Testimonials

Shalom

I want to share an experience that I had at the JerusalemCamp at the Rainbow Gathering in Pennsylvania in 1999.

I had just turned 18. I had left home to hitchhike the country in search of “spirituality.” I embarked on a voyage from home and found myself swept up in a world entirely new to me. Sleeping in the woods, and feeling free. I arrived in Pennsylvania and camped with my friends. One morning following a drug “trip.” I found myself at Jerusalemcamp. I looked terrible, and felt emotionally drained. I was so lovingly received, I was given a tent, rested, and went back to my friends with the promise that I would come back for something called Shabbat. Which thank God I did.

Let’s make a long story short and say that I met the people that I needed to meet I was offered a free plane ticket to Israel by Zev. I bid my boyfriend (not Jewish) farewell, and traveled to NY to acquire a passport to Eretz Israel. I immediately went to Midreshet Bat Ayin, and stayed there until New Years of 2000. At this point I went to Neve Yerushalayim. I returned to America and got a Job teaching at a Pre-School at a Kiruv School in the Bronx, and this year I am attending Stern…

Thank God, My life has not only changed because of the JerusalemCamp, But I have been able to help out each year to show other Jews at the Gathering how much my life has been enriched as a result of Torah.

Thank you,
Sincerely,
Emilia Cataldo

To Whom It May Concern:

I am writing this letter in support of the efforts of JerusalemCamp at the North American National Rainbow Gathering.

I was at the gathering in 1999 in Pennsylvania and went to the camp that was put together by the group from JerusalemCamp. It was amazing! I personally was so blessed by it. I was so glad to see a camp that could be a central point for all of the Jewish family that was at the gathering. A truly sacred place was created in the middle of the gathering that acted as a center for all our Jewish sisters and brothers to come and connect to Yiddishkeit and in an atmosphere where most people could expect to be far from a chance to make such a connection.

The camp was so well received by everyone, and I feel it was especially a blessing to non-practicing Jews doing the Rainbow thing, and for some people that I talked to, it opened them to looking at Judaism as and option again.

The energy in the camp was so high. The Kabbalat Shabbat they had became a legend throughout the entire gathering. I plan on attending the gathering again this year, and I hope to see JerusalemCamp there again. My gathering experience wouldn’t be complete without it!

B’shalom

Ashara Attia

Ashara is now living in Jerusalem and just got married. We at Jerusalemcamp wish her and her Chasson Mazel Tov!!!

Last year I worked in the JerusalemCamp and it was a wonderful experience. Somehow out in the woods, a little Jewish village developed of tents with this kitchen in the middle. It attracted attention as something unique and special, with the women modest and the men in payess, kippas, and tzitzis. I saw many Jews there, some Israelis, many non-observant, or in various levels of Orthodoxy, and even some goyim, like me.

I saw people pour themselves into producing huge quantities of food and sharing hospitality, giving praise to Hashem, making Judaism a vibrant, beautiful part of the Rainbow Gathering.

I hope it can happen again, The most important part, in my opinion, was to show that being Jewish can be a beautiful thing, full of life. This is vital to eliminate anti-semitism that seems to exist among the Jews as well as Gentiles.

I was honored to be a part of that and plan to do so again this summer, if possible.

Shalom
Luann Turner

My heart had grown distant from Judaism through high school and college. I was relatively unaffiliated and uninspired by the religion and desperately searching for meaning, connection and depth to my life. Coming to Rainbow had been a time to open-up to how the world could be, to appreciate nature and to rejuvenate my soul. What better of a place to find the JerusalemCamp? It was a beacon of light for me as I was invited to light Shabbat candles. That night my heart cried such tears. It had been at least 15years since my Bat Mitzvah which was the last time I lit Shabbat Candles. It’s as if I cried for every generation. I cried for my great grand-parents, my nana and papa. Any connection I had to Judaism was relit with those candles that night.

There was beautiful prayer, singing, dancing-an amazing Shabbat meal. I think there were at least 800 beautiful Yidden there that night. I was so amazed!! I began learning more about how beautiful Judaism could be as I spent several days there at JerusalemCamp. I met some amazingly supportive and inspiring people like Zev Padway, Moish Geller, and Rabbi Asi Spiegel- all were so willing to teach and to invite you to Israel.

