Henry S. Jacobs Camp
URJ Henry S. Jacobs Camp (a.k.a. HSJ) is a summer camp run by the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ), serving the Deep South (Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Western Tennessee, and the Florida Panhandle). It was established in 1970.[1]
The camp is one of 15 camps owned and operated by the URJ, the organizing body for Reform Judaism in North America. Jacobs is a non-profit camp, affiliated with the Mississippi Camping Association. It is accredited by the American Camp Association.[citation needed]
Development[edit]
In 1954, a group of Jewish parents primarily from some small towns of the Mississippi Delta began fundraising for a summer camp where their small-town children could meet each other in a Jewish environment. In 1968 the land for the camp was purchased in Utica, Mississippi for $100,000 and construction began on November 9, 1969.[2] The camp opened in June 1970 and was named after Henry S. Jacobs, who died in 1963, and was instrumental in getting the funding for the camp.[3] Campers study from a six-volume course written by various Jewish scholars that teach everything from history, to Jewish holidays and symbols.[3]
Camp history[edit]
In 1970, the camp's first summer, there were 93 campers in two sessions (roughly 30 in Session I and 60 in Session II).[2] In 1977 a third unit was added. In 1979 the units were renamed Garin, Maskilim and Talmidim.
The Berman Center, a gymnasium, was built in 1985. In 1988, the Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience (now part of the Goldring / Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life) was built.[1]
The Olim program was added to Jacobs Camp in 1989, and the Talmidim unit went from two four-week sessions to one six-week session.[citation needed]
Staff[edit]
Directors[edit]
- Rabbi Solomon "Sol" Kaplan (1970)[1]
- Macy B. Hart (1971–1999)[1]
- Jonathan "J.C." Cohen (2000–2014)[4]
- Anna Blumenfeld Herman (2015–present)[5]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d Northway, Wally (August 16, 1999). "Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience: Keeping the story alive". The Mississippi Business Journal. Vol. 21, no. 33. p. 18. ProQuest 206581386.
- ^ a b Cotton, Gordon (August 16, 1970). "Camp For Temple Youth Opens Near Utica". Vicksburg Evening Post. Vicksburg, Mississippi. p. 11.
- ^ a b Graham, Charlotte (September 30, 1994). "Camp Heritage". Religion. The Clarion-Ledger. Jackson, Mississippi. pp. 1D, 6D.
- ^ "Rabbi Cohen leaving Jackson's Beth Israel, 'J.C.' leaving Jacobs Camp". Southern Jewish Life Magazine. February 25, 2014.
- ^ Herman, Anna Blumenfeld. "Column: HB 1523 offends me and my Southern values". The Clarion-Ledger.