The Sderot Journal
Reports, articles, letters, photos about the Children of Sderot project, which is designed to help children who live in a war zone.
Exclusive Children of Sderot Winter Camp Report and Interview
RJCF's winter camp for 50 Children of Sderot took place during the week of Chanukah vacation in the Nitzana Education Center in the Negev. The camp was a smashing success. Not only were the children taken away for a brief respite from Kassam fire, they took part in nature trips, math and English clubs, and learned about Chanukah and Jewish traditions. Interview with RJCF Children of Sderot Winter Camp Counselors' Anna Kamenetsky and Eliza Zell Anna Kamenetsky Why did you decide to go to Children of Sderot Winter Camp? I actually had many strong reasons for why I should have gone. First of all, I was chosen to be the ‘counselor’ of the Israeli girls when they came to Camp Sunapee, in New Hampshire, two summers ago. I was blessed and honored with the opportunity to really try and better the lives of these children, by providing them with the first enjoyable, care-free, safe, fun and ‘childish’ summer of their lives. What I mean by childish is to just give them a chance to act like real children for, maybe, the first time in their lives – for they have all really grown into mini adults because of their stressful situation with kassams falling, all the time, at home. I was really excited to see them finally act like kids their age and worry not about when the next “TSEVA ADOM” would go off, but about what to wear to the dances and how their string bracelet would turn out in arts and crafts, and if they could remember the steps they learned in dance. After this experience, I knew I had to do more. I started a club in high school called the “Children of Sderot”. I raised awareness for the cause. I donated money, but nothing felt like it was enough. When I got offered a chance to go to Israel and be with these kids again, my immediate reaction was YES!!! I know that helping the cause from the ‘outside’ is great, but really being on the inside – interacting with these kids, learning from them, but most importantly trying to make a difference in their lives is an opportunity that I would never and could never pass up. What were your responsibilities in camp? The formal name that I was given was “leader of the counselors”. This meant that I would be acting as the manager of activities, day and night, and acting as a connection between Sveta and Natasha, the camp directors, and the counselors. On top of being a counselor for 5 wonderful but difficult girls, I worked with Jennie, who was our program director, to make sure everything was under control. What did you learn from your experiences in camp? I learned so much while being a counselor in Israel. One of the most interesting things that I learned about was the children’s sense of pride. When the kids were told about the heavy Kassam attacks that were happening a couple times during the week, I was shocked to hear the kids' responses . I came up to many kids that were crying or looked very upset about the news and I asked them all, “isn’t it great that you are here at camp, safe, and with all your friends having fun?” and they told me that they would rather be in Sderot where kassams are falling then feel guilty about enjoying themselves at camp while their families, and the whole city of Sderot, is suffering. That taught me the biggest lesson of pride and honor. I also renewed the ideology by which I live. Although it feels great to receive, it feels even better to give. What I learned, especially during the holiday of Hannukah (which is when camp took place), is that by giving, you can also receive. By giving everything to these children, my love, care, and heart, I received a sense of warmth and so much more that words cannot even describe.  Would you go again? Would I go again? OF COURSE I WOULD! I am actually already on board to go for the 2 week summer camp in Israel this upcoming August. Now that I have this connection with the kids, I can’t just let it go. Once I saw how much of a difference our 5 day stay made on these innocent children, I could not, not go again. What are your overall impressions from camp, and what would you like to say to the Russian Jewish Community? Camp was a success! Just being able to take the kids out of Sderot is an accomplishment and a great, unbelievable success. All of the counselors, both American and Israeli, worked day and night to ensure the kids safety and well-being and did an absolutely INCREDIBLE job! Our goal was to merely make sure the kids were having fun and stayed occupied at all times. Because these kids are different than the kids we are used to dealing with, we did have to overcome many obstacles. Because of their short attention span, lack of respect, and sometimes attitude, we had a very hard time containing them in the beginning. For this reason, we had a very tight packed schedule with no room for any ‘do nothing time’ to make sure the kids were having fun and stay occupied at all times. We dealt with some things we had never dealt with before such as extreme amounts of disrespect and large amounts of fighting between boys, boys and girls, and girls. As the week went on, we did see drastic changes in the children that were causing distress. This didn’t just happen on its own though. In my personal experience, my girls would never listen to me when I told them to go to bed, and to not talk after I turn off the lights. No matter how many attempts I made, they just would not listen. One afternoon, during quiet hour, I explained to them that I didn’t have to be at this camp, that I wasn’t getting paid, that I hadn’t seen my family in 3 months because of college, that I missed my family, and the fact that I had to raise $2,000 to come there to be counselor. After one of these conversations, I saw drastic changes! They would give up their spots in the lunch line and beg for me to ‘cut’ them. They would say please and thank you all the time and just acted 100% better than before. When we saw kids, that would usually be the most troublesome, hold doors for others, say please and thank you, and listen to the directions that were told to them, we all felt a sense of pride and accomplishment. The biggest accomplishment though, that I cannot reiterate enough, was the fact that we could actually take these kids out of the warzone of Sderot. The fact that the Russian Jewish Community and all of our sponsors came through and made this possible is really a blessing and something so so great! Sending money to create programs in Sderot is fantastic, but sponsoring projects to take them out of Sderot and give them some moments of peace, of making friends, and of learning things they had never thought of learning about is just incredible!!! I just want to say thank you, from the very, very bottom of my heart, for making this project possible. We need to, as a community, make sure to keep this project up and running for many, many years to come! You had to see it to believe how much of a change this made in their lives and how grateful they were for the experience. THANK YOU!  Eliza Zell: Why did you decide to go to Children of Sderot Winter Camp? When I first thought about going to Israel for the camp, I was set on going for the summer. I talked to Masha Rifkin and told her that I was interested in going over the summer, that is when she told me that they are planning on having a winter camp as well, and I could go to both, if i raised $2000 each time. I really wanted to see the nine kids that came to the United States, two years ago, and by going as a counselor for winter camp, I had the opportunity to see them! What were your responsibilities in camp? My responsibilities were teaching younger hip-hop, helping with morning exercise, and teaching math. What did you learn from your experiences in camp? My outlook on life completely changed after winter camp. I realized that I am more than lucky to be living in the United States. I think about all 52 kids everyday, and countdown the days until I get to see them again. Would you go again? I am planning on hopefully going this summer with Anna Kamenetsky and Mikhail Wolfson.  What are your overall impressions from camp, and what would you like to say to the Russian Jewish Community? Even though I was the youngest one out of my group, I was sure that I had a pretty good grip on things. I have been going to the Sunapee camp for years, so I knew the ropes. I will say that the first day was the hardest for everyone, because we know what is expected of kids at the Sunapee camp, and we expected for the Sderot kids to act the same way. There were a lot of kids, that no matter what kind of punishment you give them and no matter how many times you yell at them, they just didn't listen. After two or three days, the kids started understand what we expected out of them. Yes, there still were some kids that still disobeyed our rules but it was more under control. Throughout the week I never felt like I was going to break down. Everyday was worth it. I would like to say that these kids are just like the kids that we grew up with; they love to play, laugh, and learn new things just like everyone else. They live in a place that is not safe for neither them nor their family, and they need help. They understand that not all of them will always be able to get out of Sderot for camp, but if we raise enough money, maybe they all can. Please, Donate for the Children of Sderot! | |
| Mar 16 2009 - 18:01 | Sderot Journal |
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