Eisner Spring 2024 Alumni Newsletter

EISNER ALUMNI NEWSLETTER

A Letter from Paul & Family

Dear Alumni,

Spring is in the air and camp is just around the corner. As the calendar turns to May and camp is approaching fast, the excitement and anticipation continues to build. Over the past eight months, since I left camp after the summer of 2023, I have been working with our amazing team at camp to prepare for the upcoming summer We know that after the past few months, our campers and staff can’t wait to be back home in The Bubble and experience a much-needed fun and joyful camp experience.

In addition to spending each summer at camp, I am lucky to be able to be at camp many times in the offseason. Last month, I spent the weekend at camp for our Spring Heller-Wexler Family Camp and was joined by over 80 campers, families and staff. The weekend was filled with camp activities, like hiking, sports, arts-n-crafts, Israeli dance, Song Session, Services and more. It was so nice to introduce camp to many parents, who may have only step foot on camp for Opening & Closing Days.

During the weekend, I also had the opportunity to talk with a few parents who are alumni of camp and will be sending their children to Eisner this summer for the first time. It was incredible to hear about their memories of camp, the friends that are still part of their lives, the songs that they still remember singing and wanting to pass along their love of Eisner to their children. I loved getting to see their faces when they returned to the Tzofim Beit Am and OIim Beit Am to see plaques with their names on them and reminiscing about their summers at camp. It is so wonderful the continued connection that Eisner has on them and I can’t wait to see their children thrive at camp this summer

During the weekend, I also had the opportunity to talk with a few parents who are alumni of camp and will be sending their children to Eisner this summer for the first time. It was incredible to hear about their memories of camp, the friends that are still part of their lives, the songs that they still remember singing and wanting to pass along their love of Eisner to their children I loved getting to see their faces when they returned to the Tzofim Beit Am and OIim Beit Am to see plaques with their names on them and reminiscing about their summers at camp. It is so wonderful the continued connection that Eisner has on them and I can’t wait to see their children thrive at camp this summer.

I am so excited for what the upcoming summer will bring for our campers, staff and families. I am thrilled that over 90% of our campers are returning for the upcoming summer and we have our highest staff retention rate in over ten years. I can’t wait to welcome over 160 new campers (and counting!) to our community and have them experience their first taste of being an Eisner camper. I am looking forward to welcoming our alumni back to camp with four incredible visiting opportunities to come back home to see camp in action. And most of all, I can’t wait to watch my son, Michael, become an Olim camper and experience the magic of what it is to be in Olim.

I hope to see you back this summer at camp or at a future Alumni event and hear about your connection to our camp and learning about Eisner through your eyes.

Keep the hill alive!

Paul

Who’s ready for spring? To be honest, not me. It comes with allergies, sneezing, running noses, busy sports weekends and it's neither summer nor fall. But....the blooming of the flowers and the rain mean one thing it's closer to summer which means camp is around the corner! Labels were ordered last week - a first for the Spear household! Only took 8 years to remember to order them early enough that I don't have to pay for expedited shipping. Now if I could just remember to fill out the paperwork on time!

I'm particularly excited for this summer. Not just because I get to send off my youngest and my husband to camp, but because of all the opportunities we have coming up this summer for alumni to visit! Yes, I'm dropping some not-so-subtle hints. Stay tuned for announcements information about various events throughout the summer and fall to reexperience the magic of camp - and get you back onto the quad! Until then, reach out if you'd like to help build our alumni network simply by reconnecting with old friends and being open to making new ones. We'd love to hear from you, our alumni and welcome any help planning the various events. Want to contribute to the alumni newsletter or host a local alumni event? Interested in mentoring recent grads? Or are you a recent grad looking for some work advice? We are building our alumni programs and could use your help! If you are interested, please email Nicki at npoliak@urj.org.

Until then, enjoy the sunshine and rain - because you know what happens at camp when it rains - we get wet!

See you all soon I hope!

Behind the Plaque

By: Jen Sussman

In the summer of 1995, I was the Bonim Unit Head and Wendy was the Tzofim Unit Head. We both had worked at camp before and had been friendly but didn’t become the close friends we are today until that summer when we both lived in the Unit Office. What could we have in common? She was from Wisconsin, and I grew up on Long Island. Neither of us had grown up at Eisner, both of us came to work at Eisner as adults. So here we were sharing a living space, in the ridiculously hot, always stuffy Unit Office. Could it work out? Would we be able to live in harmony?

I am happy to report the friendship that started that summer is alive and well today! We spent the majority of that summer laughing. We invented a game called “One Hit That’s It”, where we were only allowed to play one song from the CD before moving on to the next CD We started a ritual we still have today called “Pillow Talk”, where we would end the day sharing details about our day. This always led to more laughter, some tears, and always understanding. By the time that summer ended, I knew I had made a lifelong friend.

