Temple Beth Elohim
10 Bethel Road
Wellesley Hills, MA 02481
781.235.8419
www.bethelohim-wellesley.org
Target Groups: Camps
In spring 2002, as terrorism continued to threaten Israel’s security, Temple Beth Elohim’s Social Action Committee wanted to show the congregation’s solidarity with Israel. The committee then joined forces with the executive director of the Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism to investigate possible volunteer opportunities . The executive director reported that during school holidays, parents kept their children in the house because of their concern for the young people’s safety. As a result, the committee decided to sponsor twenty Israeli children to spend the summer at Jewish overnight camps in the New England area. In order to implement this decision, more then 100 temple members demonstrated incredible generosity and commitment in a very short time period. The temple’s fund-raising efforts provided half of the cost of the air travel, camp tuition, and supplies for the Israeli campers. Upon their arrival, the campers stayed with host families for a few days, and these families sent them “care packages” during their stay at camp. This project has created an amazing relationship among Beth Elohim, the Israeli families, and the Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism and provided twenty Israeli campers with a safe and fun summer.
