Every morning, each camper and staff member comes together
Around The Toren to raise the flag's and declare, Every Day is a Special Day at CYJ!
Dear CYJ Friends and Families,

Shana Tova! Wow...2018 was a fantastic summer. Thanks to YOU the 2018 summer was a meaningful and memorable one with tons of exciting programs, activities, and friends. We saw smiles every day from our campers and staff because of your support and dedication to this incredible place we call home.

As the High Holidays approach, I begin to think about our camp family around the country and the world. This summer, we had the opportunity to bring campers and staff from 10 different states and three additional countries to Waupaca. It is truly an incredible sight to see campers and staff speaking over five different languages while learning to live, learn and grow together.

Our Rosh Moomchim (Head of Specialists), Tovah Klein, created an incredible video this summer - it shows the depths of our small community and how far we come from. Check it out below!

So during the High Holidays this year, remember to wish someone a Happy New Year. It could be your next door neighbor, your friend in another state or one of your camp friends or staff members living all over the world.

Shana Tova,
Robin
2018 Summer Highlights
New Assistant Director, Gabi Gordon

CYJ is excited to welcome our new Assistant Director, Gabi Gordon. Gabi spent five summers working seasonally, most recently in 2018 as our community care director. She graduated with a BA in environmental engineering from the Technion in Haifa, Israel and then spent six months before the 2018 summer traveling in Australia and New Zealand. She will begin her full time role on September 7, 2018 and can be reached at gabi@cyjmid.org .
Summer 2019 Early Bird Registration

2019 Summer Registration is now open!
Each camper registered through October 15th will receive
$100 off tuition AND a limited edition CYJ Midwest sweatshirt.



Learn More About CYJ Midwest
Thinking about registering for Summer 2019, but want to learn more? Join us for our upcoming Virtual Open House. Learn about Camp Young Judaea Midwest and ask any questions you have to our director Robin Anderson, who will be leading the discussion. This is an excellent opportunity to get your questions answered! Select date below to register.




Fall Calendar of Events
Sunday, September 16
12-3:30 pm
The home of Doreen Hermelin (Detroit, MI)

Pizza in the Hut
Wednesday, September 26th
6:30-8:00 pm
The Marshall Home (Evanston, IL)
RSVP office@cyjmid.org or 224.235.4665

JUF Family Fun Day
Sunday, October 14th
3:00-5:00 pm
Chicago Location TBA

Pittsburgh CYJ Open House
Sunday, October 28th
Time to be Announced
The Rosenberg's (Pittsburgh, PA)

YJ Midwest Convention
Thursday, November 29th-Sunday, December 2nd
Camp Henry Horner (Ingleside, Illinois)
More information to come


Interested in hosting a few friends to learn about camp?
Email office@cyjmid.org to learn more!
Tali's Camp Bat Mitzvah Celebration

This summer, we had the honor of celebrating our daughter, Tali, becoming a Bat Mitzvah at CYJ Midwest, surrounded by CYJ friends and family. She was clearly so proud and happy to be able to share this special day at camp and to show our family the place where she has spent the past three summers having a blast and developing as a Jewish camper. From the moment the idea to have her simcha at camp arose, Tali was eager to prepare, learning the Torah service and her parasha. We are pretty sure her eagerness was related to her excitement at having this occasion at camp. CYJ Director, Robin Anderson and Director of Jewish Life, Sophie Fellman Rafalovitz were so supportive with helping Tali to plan the day. While Tali came to camp having already learned her Torah portion and parts of the Torah service, she and Sophie continued to work together to develop the service during the first half of the camp session. The service was beautiful, meaningful and fun. It was great to see how the campers were engaged in the service, and our family learned some new tefila (prayer) dance moves!

Our family felt welcome the moment we arrived at camp, and from meals to services to partying on the beach, we were met with a warmth from both campers and staff which made us feel as though we were a small part of the CYJ community. More than anything, though, being at camp and sharing Tali’s bat mitzvah at CYJ was fun. Really fun. It was also devoid of the stresses which sometimes come along with the planning and logistical wranglings associated with bar and bat mitzvah celebrations. We were able to relax and be in the moment as a family. We left camp with hearts full of joy and gratitude, knowing that Tali and the rest of the campers will continue to grow in a nurturing and fun camp family.

We are so thankful to CYJ Midwest for allowing us this opportunity!

-David Harris-Gershon and Jamie Harris
Young Judaea Opportunities
Alternative Winter Break in Puerto Rico
Spend winter break making an impact and join Jewish teens (9th-12th graders) from across the country on Alternative Winter Break (AWB) to help rebuild communities in Puerto Rico, where the devastating effects of last year's Hurricane Maria are still felt.



Learn more at www.youngjudaea.org/awb .
For more information email  winterbreak@youngjudaea.org  
or call 917-595-2100 x209

Chicago Young Judaea Leadership Committee

Chicago Young Judaea is looking for 9th-12th grade Chicago Judaeans and CYJers
who would like to take on a leadership role this year and work with former
CYJ staff member Adina Lipschultz.
Fill out this simple form if you are interested (or pass on to your teen).

Get Involved
Make Camp Young Judaea Midwest your smile.amazon.com charity of choice, and your purchase can support our community. 

Looking for a way to donate and see your impact immediately? Take a look at our Amazon.com wish list . You can also support our community by donating an item from our Amazon wish list. During the summer we regularly update this list.
Thank you to all those who have donated books to our growing library. This summer's share, borrow, and swap library was a big hit. Having a variety of books has offered an opportunity for campers to find something to read on a hot day during the calm, quiet moments we offer.

We will continue collecting books throughout the year. As you periodically go through your bookshelves, please keep us in mind. We are looking for chapter books for 2nd-9th graders. Please contact Rachel Tanzer, at office@cyjmid.org or 224.235.4665, if you have a donation.
9/2 Paulina Ash
9/3 Rayna King
9/8 Ilan Lunken & Golda Rubenstein
9/12 Aaron Faier
9/16 Yonatan Ser
9/18 Oren Gilboa & Robin Anderson
9/19 Benny Lowenthal
9/20 Micah Hirsch & Amit Mansharof
9/22 Tovah Klein
9/23 Eitan Maman
9/24 Micah Kaplan & Daniel Nozick
9/28 Danny Gabel & Sam Honan

  • Mazel Tov to Lilly Cope, Ilan Lunken, Hannah Peri and Eden Raviv on becoming Bar & Bat Mitzvah

  • Mazel Tov to Sonja Assouline Burke & Dan Burke on the birth of their son Zev Isaac Burke on August 15, 2018

  • Mazel Tov to Simi Climo & Reina Novell on their September 2, 2018 wedding in Detroit

  • Mazel Tov to Shoshana Coven & Joshua Ostrow on their engagement.

  • Mazel Tov to Jane Jackson & Adam Broude on their September 2, 2018 wedding in Chicago

  • Mazel Tov to Emily Pogrund & Chaim Safier on their September 2, 2018 wedding in Chicago

  • Mazel Tov to Susan Shkolnik Metz & Jeffrey Metz on the birth of their daughter Sarah Judy Metz on July 26, 2018

  • Mazel Tov to Lauren Steinberg & Zachary Bloomberg on their engagement


Have you recently graduated, made a big move, become engaged, married, had a child? Send us your announcements and pictures to office@cyjmid.org to share with our community.
CYJ Midwest | Phone 224.235.4665 | Fax 847.789.7197 | Email | Website