B'nai B'rith Camp turns 85

By Deborah Moon Seldner

Campers at B'nai B'rith Camp will have an international experience this year with 13 Israeli and 11 other international staff at the Jewish residential camp.
Asked what their presence will add to the camp, South African Saul Cohen said, "More global studies. We can explain ?"
"?we don't live in jungles with lions and zebras—we live in a civilized country," finished his compatriot Yael Comaroff.
Three of the Israelis came to camp through the Jewish Agency expressly to spread Israeli culture. Ortal Nir-Zvi, who was at BB Camp last year, and Natalie Amit are senior counselors and Pazit Zilber is the Israeli Culture Director for this summer's camp.
Nir-Zvi said that all three Israelis are secular Jews for whom "being Jewish is living in Israel. We don't have to find other Jews to connect us as a community."
"It's an amazing experience to come back (to BB Camp)," she added. "I had tears in my eyes. I feel so connected to (this) camp."
"The top might be if one of my campers will someday make aliyah—I will feel then I have done the best job ever," said Nir-Zvi. "The smaller thing is to teach them about Israel and to feel a commitment to be being Jewish in America."
Amit said the Israelis will "spread Israel by being ourselves."
"I wanted to show Israel in a different way than it is usually shown," said Amit. "We are a modern country. We are just normal people."
Pazit Zilber agreed that Israel is a modern country and said she hopes to show the campers how much her small country contains.
Zilber added that the Israelis also have things to learn from the Americans.
"This is a once in a lifetime experience," Zilber said. "If you do it (come to an America Jewish camp), you can learn so much from the American people and learn about Judaism in different ways—not just in Israel."
The two counselors from South Africa said they also felt they could learn much from their stay.
"Our view of the U.S. was desert, New York and Desperate Housewives," said Comaroff, referring to a popular U.S. TV show which also airs in South Africa.
"We didn't expect such great surroundings," added Cohen. "This is like Africa."
The two said they also have been surprised by the diversity in American Judaism. They said that in South Africa, most Jews go to Orthodox shuls even if they live secular lives and don't keep kosher.
Even when campers are on the ropes course, they'll have an international experience with Tom Pavic, ropes course director. As they prepare to launch themselves off a high post to catch a trapeze bar, Pavic will assure them, in his soothing Australian accent, "No worries mate."