We wanted to make a plaque to hang in the Tzofim Beit Am but were running out of time. That’s when Wendy saw a piece of wood that had been discarded that was already painted white. Perfect, we were off to a good start! We could have put “One Hit That’s It” or “Pillow Talk” on our plaque, along with the other sayings we had that summer, but we didn’t have time. In the end, we added our names and the smiley face, found a place to hang it up and quickly nailed it onto the wall.

That summer was the start of a friendship that we both continue to be grateful for today. Three years later when I moved to Chicago, Wendy invited me to live with her and her roommates, and we were right back to in person “Pillow Talk” and spinning the best hits from our CDs. We’ve taken road trips and cruises together, and I had the privilege of being a bridesmaid in Wendy’s wedding. So, while we were in a rush to get the plaque up so we could say “We were here”, lucky for us it was the start of a lifelong friendship and not just one summer at camp, living in a hot, stuffy Unit Office.

I Found My Love at Eisner

By: Kelsey Price

In the summer of 2021, I came back to camp for my 9th summer. I was so excited for all the possibilities the summer had to offer and so thankful to be back in the Bubble after not being able to return the previous summer, due to COVID. I was excited for my summer as a counselor and to spend another amazing summer with my friends. Yigal came to camp in 2021 for the first time. He was a member of the Mishlachat and the Krav Maga instructor and counselor.

During staff week, we instantly clicked and knew there was a connection! We loved spending time with each other and learned something new about each other every day. Over the summer our relationship was something truly unforgettable and like no other. We knew the summer was soon coming to end and we were at a crossroads with what to do next. We didn’t want our relationship to end, but ultimately believed it was impossible to do long distance across the world with a 7-hour time difference.

Less than a week after camp ended, we had plans to see each other when Yigal traveled to New York. We had a great visit and soon decided to take the leap of faith and try long distance. We didn’t want to give up on this special relationship without trying, and we both knew the other was such strong and important part of our life. Through the 7-hour time difference, living across the world from each other, and many other obstacles in our way, we have never stopped loving each other and making it work. From traveling around the world seeing each other in Greece and Paris, to meeting others in our home countries, we have always made it a priority to see each other. Every time we reunite it feels like the first time we see each ssed from the last time we were d after almost 3 years of long ly like no other. We are so tners for the rest of our lives, and ner is the place where our story

Because of Eisner

By: Sasha Leitner

Eisner Camp has been such a big part of my life for so many years. I am a proud member of Olim ’22 and am so excited to be coming back to camp this summer as a Junior Counselor! In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my friends, exploring NYC, watching movies, listening to music, and playing piano. I spent my first summer in the “Bubble” in 2016, when I was in Bonim. I made so many friends that summer that I cherish to this day. My brother Zack also attends Eisner and is very excited to be a part of Olim ’24, so Eisner truly is a family affair!

After spending last summer on Eisner’s Yallah! Israel trip, I came home with a feeling of enhanced pride for my Jewishness and gratitude for the bonds my camp friends and I experienced in our Jewish homeland. I felt incredibly lucky to have spent time in Israel just two months before the horrors of October 7th.This connection to Israel and to my Judaism has made it imperative for me to return to camp this summer as a Junior Counselor so I can be in a loving community that is a safe space for Jewish people. As a spiritual Reform Jew, I am engaged with Jewish communal life at home, which stems from how I express my Judaism at camp. I am active in my congregation, Central Synagogue, and I am part of the American Jewish Committee (AJC) Leaders for Tomorrow program, where I learn how to be a strong advocate for my Jewish identity and for the state of Israel, while learning about Jewish politics and history. Since October 7th, I’ve been more concerned about antisemitism now than ever. At the same time, thanks to Eisner, I've never been prouder to be Jewish.

Eisner is filled with so many fun and memorable experiences and traditions. At Eisner, I’ve had the chance to engage in so many activities and try things that I don’t get to explore year-round, such as Israeli dance, Maccabiah, and many other unique-to-Eisner traditions. I know at Eisner, I am the best version of myself, and I am surrounded by people who inspire me, make me laugh, and love me for me. As a Junior Counselor, I am eager to teach my campers about our many camp traditions and be a source of support for them. Whether it’s providing comfort to a sad camper, talking through friendship challenges between campers, or providing encouragement for a camper who is hesitant to try something new, I strive to be the type of counselor who can help resolve conflict and who is known as a person who brings fun and positivity wherever I go.

