Camp Rising Sun Israel 2025 Seminar Program
Blog by Avi Blecherman (CRS ‘85), CRS Israel Selection Committee
Program Overview and Objectives
This year, five exceptional Israeli campers were selected for Camp Rising Sun: three girls for the GNB program and two boys for the BNB program. The seminar was designed to connect with each camper’s unique identity and experiences, offering content that made them feel seen and supported. For the first time, the group included a Palestinian-Israeli girl, representing the one-in-five Israeli citizens who are Arab, with discussions on coexistence giving space to her perspective. Another camper, an openly gay boy who came out at age 14, was supported through activities that affirmed his identity. A third camper, a girl who has faced significant scoliosis and two major surgeries, and who founded an online support group for other girls, was recognized through a session on gender equality and activism that echoed her leadership. Another girl, who attends a democratic school where students shape their education, was engaged through content on shared responsibility that resonated with her experience. Finally, a boy who sailed with his family for two years during the COVID-19 pandemic, with little peer contact, was supported through activities that fostered connection and community. The seminar ensured each camper felt valued, preparing them for CRS with a sense of belonging.
The seminar, held over three days in Jerusalem, was designed to achieve several key objectives:
Empowering Diversity: To recognize and support the specific identities of the selected campers, ensuring they feel seen and valued. This included tailored discussions and activities to connect with each camper’s unique background, fostering an inclusive environment both within the seminar and in preparation for CRS.
Building Community: To forge strong bonds among the selected campers and connect them to the CRS Israel alumni organization, creating a sense of “home” and family as they embark on and return from the program.
Enriching Knowledge: To deepen participants’ understanding of topics often underrepresented in formal education, such as social justice, gender equality, and environmental sustainability, including the climate crisis, which are central to the CRS curriculum.
Fostering Awareness and Empathy: To address the heavy toll of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and occupation, including dehumanization, diminished empathy, and suppressed acknowledgment of Palestinian suffering. Our goal was to send campers to CRS who are more aware, sensitive, critical, and open-minded, equipped to engage thoughtfully with complex global issues.
Seminar Program
Day 1: Identity, Conflict, and Gender Equality
The seminar began at the Knesset, Israel’s parliament, with a profound meeting with MK Aida Touma-Suleiman, a Palestinian-Israeli representative advocating for a two-state solution, end of occupation, full equality for all Israeli citizens, woman rights and the fight against racism and discrimination. She shared her experiences as a Palestinian citizen of Israel since October 7, describing the silencing and exclusion faced by the Arab community. She highlighted how their voices are suppressed in media and social platforms, often labeled as incitement, and how fear among Jewish Israelis can endanger Arab citizens. The Palestinian-Israeli camper, Taleen, shared her own experiences, adding depth to the discussion. A particularly moving moment occurred when Taleen discovered a personal connection with MK Touma-Suleiman: both were born and raised in Nazareth, attended the same high school, and learned that Thalin’s current school principal was a classmate of Touma-Suleiman. This shared history sparked inspiration and pride, deepening the group’s engagement. This conversation opened a new perspective for the participants, described by all as eye-opening and significant.
Next, the group traveled to Tzur Hadassah, a community 12 km southwest of Jerusalem near the Green Line separating Israel from the West Bank. There, they met Elana Kaminka, a bereaved mother from the Israeli-Palestinian Parents Circle-Families Forum, who lost her son, Yanai, on October 7. At a lookout point overlooking the nearby Palestinian village of Wadi Fukin, Elana described the harsh reality of occupation, including attempts to seize Palestinian land, physical, economic, and environmental violence, and severe restrictions on movement. She noted the rarity of interaction between Zur Hadassah residents and Wadi Fukin, despite their proximity, and highlighted a small group of activists working for justice.. At her home, Elana shared Yanai’s story—a talented young man, a gifted pianist, and a soldier who saved lives during Hamas’s attack before losing his own. Her story underscored the human cost of conflict and the potential for connection across divides.
The evening featured a discussion with Yael Yechieli, a feminist activist, on gender equality. The group explored who sits at decision-making tables and how gender diversity shapes outcomes, emphasizing the importance of inclusive leadership.
We ended our first day eating Pizza and playing some pool and Codenames in our hostel.
Day 2: Media, Democracy, and Community
The second day began at the studios of Kan 11, Israel’s public broadcasting corporation, with journalist Vered Pelman, who covers Jerusalem and issues of sexual violence. The group discussed the role of media in a democracy, particularly amid rising populism and democratic crises, gaining insight into the challenges facing ethical journalism.
The group then visited the Movement for Quality Government, a civil society organization combating corruption and safeguarding democracy. A workshop presented current dilemmas in Israel’s democratic landscape, encouraging critical thinking about governance and civic responsibility.
That evening, we all camped at Muslala, an urban environmental project on a green rooftop in Jerusalem’s business district. They spent time bonding at the vibrant Mahane Yehuda Market immersing themselves in the city’s lively atmosphere.
Day 3: Sustainability, Activism, and Family
The final day began with the campers’ parents joining for a breakfast prepared by the youth. Muslala staff led a fascinating workshop on the climate crisis, focusing on the “urban desert” of underutilized, heat-emitting rooftops. Participants learned how green roofs can lower temperatures, attract wildlife, and create communal spaces. In separate groups, parents and youth designed their own green rooftop projects, producing creative and inspiring outcomes.
Next, the group met Ibrahim Abu Ahmad, a Palestinian-Israeli blogger behind Unapologetic, who spoke about peace activism during wartime. He emphasized the struggle for hope amid fear, urging mutual understanding: “I understand your fear, but I’m also afraid of it—try to understand me.” His examples of impactful activism resonated, with the youth showing greater openness compared to some parents, who appeared more set in their views.
The seminar concluded with intimate parent-child workshops, where each camper and their parent(s) engaged in a private session. Each camper shared something they hoped to grow in during the summer and an aspect of themselves they wanted to express at CRS. Parents practiced active listening, responding only after the youth spoke. Roles then reversed, with parents sharing blessings for their children’s journey. This exercise fostered deep, personal connection and mutual support.
Canceled Sessions
Two planned sessions were canceled due to logistical issues:
A visit to the Jerusalem Open House for Pride and Tolerance, intended to support the LGBTQ+ camper and discuss inclusivity, was canceled due to the unavailability of a speaker. A follow-up Zoom meeting was planned but canceled due to the outbreak of war with Iran.
A meeting with Dr. Shula Mola, an Ethiopian-Israeli educator and human rights activist to discuss institutional and implicit racism, police violence, and the experience of Ethiopian Jews in Israel. Was canceled due to the unavailability of a speaker.
Conclusion
The three-day seminar in Jerusalem was a transformative experience, equipping the selected campers with the tools, perspectives, and community to represent Israel thoughtfully at Camp Rising Sun. By addressing identity, conflict, democracy, sustainability, and activism, the program empowered the youth to embrace their roles as empathetic, critical, and open-minded leaders. As Israelis, we feel a profound responsibility to counter the damaging effects of the ongoing conflict on our society—its tendency to foster insularity, entrench one-sided narratives of justice, and prioritize our own needs, dreams, and fears while overlooking those of others, particularly Palestinians. We see it as our duty to take active steps to ensure our campers arrive at CRS with a broader, more open perspective, ready to engage with the world in a way that fosters understanding and connection.
Few weeks later our region got crazy again and we had to somehow find a way to send out our boys… I think the last time someone sailed to Camp was back in 1960…