Twenty young Israelis recently visited the Baltimore-Washington corridor as part of the Friends of the IDF Legacy Camp. Now in its 18th year, the program included home hospitality and travel experiences for a diverse group of b’nai mitzvah-age teens.
Coordinated with Yad Bonim and the Israel Defense Forces, FIDF Legacy Camp offers children and siblings of fallen Israeli soldiers a chance to spend time with others who have gone through similar losses, as well as to simply feel joy again. Six of the 10 counselors staffing the delegation were IDF soldiers in their last year of military service who also lost loved ones and attended the same program when they were teens.
The program was hosted by FIDF’s Maryland, D.C., Philadelphia and South New Jersey chapters.
“It is an absolute privilege for those of us in Baltimore to participate in the Legacy Camp program and show all of the campers and accompanying soldiers how important they are,” said Jenn Goldmeier, past host and FIDF Legacy Camp co-chair. “We want the group to return to Israel knowing and sharing the message that the FIDF loves and supports them.”
Upon landing, the campers attended welcome pool party at an FIDF supporter’s home in Philadelphia, and then traveled to Capital Camps in Waynesboro, Pennsylvania. They spent 10 fun-filled days participating in a range of camp activities, followed by a visit to Hersheypark and the nation’s capital, where the children enjoyed Shabbat with the D.C. community. The trip culminated with a visit to New York City and a pool party in Westchester.
“The magic of spending time with the Legacy campers is the chance to express how much we care about them and, even if unspoken, to show them that we honor their sacrifice to Israel,” said Todd Rosenberg, president of the FIDF D.C. chapter. “A camper who spoke no English and I experienced a moment together that exemplified that music and sharing an instrument can be even more powerful than words. The kids and counselors were so appreciative of us, but hopefully we helped them understand that it is a two-way street.”
Said FIDF national board member Robert Burman: “After the initial communal bereavement subsides, families feel isolated in their grief as they continue to struggle facing a void that will last a lifetime. For the children and siblings of the fallen, it is especially isolating to carry such a heavy burden. It is a sacred honor to be able to offer support and open our homes and hearts to the Legacy campers.”
For information, visit fidf.org/midatlantic.
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