Because of Eisner, I know I’ve built a home for myself in the community that gives me the confidence to be independent. Because of Eisner, I have formed friendships that I know will carry through the rest of my life. Because of Eisner, I have confidence in my ability to inspire others, to be a strong leader, and to bring my authentic whole self to any situation. Because of Eisner, I am part of a community that I can proudly call my home forever. Because of Eisner, I cannot be more excited to be a Junior Counselor this summer, and I know this will be the best summer ever ™!

Alumni Corner

By: Alex Anesetti

L’dor V’dor. These words ring out at the opening ceremony at camp each session as the Olim campers wrap around the entire camp community. They pass the Torah down, unit by unit, until they reach the youngest campers at camp, who brave the crowd and get up on the mic to read a short snippet that is always adorable. The excitement and energy is electric, with breaks to get up and sing and dance, and hug your friends that you haven’t seen in a year.

19. After some rough math, I sat through 19 Opening Day ceremonies, making my way from that nervous 9-year-old, to the proud Olim “fence” around the camp community, to the grateful staff member watching the joy, excitement, and even some nerves on everyone ’ s faces.

5. It’s been almost 5 years since I experienced my last Opening Day ceremony. 5 years since I passed the torch at my last closing ceremony. It took me quite a few years to understand the significance of these ceremonies, but the older I get, the more grateful I am to have experienced them.

10. Last August, I got to return to camp after for my Olim ‘13 10year reunion. 10 years since we had the opportunity to surround the camp community and pass the Torah down to the younger units. Being back at camp was truly surreal. I got to see friends that I am in touch with today and reconnect with friends I hadn’t talked to in 10 years. I got to experience a little bit of that camp magic I often miss so much. But one of the most magical parts of the experience was getting to see some of my past campers and Machon working as Staff and on Leadership Team. Some of those same kids who just 10 years before, received that Torah that our Olim class passed along. That was a real L’dor V’dor moment.09

It's easy sometimes to feel a little disconnected from camp after some years away. What I like to do is try to remind myself of everything Eisner has given me. I moved to NYC at the tail-end of the Covid-19 quarantine restrictions. I moved in with two of my best friends from camp. A few months later, I got to live my “Friends” fantasy when three more camp friends moved in to the building a few floors down. Most of my close friends who live in the city are, you guessed it, friends I met in the Bubble. And this is just the start.

In March, I attended the NYC Eisner Alumni Happy Hour. I wasn’t sure what to expect going into it, and honestly, I didn’t even know who was going to show up. When I walked in, I immediately got a wave of nostalgia. I saw camp t-shirts, familiar faces, multiple groups of people from all different ages, and had the opportunity to meet some of the new full-time staff that continue to make Eisner Camp a summer home for hundreds of campers each year. It’s not every day I get to be in a room full of people who simply love camp, reminiscing about our favorite camp memories and “keeping the hill alive.”

The most profound moment for me was that I got to spend time and reconnect with one of my old counselors, Unit Heads, staff, and even one of my Machon participants from when I worked for the program, all within one happy hour. Having all these generations in one room, some of whom passed me that Torah when I was a camper, and some of whom I passed the Torah onto, was a real L’dor V’dor moment. Attending the event reminded me that even though it can feel a little distant sometimes, the magic of the Bubble isn’t too far away. I can’t wait for the next alumni event for another fix camp!

The most profound moment for me was that I got to spend time and reconnect with one of my old counselors, Unit Heads, staff, and even one of my Machon participants from when I worked for the program, all within one happy hour. Having all these generations in one room, some of whom passed me that Torah when I was a camper, and some of whom I passed the Torah onto, was a real L’dor V’dor moment. Attending the event reminded me that even though it can feel a little distant sometimes, the magic of the Bubble isn’t too far away. I can’t wait for the next alumni event for another fix camp!

In March, I attended the NYC Eisner Alumni Happy Hour. I wasn’t sure what to expect going into it, and honestly, I didn’t even know who was going to show up. When I walked in, I immediately got a wave of nostalgia. I saw camp t-shirts, familiar faces, multiple groups of people from all different ages, and had the opportunity to meet some of the new full-time staff that continue to make Eisner Camp a summer home for hundreds of campers each year. It’s not every day I get to be in a room full of people who simply love camp, reminiscing about our favorite camp memories and “keeping the hill alive.”

JOIN US IN THE BUBBLE THIS SUMMER!

Saturday, June 22nd from 10 AM- 1 PM

Friday, July 12th from 6 PM - 8 PM

Tuesday, July 23rd from 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM

Monday, August 5th from 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM

Register Here

Olim ‘14 Reunion:

Friday, August 9th

Register Here

Olim ‘23 Day: Saturday, August 10th

Register Here