Why Georgia’s Jewish Children Deserve Summer at Camp 

Last summer, my children arrived at URJ Camp Coleman with some trepidation. They lived in cabins, sang Shabbat songs under the stars, and forged friendships with Jewish children from across the Southeast. As a single mom juggling rabbinic work, adjunct teaching, and graduate school, I was both nervous and excited for them. Regardless of my feelings, they had an exceptional summer and are already counting down the days until summer 2026!

That transformative experience was made possible by a grant many Georgia families do not know exists. Beyond singing my praises of how amazing Camp Coleman is, how professional their staff is, and how much fun my children had. I want to take a moment to thank Foundation for Jewish Camp, in partnership with the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta, which offers both financial assistance and incentives specifically for Georgia families living 50 miles or more outside of Atlanta’s 30339 zip code. For those of us living in Macon, Savannah, Columbus, Augusta, and countless small communities across our state, this program opens doors that might otherwise remain closed.

As a congregational rabbi for more than 15 years, serving exclusively small Southern Jewish communities, I have seen both my own family and others struggle as our children are a tiny minority. In the case of my children, they are one of only a handful of Jewish kids in their schools. While they are accepted and loved by their classmates, teachers, and friends, there is something irreplaceable about being surrounded, even temporarily, by other Jewish kids who understand why you can’t attend Friday night football games during the High Holidays, or who understand your jokes about Chanukah not being the Jewish Christmas.

Jewish overnight camp provides what small towns and their synagogues cannot — immersion.

When we invest in small-town Jewish communities, we strengthen the fabric of Southern Jewish life. A camper from Valdosta may become a national Jewish communal leader. Friendships formed at Camp Barney Medintz, Ramah Darom, Camp Judaea, or the URJ’s Camp Coleman, 6 Points Sports Academy, and Jacobs Camp all create networks that sustain Jewish connection across geographic boundaries for decades.

“Hillel said: do not separate yourself from the community” (Pirkei Avot 2:4). Our community includes every Jewish child in Georgia. By ensuring funding for small towns, we live out Hillel’s words by lowering a financial barrier so potential campers do not feel they must separate themselves from the community because they lack access to camp.

FJC’s Georgia Small Community Grant’s scholarship application is open through March 17. Families may also qualify for One Happy Camper grants of $1,000 to $1,500 and can also apply for additional needs-based scholarships. If you are a Georgia family living outside the Metro Atlanta area, I urge you to explore this opportunity by contacting Leah Stinson at jewishcamp@jewishatlanta.org.

For those blessed with access to Atlanta’s Jewish community — where walking to synagogue, attending Jewish day school, or participating in rich communal infrastructure is routine — your support of this fund tangibly benefits Jewish Georgians. Every dollar says to a Jewish child in rural Georgia: you belong to something larger than your small congregation, your town, or even your state. You belong to the Jewish people.

Rabbi Elizabeth Bahar serves Temple Beth Israel in Macon and teaches Hebrew Bible at Mercer University. Rabbi Bahar is a member at-large of the Atlanta Rabbinical Association.