FOR THE SECOND CONSECUTIVE YEAR THE SCA BOOT CAMPUS RETREAT WAS A RESOUNDING SUCCESS! BRINGING TOGETHER 65 HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS TO HEAR FROM TOP NOTCH SPEAKERS ON SUBJECTS LIKE ISRAEL ADVOCACY, ANTISEMITISM ON CAMPUS, SOCIAL MEDIA LITERACY, NAVIGATING THE DISCOURSE ON CAMPUS AND SEPHARDIC HERITAGE AND PRIDE.
The students came together to explore new ideas and gain tools and connections to help prepare them for their time on campus and beyond. Throughout the program there was also plenty of time for the participants to have fun; from the high ropes course to evening zip-lining and all culminating in the custom made amazing race! Our roster of all star speakers and organizations were so impressed by the caliber of young adults on this retreat. Their intelligence and interest in the topics was evident throughout the program.
FEEDBACK FROM THOSE IN ATTENDANCE
Every speaker at the retreat was better than the next. This program reinforced for me how lucky I am to have a community support system to keep me grounded and provide me with the resources and tools to succeed in life. Through Boot CampUs and other programs that the SCA offers the youth of our community, they are helping my peers and I understand the importance of having an identity ā on an individual level, using our ties to our past to help us in the future, and collectively as a community, having the tools to make a difference in the world and to each other. Thank you to the SCA for providing me with such a special experience, and I look forward to joining you in future programming!
I had the best time at SCA Boot CampUs 23. This retreat was the perfect mix of learning and fun activities. SCA provided many speakers to educate us on antisemitism and how to combat this on college campuses. A few points that stuck with me are that Jews have rights and we must unite. Thank G-d Israel is our home. We support our home in the United States of America, which is a free country. As Jews, we have rights here, and we are protected by law if an issue arises on campus. As a student, you can always consult the head of your university because it is their job to make you feel safe. Next, we were advised to seek out fellow Jews on campus. This will give us a sense of unity and help us remember we are never alone. In addition, SCA opened this retreat to students from Magen David, Flatbush, and Hilell. My favorite part of the trip was meeting new people and making new friends from different schools. We made cherishable memories by singing around the campfire and competing in color war. As part of the Sephardic community, we are united on and off campus!
Natali Hazkour, Magen David Yeshivah High School
SCA Boot CampUs was a very amazing experience. It was nice to not only meet kids my age from other schools, but to also learn a lot about the circumstances regarding antisemitism on college campuses. The speakers inspired us and informed us of the best ways to combat antisemitism. They also taught us the best strategies when responding to people with opposing views. The program built unity amongst us and helped to prepare us for college and beyond.ā
Hymie Gindi, Yeshivah of Flatbush High School
This spectacular event would not have taken place without the vision and leadership of Jeffrey J Beyda. Thank you to Shirley Catton, Richie Dweck, Irene Hanan, Yvette Hidary, Aaron Shasha, Julie Shrem and Rabbi Joey Soffer, for making this retreat the huge success that it was.
