Building bonds among Jewish youth is an important foundation for strengthening the future cohesion of the religious community.
Jewish summer camps, which became popular in the early 20th century, bring together Jewish youth who would otherwise not have met while also using this social atmosphere to reinforce Jewish teachings.
In order to do this, Camp Lown, which opened in 1945 in Oakland, held traditional Shabbat services on Friday night. Camps like Lown encouraged Jewish youth to associate their religious tradition with fun and strong communal bonds.
Research has demonstrated that Jews who attend summer camp are more likely to be involved in the Jewish community later in life.
