More than 200 young adults gathered in the beautiful Capital Camps outside Washington, DC, for a three-day weekend to create the magic of Jewish summer camp – only this time, it was designed for young adults. It was like Jewish sleepaway camp for kids – with color wars, havdalah under the stars, ziplining, Jewish rituals, arts & crafts like wood burning mezuzot, and Krav Maga – but this time we also experienced five campers becoming b’nai mitzvah during Shabbat, had conversations about what life has been like in Israel post-October 7, and enjoyed an epic b’nai mitzvah party.

Camp Nai Nai Nai, as it’s known, run by Moishe House, was a truly special experience for me. It was my first time being outside of Israel since October 7, and it provided an opportunity to step away from the tensions back home, relax, and immerse myself in a supportive and understanding environment. Being surrounded by people who share similar cultural and religious backgrounds was very appealing and felt like a safe space where I could truly be myself.

That’s what I have always loved about Jewish summer camp, and this experience took me back to my childhood. When I was young, every summer my parents would send me to Jewish summer camp. Growing up outside of Israel, summer camps were particularly meaningful to me because they were a place where I could feel part of the Jewish community. I was surprised by how similar American summer camps are to those I attended as a kid in other places in the world. This experience at Camp Nai Nai Nai not only took me back to my childhood but also allowed me to see how other Jews from around the world experience Jewish summer camp. I looked forward to the activities, the sense of community, and the chance to connect with other Jews. It was a time to build lasting memories and learn more about my heritage in a fun and engaging way. The most exciting part of the camps was the parties.

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