From a Moment of Generosity to a Summer of Joy: St. Louis Community Sends Israeli Teens to Camp Ben Frankel

At the Jewish Federation of St. Louis’ Annual Men’s Event on June 3, community members came together to celebrate Jewish connection, philanthropy, and support for Israel. What began as an evening of inspiration and generosity quickly became something much more—a promise to bring healing to Israeli teens impacted by war.

During the event at The Factory, attendees learned about Campers2Gether (C2G). Launched in 2024 by the Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI), C2G brings Israeli youth and teens affected by war and trauma to Jewish summer camps across North America, giving them the summer of a lifetime.

Through a powerful video presentation and a call to action from Federation Board Member Elliott Kleiman, Chair of the Israel & Overseas Committee, the community was invited to help send 14 Israeli teens to Camp Ben Frankel this summer.

“For many of us, camp was one of the best summers of our lives,” Kleiman shared with attendees. “Tonight, we’re giving that gift to teenagers whose last two summers have been shaped by war.”

To bring the moment to life, a 60-second clock appeared on screen, challenging attendees to make an immediate impact. The response was overwhelming. In just one minute, the St. Louis Jewish community acted with extraordinary generosity, raising $66,807 to support the Campers2Gether initiative. This generosity inspired an $18,000 match from the Lubin-Green Foundation, bringing the total amount of dollars raised to $84,807. This helped ensure Israeli teens could experience a summer filled with strong connections and unforgettable moments of joy.

Recently, Federation leadership had the opportunity to visit Camp Ben Frankel and see the impact of that generosity firsthand. The Israeli teens who came to camp through Campers2Gether were fully immersed in the magic of summer camp. With more than 100 activities to choose from, campers have endless opportunities to explore their interests, challenge themselves, and create new memories. Smiling ear to ear, teens shared their excitement about camp and their experiences with Federation leadership. Their laughter and enthusiasm were a powerful reminder of what a meaningful gift our community helped provide.

For these teens, camp is more than a summer getaway. It is a place to reconnect, heal, laugh, and experience the strength of the global Jewish community. After facing unimaginable challenges over the past two years, they now have the opportunity to be themselves and simply be teenagers.

Through collective generosity, the St. Louis Jewish community helped create a summer of hope, belonging, and joy for Israeli teens at Camp Ben Frankel. This is the power of coming together: transforming a moment of giving into a lifetime of precious memories.

Click here to read more about Camp Ben Frankel from The St. Louis Jewish Light.