URJ 2025 Annual Report

The leaves of our Movement reflect where Jewish life flourishes most visibly, growing outward as youth and teens discover community, shape identity, build friendships, and step into leadership. In 2025, young people engaged with Jewish life through shared camp experiences with Israeli peers, year-round family programming, leadership pipelines, and immersive learning opportunities. These initiatives reflect early moments of belonging that will grow into a stronger, more connected Jewish future.

Building community

at camp

Across our 14 URJ camps, we create immersive Jewish communities where young people and adults experience what it means to truly belong. For more than 50,000 campers, staff, shlichim (Israeli emissaries), families, and educators, camp is a lived expression of Jewish life, where joy, friendship, learning, and spirituality are woven into each day. Parents and leaders continue to name camp as one of the most powerful investments they can make in children’s Jewish identities.

URJ camps are among the only Jewish camps where every camp participates in REDI (Racial Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) training, ensuring that campers feel affirmed and able to fully participate in camp life. This work includes strengthening belonging for interfaith families, Jews of Color, campers with disabilities, LGBTQ+ campers, and many others.

URJ camping offers a vision of Jewish life where ordinary moments become sacred. Shared meals, song sessions, and outdoor adventures offer opportunities for reflection, celebration, and connection with Israeli culture through shlichim. Camp shapes identity, strengthens belonging, and advances a vision of Jewish life that people carry with them long after the summer ends.

“It feels so important for children to have a safe space to celebrate Judaism and Israel. While my daughter is still young and isn’t aware of antisemitism and anti-Israel sentiments, it is important for me as a parent that she feels pride in her Judaism.”

– URJ CAMP HARLAM PARENT

“My daughter built new friendships and deepened existing ones. She loved being part of the community and she connected very strongly with her Judaism.”

– URJ CAMP NEWMAN PARENT

URJ North American Mifgash

The North American Mifgash program at URJ camps expanded to bring Israeli teens to live, learn, and participate in summer camp. These teens share in the rhythms of camp life, build meaningful relationships across cultures and backgrounds, and experience a supportive Jewish community. The program strengthens identity, fosters belonging, and deepens bonds of peoplehood.

Year-Round Entry Points into Jewish Life

URJ Camp Newman expanded its year-round programming in 2025 to create multiple entry points into Jewish camp life, with offerings geared toward grandparents, families, and female-identifying participants. Programs included family camp experiences for children ages 0-12, Sunday Fun Days, and grandparent-grandchild gatherings. Families experienced Camp Newman as an ongoing source of Jewish connection beyond the summer. These programs strengthened ties between Camp Newman and congregations while opening new pathways for engagement across communities.

More than 1,000 participants took part in year-round programming at Camp Newman

Leadership Pipeline from CIT to Future Staff

URJ Jacobs Camp strengthened the transition from camper to staff through its Counselor in Training (CIT) program, recognizing that the summer after 12^th grade is a critical moment. In 2025, the opening of the Richard “Dick” Orgel Bayit created a dedicated living and learning space for up to 48 CITs and two advisors. The Bayit has been recognized in field literature as an innovative model for sustaining the leadership pipeline and strengthening camp staffing continuity.

Building the Future of Jewish Camp

Across URJ camps, communities invested in the spaces and infrastructure that reflect a shared commitment to ensuring that camps remain vibrant centers of belonging, leadership development, learning, and Jewish connection.

URJ Camp Kalsman

launched a campaign to enhance adult and family housing, update and winterize cabins to accommodate more campers, and expand the infrastructure needed to support year-round Jewish camp experiences for future generations.

URJ Camp Newman

completed new camper housing that added nearly 120 beds, expanded adult and retreat accommodations, and enhanced communal outdoor spaces and infrastructure to create new opportunities for gathering, learning, and connection.

URJ Camp Harlam

completed its full junior camp cabin revitalization and constructed a solar field — the first of its kind across all URJ camps — now offsetting approximately 30% of its energy use and significantly reducing its environmental footprint.

URJ Eisner Camp & URJ Crane Lake Camp

together enhanced housing, strengthened communal spaces, and supported the future growth of immersive Jewish camp experiences.

URJ Olin-Sang-Ruby Union Institute (OSRUI)

completed a new climbing tower that creates opportunities for campers to build confidence, resilience, and leadership as they challenge themselves both physically and mentally.

URJ Henry S. Jacobs Camp

strengthened the future of Jewish life in the Deep South and advanced major investments in infrastructure and long-term sustainability through their capital campaign, Our Camp. Our Home. Our Future.

FELLOWSHIPS

and immersives

Yallah! Israel

In response to the ongoing war in Israel, the URJ quickly pivoted its immersive Yallah! Israel summer experience to Europe, ensuring that teens could still engage with Jewish history, peoplehood, and identity. Working with educators and program leaders, the experience was redesigned to reflect both the disruption of the moment and the URJ’s enduring commitment to connection, learning, and Jewish history. Like a tree adapting to the changing seasons, the program’s purpose remained steady even as its path shifted. Thanks to this flexibility, 221 teens gathered for a safe, meaningful experience rooted in Jewish pride and perseverance.

