arab citizen of Israel who refuses to sing the Hatikvah should be allowed to play on the national soccer team, whether Palestinian residents of East Jerusalem should vote in mayoral elections, and how parents in the US react to differing opinions about Zionism in their families. I watched with pride as these campers entered into challenging conversations with courage, acceptance, and eagerness to learn. I’m hopeful that as these campers return to the world outside of camp, they will continue to engage with nuanced and complex narratives, all in the spirit of growth. 

Despite, or perhaps because of, the pain and darkness in Israel this summer, our campers dove deep into their own relationships with Israel and what it means to be a diaspora Jew. A few days into the Iran war, I and a number of Israeli staff sat with our Avodahniks to process the news. After they asked questions and we did our best to answer, we sang Olam chesed yibaneh. As I looked into the eyes of each of these teens and reflected on the holy work we were doing at camp, I felt confident that true to the words of the song – we would build this world from love.

The post Exploring Our Relationship With Israel appeared first on Camp Newman.

On Thursday, a member of our communications team (surprise: it was me!) was taking photos at the Low Ropes Course for a cabin of Bonim campers. Sadie, one of our wonderful ropes course specialists, was facilitating a series of team-building activities. One particular challenge had campers tossing a foam ball in a pattern around the circle as fast as they could, ensuring every camper got it once and everyone’s name was said.

The campers were doing a pretty good job – they did it in just 13 seconds! – so Sadie challenged them to think about how they could do it even faster.

One camper said, “There’s no way we can do it faster than that!” and without missing a beat, the friend standing next to her said “We’re Bonim the builders, yes we can!”

Now, I’ll let you in on some insider’s information that makes this moment so powerful. The friend’s automatic response came directly from the Bonim cheer that has been passed down year after year to the next group of Bonim campers. Every Saturday evening during Session Songs, all the Bonim campers (and anyone who has been in Bonim) does this cheer together. 

Bonim, the builders, can we fix it?
Bonim, the builders, yes we can!
I’m big, I’m strong, I’m ready for whatever comes along
I love my friends, we’ll stay together until the end
I like myself, I’m worth a lot and you can’t tell me that I’m not
Self-Worth! We’re Bonim, we’re Bonim, you can’t beat our self-esteem.

Imagine this … what seems like a silly session cheer embedded itself so deeply in that camper, that in a moment where grit was needed that lesson sprang forth authentically and inspired the group to try it again. They ended up doing it in 8.5 seconds. 

Now THAT is a joyful, Jewish moment. Shabbat Shalom, y’all!

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By Rabbi Alex Kress
Beth Shir Shalom, Santa Monica
Session Gimmel Camp Faculty

I grew up at URJ Camp Harlam in Pennsylvania. I started camp the summer before my Bar Mitzvah. Just before that giant milestone, I discovered a Judaism at camp that felt joyful, unbound, and completely my own. Camp changed my life in a way religious school never could–it helped me fall in love with being Jewish.

When I began serving Beth Shir Shalom in Santa Monica, I brought my love of camp with me. I know its transformative power–for our kids, our families, and our community–because I experienced it. In just a few years, our Southern California community has gone from two Newman campers each summer to twenty-three, and we feel the impact all year long. Yet in a world full of choices–and with plenty of Jewish camps closer to home–why do so many of our families send their kids so far north?

Simply because Camp Newman is worth the journey.

At Camp Newman, Jewish life isn’t something that happens once a week—it’s woven into everything. From friendships to sports, music to prayer, our kids live in a rhythm that feels joyful, grounded, and totally Jewish.

What our kids love most about Newman might sound small: silly talent shows, Shabbat dancing, nighttime cabin rituals, climbing the tower, or swimming in the pool. But those moments reflect something much deeper: a community where kids feel safe, known, and loved; an oasis where they can be goofy, vulnerable, scared, curious, brave, and challenged and still know they belong.

This culture of acceptance and belonging is a hallmark of Camp Newman and the entire URJ camping system. It’s carefully cultivated by the year-round staff and brought to life each summer by the Nefesh (camper care) team. Campers who feel homesick or struggle socially are met with compassion. And when unkindness arises–as it sometimes does–Newman doesn’t look the other way. Staff respond with love, structure, and a clear commitment to keeping camp safe, inclusive, and kind.

Another reason the journey to Camp Newman feels so worthwhile is the URJ’s commitment to Israel and to Klal Yisrael—the idea that all Jews, across generations and geography, are part of one connected family. At camp, that idea isn’t taught abstractly; it’s lived. Each summer, our kids come to see Israel not as a distant place or a divisive political talking point, but as a community of people they know and care about. The mishlachat–Newman’s delegation of Israeli staff–helps build those bridges not through formal programs, but through real relationships, shared meals, inside jokes, and deep conversations. These connections aren’t loud or performative–they’re personal and lasting.

And they’re just one expression of a larger truth: that Camp Newman is part of something bigger. As a Union for Reform Judaism camp, Newman is rooted in the values of progressive, inclusive, justice-driven Judaism. Our kids return home not only with stories and friendships, but with a deep sense of belonging–to Judaism, to Israel, and to a global Jewish family.

This summer, we had more Beth Shir Shalom kids at Newman than ever before. And though we’ve just returned home, we’re already counting down the days until next year. Because Camp Newman isn’t just another camp–it’s our summer home where friends become family.

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Role Modeling is part of our CARE Philosophy

The Mitzvah Mensches are known around camp for their quiet acts of kindness. You might see them picking up trash that others have left behind, not because anyone told them to, but because they’ve internalized the value of taking care of shared sacred space. They write handwritten thank-you notes to the kitchen staff, who work long hours behind the scenes to keep everyone fed. They design and hang colorful posters to thank their counselors, reminding them how appreciated and impactful they are.These small acts ripple outward, modeling kindness and gratitude for their peers and younger campers. At camp, we are guided by our CARE Philosophy – where each and every person is seen and celebrated and we all take responsibility for creating and embodying a kehillah kedoshah, a holy community.

Impact Beyond the Summer

At Camp Newman, we imagine the world as it could be – more compassionate, more whole, more joyful – and create that world here on Porter Creek Road. Campers are discovering that they can bring more goodness into the world, leaving camp and the world better than when they arrived. It’s kindness for the sake of kindness. The Mitzvah Mensches show that Jewish learning isn’t just about what we know, but how we show up—with kindness and responsibility. 

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