Abstract

The JDC-Lauder International Jewish Youth Camp at Szarvas is perceived today as the single most important Jewish outreach and educational programme in Central and Eastern Europe; it is a key symbol for Eastern European Jewry. This paper emphasises the importance of the Szarvas camp, located some 170 km south-east of Budapest in Hungary, and its impact on the Jewish identity of the Central and Eastern European participants, and by extension on their families and communities. It focuses on the camp’s history and uniqueness, and includes a personal experience on the part of the author, who has participated in the camp and today works as its programme director. It also presents information collected from those who have experienced the impact of the camp on themselves.

Highlights

  • The JDC-Lauder International Jewish Youth Camp at Szarvas is perceived today as the single most important Jewish outreach and educational programme in Central and Eastern Europe; it is a key symbol for Eastern European Jewry

  • This paper emphasises the importance of the Szarvas camp, located some 170 km south-east of Budapest in Hungary, and its impact on the Jewish identity of the Central and Eastern European participants, and by extension on their families and communities

  • Alumni of Szarvas camp have become leaders and professionals in their own Jewish communities,leading local Jewish summer camps or Jewish community centres, or opening Jewish schools,and so much more.Two alumni from Croatia opened the Jewish school in Zagreb sixteen years ago; two alumni from Bulgaria are leaders in the Jewish community of Sofia, and were involved in opening a new Jewish school last year; an alumna from Poland is a director of JCC Warsaw; an alumna from Serbia is an executive director of the European Union of Jewish Students; an alumna from Macedonia is today a JDC employee running empowerment programmes for young adults

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Summary

Mina Pasajlic

Abstract The JDC-Lauder International Jewish Youth Camp at Szarvas is perceived today as the single most important Jewish outreach and educational programme in Central and Eastern Europe; it is a key symbol for Eastern European Jewry. This paper emphasises the importance of the Szarvas camp, located some 170 km south-east of Budapest in Hungary, and its impact on the Jewish identity of the Central and Eastern European participants, and by extension on their families and communities. It focuses on the camp’s history and uniqueness, and includes a personal experience on the part of the author, who has participated in the camp and today works as its programme director. It presents information collected from those who have experienced the impact of the camp on themselves

The history of the Szarvas camp
The impact of the Szarvas camp
Findings
Discussion

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