After Rainbow, I began reading the weekly Parshah, went to Hebrew class, started keeping Kosher and eventually became Shomer Shabbos as well. The next summer, I couldn’t wait to return-only hoping so much to have even more of a part in the JerusalemCamp. This time is was in the forest in Montana. Who would have thought that my soul could be transformed even more by a simple place called JerusalemCamp? It was this simple place that brought me face to face with my basheret- I knew from the moment I saw his shining face around the fire, playing Hebrew songs on his guitar. His soul was on fire with life, with Yiddishkeit, with the love of Hashem and of Yerusalayim. How else would I have found my “other half” if not for JerusalemCamp.

Baruch Hashem

With all my blessings,
Ishira Silver

Shalom and blessings!

My name is Bracha Schwartz, I’ve lived in Eretz Yisrael for 22 years and last year I traveled to the National Rainbow Gathering in Montana. Together with a group of other Jews, we set up and ran JerusalemCamp. I went there to teach, because I had also been an alienated searching young Jew looking for a spiritual connection to a more mature women to give me some spiritual direction. So I thought to go to help these young, confused and misguided souls find their way, hopefully to Torah and Eretz Yisrael.

The Rainbow Gathering has been going on for something like 25years and it meets every summer in a different state. Up to 40,000 people came last year from all over the States to gather together. I would say that the average age there was 23. Right out of college and searching. Last year’s gathering was about 20% Jewish.

It is important to have a presence at these gatherings. I cannot stress this enough! We are losing generations of Yidden. Because of ignorance, poor Jewish eduacation, alienation, assimilation and intermarriage. I met so many young people last summer who didn’t even know that they’re Jews! Most of them grew up as Christians or nothing. They’re aware that their Maternal Grandmother is Jewish, but do not think of themselves as Jews.

At Rainbow, there are many various religious groups. Christians, Hare Krishnas, Rasafarians, Buddhists, Yogis, etc., all attractive and enticing to the young spiritual searcher. It’s so important that there is a Jewish framework to plug into. It’s so important that young Jews meet other spiritually turned on Jews who are living a Jewish lifestyle, who learn Torah, who keep Kosher, keep Shabbos. To see that Judaism is a spiritual path, the way for a Jew to serve God. This is not understood or clear to the unaffiliated and assimilated Jewish seeker. That is why it is so important that we are represented at Rainbow.

It also has to be understood, that we are planting seeds there. Sometimes seeds ripen quickly and sometimes seeds lie dormant for many years until something sparks off their growth. Our continued presence at Rainbow insures that at least there will be a consciousness of Judaism, that young people know that we are there, that they can come for a meal, or a talk or teaching or come for Shabbos. Maybe this the first place that they’ll ever hear of Shabbos!

This is a tremendous mitzvah to help fund the camp and keep it going. It is doing so much good, touching people’s hearts and souls and with God’s help, changing their lives.

Sincerely,
Bracha Schwartz

Practically my entire adult life I have been searching. Searching for a spiritual center missing from my “Reform Movement” religious upbringing. In essence looking for my Neshama. I’m 44 now and have traveled all around the country. On motorcycle, car, bus and truck visiting many kinds of religious institutions along the way. I’ve been to India twice and lived on an ashram for many years. I’ve also been going to Rainbow Gatherings since 1985 and coming in contact with quite a few interesting philosophies.

Two years ago I met my old friend Zev at a gathering. I knew he had become religious (frum) but was clueless as to what that meant. He and other young Orthodox Jews, many from Israel, were creating a place called “Jerusalemcamp.” Trying to show others what being Jewish really means and also arranging free tickets to Israel to those who wanted to go and learn more. I had never been around such Jews before and was touched by their spirit. The combination of independent and community service to Hashem and other Jews was what I was searching for.

Several years ago I met a mystic. He told me I wouldn’t find myself until I’ve visited my homeland. “What, I should go back to New Jersey?” I said, “no, Israel” was his answer. Here was my chance to fulfill that prediction.

I spent two months in Israel mostly in Jerusalem, I stayed in the Heritage House and studied at Aish Hatorah and Ohr Somayach. I also spend two wonderful weekends in Tsfat. I met many, many amazing Tzadiks and spent many wonderful Shabboses at their holy tables. I learned and experienced so much on that trip that deeply touched my soul. To be reintroduced to my Neshama was a life changing revelation!

From the bottom of my heart I urge all who can help with this mission to do so with great enthusiasm and confidence that this is the real thing. I wish to thank anyone who has helped with Kiruv for it was the most important experience in my life and I’m sure in the life of others.

Thank you,
Baruch Houseman