A Welcoming Community For Teens Only:

All Jewish teens are welcome at Tel Yehudah and our programs are designed exclusively for teens!

• Each summer, we form a unique community of the most diverse group of young Jews from around the country and world who bring a variety of Jewish backgrounds, perspectives and practices.
• Our teens broaden their horizons and open their eyes to different people, lifestyles and ways of thinking.
• Participants create authentic connections with other teens and build meaningful, lifelong friendships that enrich their lives.
• It is a priority for us to create a safe and inclusive environment, where each member of our community feels free to be themselves, express who they are and find out who they want to become.
• While honoring and exploring a variety of modes of Jewish ritual and practice, Tel Yehudah serves strictly kosher food and creates a shomer-Shabbat environment, so Jews of all types of observance feel comfortable and at home.

• Teens will explore Jewish life through multiple lenses, trying out traditional and alternative Jewish rituals and expressions, for an innovative and immersive Jewish experience.
• Teens develop a sense of connection and responsibility for the larger Jewish community.

Connection To Israel:

Our teens develop a deep and individual sense of connection to Israel and Zionism, through exploration of the ideals, realities and challenges of the Jewish state.

• Participants enjoy a flavor of Israel throughout the entire experience – deeply engaging with and exploring Israel’s culture, history, people, food and more.
• Tel Yehudah is proud to have a strong delegation of Israelis each summer, who help participants create a personal relationship to a multi-faceted Israel.

Flexibility & Personal Choice:

• Our specialized set of programs allows participants to choose program elements based on their own areas of personal interest.
• Our staff and programs create a supportive and empowering environment for skill-building, self-reflection and challenge-taking and horizon-broadening.
• A wide variety of specialty areas allow teens to enjoy athletic, creative, aquatic, and recreational outlets.
• Our daily elective program provides the opportunity for teens to customize their own experience and build up their own specific abilities and competencies.

Out-Of-Camp Trips:

Through a variety of out-of-camp experiences, our teens develop greater independence and build leadership skills.

• Exciting out-of-camp trips allow participants to challenge themselves mentally and physically.
• Teens in Yachad have the unique opportunity to select from five distinct trip options that allow participants to push their own limits within their own areas of interest.

Leadership & Activism Opportunities:

Throughout all of our programs, teens develop a deep commitment to social responsibility and social change, along with the necessary leadership and activism tools and skills.

• Teens take on leadership roles within camp to plan and lead activities for their own peers. Examples include:
  • Writing and running nightly activities for bunks
  • Planning and running our camp-wide Maccabia (color war)
  • Designing activities to inform and engage other teens around issues of social and global importance (ex. human rights, poverty, etc.)
• Our Hadracha Activism Institute for rising 11th-12th graders is the culmination of the TY experience. Participants:
  • Gain insider access to government and congressional leaders to advocate for important issues confronting society and enlist their support to affect change in our world
  • Learn from leading advocacy organizations and experts in the field on many of the hot topics of the day
  • Strengthen skills to be community leaders, increase understanding of political process and civic engagement, and become change agents to better our world
• Young Judaea programs and activities throughout the year provide a variety of opportunities for participants to continue to develop and put into practice their leadership skills and commitment to social responsibility
• Our teens become committed, educated, active members and leaders of their communities now and in the future

Exceptional Staff & Role Models:

Tel Yehudah hires the highest-caliber, talented, passionate staff to build and lead our programs each summer.

• Our staff are dedicated to our programs and serve as exceptional role models and mentors to our teenage participants.
• An extremely high percentage of our North American staff are graduates of Young Judaea programs and are motivated to give back by providing life-changing YJ experiences to the next generation.
• Our staff apply to work at TY for the right reasons – each individual puts forth 110% to make every moment of the Tel Yehudah experience exceptional for our teens and always put the participants first.
• Commitment is crucial to the success of our staff – a majority of our staff return for multiple summers at Tel Yehudah.
• Our staff participate in thorough training prior at the start of each season, as well as ongoing staff development and in-service training throughout the summer.

Leaders In The Field:

Tel Yehudah is an established leader in the Jewish camping field and we take great pride in the achievements and recognition garnered by our teens and graduates.

• Using the skills, experiences and attitudes developed in Tel Yehudah, our graduates have become leaders and innovators in their respective fields in the U.S., Israel and around the world.
• Tel Yehudah graduates are disproportionately involved in educational and leadership roles throughout the Jewish community in the United States and Israel.
• Tel Yehudah has been named as one of the nation’s 50 most innovative Jewish nonprofits for our Havurah program, and has been selected for inclusion in the prestigious Slingshot Guide two years in a row.
• Tel Yehudah is accredited by the American Camp Association, which means Tel Yehudah upholds the highest levels of professionalism and standards in safety, sanitation, health care, personnel management, and physical facility operations in the camping industry.