Young Judaea
At Camp Tel Yehudah, our values are more than ideas — they’re lived every day by our chanichim (campers) and tzevet (staff).
In a world that often feels noisy, divided, and digital, TY offers something different: face-to-face connection, communal joy, and individual growth.
Guided by our four core values — Build Community, Value Individuals, Amplify Joy, and Deepen Curiosity — we help Jewish teens discover who they are, strengthen their connection to Israel and the Jewish people, and develop the confidence, empathy, and respect they need to thrive in the world beyond camp.
Build Community | להקים קהילה | L’hakim Kehila
At Tel Yehudah, chanichim and tzevet don’t just join a community — they build one.
Free from screens and surrounded by peers who care, they create deep friendships, celebrate pluralism, and discover what it means to belong to Am Yisrael, the Jewish people, across backgrounds, borders, and generations.
They learn that building community means treating each other and our shared home at TY with respect, care, and responsibility — and understanding that true community depends on leadership, participation, and a shared sense of social responsibility for one another and for the world.
Value Individuals | לכבד כל בן אדם | L’chabed Kol Ben Adam
Every chanich and tzevet member at TY is seen, heard, and valued for who they truly are.
In a culture that often pushes teens to compare or conform, our camp celebrates individuality and reminds them that every person is created b’tzelem Elohim — in the image of God.
Respect for each individual — their story, their boundaries, and their voice — is what makes our community strong and sacred.
By honoring pluralism, we affirm that there are many authentic ways to express Jewish identity, belief, and belonging — and that each voice enriches our shared experience.
Amplify Joy | להפיץ אושר ושמחה | L’hafitz Osher V’Simcha
Joy isn’t just an outcome at Tel Yehudah, it’s a practice grounded in gratitude and respect for one another and for our environment.
Through music, rikud, friendship, learning, and the beauty of Shabbat, our chanichim and tzevet experience the deep, contagious joy that has sustained the Jewish people for centuries and continues to thrive in Israel today.
TY teaches that joy is built on appreciation — for people, for places, and for the moments we share.
Deepen Curiosity | לעודד סקרנות | L’oded Sakranut
At TY, curiosity isn’t about having all the answers — it’s about asking more and better questions.
Chanichim and tzevet learn to explore ideas, challenge assumptions, and listen with respect to perspectives different from their own, including about Judaism, Israel, and Jewish life around the world.
In a pluralistic community where multiple truths coexist, they discover that curiosity — rooted in mutual respect and open dialogue — leads to growth, empathy, and understanding.