The Collab

The 2025 Collab brought together 9-12^th graders from across the country for a teen-powered retreat where teens formed lasting relationships, explored their Jewish identities, and engaged in Jewish spiritual practice.

Teen Justice Fellowship

As teens grapple with current issues, many are eager to make a difference in their communities and beyond. This six-week virtual fellowship gives young people the tools to transform their pursuit of justice into change in their communities. Fellows hone leadership skills, learn how to organize for change, and get involved with the RAC’s work. The fellowship culminates in teens designing and implementing projects in their communities.

“I held two workshops with my political discourse club at school, about the importance of the Responsibility in Firearm Legislation (RIFL) Act in Illinois. During the second meeting, everyone had a chance to contact their representatives and share their thoughts. I really enjoyed planning these workshops and seeing this idea come to fruition.”

– SPRING 2025 TEEN JUSTICE FELLOW, KATE NOTOWIDIGDO (she/her), KAM ISAIAH ISRAEL, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS

Approximately 7,416 people engaged through teens' projects, such as:

•

Organizing letter writing campaigns to address gun violence

•

Running voter registration drives at school

•

Creating a petition to mandate racial profiling training for law enforcement

•

Hosting an art gallery exhibition to display artwork from organizations that work to raise awareness about gun violence

•

Organizing food drives

•

Raising awareness about climate change

•

Raising awareness about mental health

L’Taken

Our 2025 RAC L’Taken Social Justice Seminar equipped 1,400 Jewish teens to impact policy and share their views on Capitol Hill. This year, we expanded L’Taken by offering a camp-based cohort through 6 Points Sci-Tech, and a Canada-based option aimed at helping Jewish-Canadian teens enhance their leadership and develop skills for creating change.

2025 marked the inaugural L’Taken Canada program in March.

The inaugural 6 Points Sci-Tech L’Taken cohort filled to capacity shortly after registration opened.

Over 100 teens from 6 Points Sci-Tech joined social justice fellowships through the RAC and brought their projects to camp.

Teen Jews of Color Fellowship

Throughout this nine-month program, participants experience personal growth and leadership development, meeting both virtually and in-person. Fellows also receive mentorship from adult Jews of Color, who guide and support participants as they integrate the fellowship into their daily lives, uplifting and empowering the next generation.

“The Teen Jews of Color Fellowship taught me to articulate my diverse experiences as a source of strength, nuance, and authenticity.”

– EMMA TSENG, TEEN JOC FELLOW (she/her) LEO BAECK TEMPLE, LOS ANGELES, CA

NFTY Regional Events

NFTY regional events are held at URJ Camps across North America where teens in grades 8-12 gather for weekends full of exciting programs, meaningful tefillah experiences, and lots of fun.

Fall Conclave in Pensacola, FL

Spring Kallah at URJ Camp Harlam

Spring Kallah at URJ Jacobs Camp

Mesibat Aviv at URJ Camp OSRUI

West Coast Party at URJ Camp Newman

Madrichim Fellowship

The Madrichim Fellowship was created in partnership with the Association of Reform Jewish Educators (ARJE) to engage teens in grades 8-9, offering community leadership opportunities and strengthening the pipeline for future Jewish leadership and education. Registration quickly exceeded expectations, showing how many young people are eager to grow into leadership roles. The cohort was supported by educators in participants’ home congregations to ensure that fellows’ learning extended into their local communities.

Congregational educators engaged as part of the advisory committee, and attended special sessions for educational leaders in December 2025 and April 2026

31 teens from 13 states, representing 22 congregations

More than 70% first-time participants

YOUTH & TEEN

ENGAGEMENT

Our Leaves

URJ North American Mifgash

Year-Round Entry Points into Jewish Life

Leadership Pipeline from CIT to Future Staff

Building the Future of Jewish Camp

Across URJ camps, communities invested in the spaces and infrastructure that reflect a shared commitment to ensuring that camps remain vibrant centers of belonging, leadership development, learning, and Jewish connection.

Yallah! Israel

The 2025 Collab brought together 9-12^th graders from across the country for a teen-powered retreat where teens formed lasting relationships, explored their Jewish identities, and engaged in Jewish spiritual practice.

L’Taken

YOUTH & TEEN

ENGAGEMENT

Our Leaves

URJ North American Mifgash

Year-Round Entry Points into Jewish Life

Leadership Pipeline from CIT to Future Staff

Building the Future of Jewish Camp

Across URJ camps, communities invested in the spaces and infrastructure that reflect a shared commitment to ensuring that camps remain vibrant centers of belonging, leadership development, learning, and Jewish connection.

Yallah! Israel

The 2025 Collab brought together 9-12th graders from across the country for a teen-powered retreat where teens formed lasting relationships, explored their Jewish identities, and engaged in Jewish spiritual practice.

L’Taken

The 2025 Collab brought together 9-12^th graders from across the country for a teen-powered retreat where teens formed lasting relationships, explored their Jewish identities, and engaged in Jewish spiritual practice.