Written By: Carine Warsawski
On October 2nd, 2023, against the backdrop of Ojai’s earthy mountains and lush vineyards, 140 Jewish young adults swayed in a circle at the close of Trybal SoCal camp. Ten Israelis stood among them, indistinguishable from and interspersed with their American peers. Revealed only by their accents, they spoke alongside newfound friends about what they would bring home from camp. American participants spoke, as well, about the bonds they formed with Israeli campers.
Five days later, the cataclysmic events of October 7th changed the world as we know it, and the powerful connections that were made took on an even greater significance. Our camp WhatsApp group became inundated with messages of panic and concern as the Israelis shared updates of getting called to the reserves, rockets hitting their families’ homes, and loved ones gone missing. Without skipping a beat, the American campers organized fundraisers, attended rallies and vigils together, and even hosted displaced Israelis in their homes. I came to realize that our closing circle symbolized more than just the end of camp; it marked the beginning of a new chapter for Israel education.
For eight years, thousands of North American Jewish young adults have found meaning in Trybal Gatherings’ multi-day overnight camp experiences. The participants have different backgrounds, levels of engagement and Jewish knowledge, and perspectives on life. Yet they build friendships and often create new ways to experience and express what being Jewish means to them.
In the aftermath of October 7th, we recognized an opportunity to leverage Trybal’s platform of immersive experiences to foster bridge-building and connections to Israel. While 73% of Trybal alumni went on Birthright, their trips took place an average 10-11 years ago. With the widening gap since their last touchpoint with Israel and more young people experiencing antisemitism than ever in their lifetime, a critical and timely intervention was needed to offer young them new, relevant, and authentic connections with Israel.
Gear Used
Camera: Sony a9i