A few weeks ago I had the incredible opportunity to attend the OneURJ retreat, a professional development event for all URJ employees. It was a chance to connect with colleagues and deepen our commitment to shaping young Jewish lives. As I reflect on the retreat, I’m struck by the parallels between its themes and this week’s Torah portion, Parashat T’rumah.
In T’rumah, God instructs the Israelites to build the Mishkan, a sacred space for the divine presence. The materials and craftsmanship that went into it had to be intentional, showing the importance of building with care and community. This mirrors our work in Jewish summer camps, where we create a temporary but profound space for campers and staff to experience “camp magic” and spiritual growth.
T’rumah emphasizes giving with intention. Just as the Israelites contributed their best offerings to construct the Mishkan, we, too, are called to bring our best resources—our time, creativity, and dedication—to the work of Jewish camping. The OneURJ retreat reminded me how important it is to show up fully for this sacred work.
The Mishkan was built by a community of artisans, each bringing unique skills, highlighting the power of collaboration. Similarly, camp thrives on teamwork, with staff on all levels working together to create a vibrant, welcoming environment for Jewish children. Being together with so many people who do this work reinforced this sense of shared purpose, and gave me so much positive energy to return home with.
Finally, just as the Mishkan was a place for transformation, Jewish camps are spaces for spiritual and personal growth. The work we do is reciprocal—we give our time and energy, but in return, we receive immense joy from witnessing campers’ growth and being part of a meaningful mission.
As we continue to build our camp community, my hope is that we can remember the lessons of T’rumah: that sacred spaces require intentionality, collaboration, and a willingness to give of ourselves. May we be inspired to create spaces that transform and reflect the values of our tradition.
Shabbat Shalom,
Lainey Komerofsky | Assistant Director