kol szaravash

Below are the Desi bunch on day 1 at our pre camp orientation - we are dressed up in crepe paper outfits for a mock birthday party icebreakeing celebration!




Some small reflections on camp, in the few minutes I have between running and coordinating activities here in Hungary


What does an international Jewish youth camp look & sound like?

For an Indian girl in my group celebrating her birthday at camp, Camp sounds like a noisy lunchroom, full of well wishers- and birthday wishes- in Serbian, Russian, Turkish, Bulgarian, Hungarian, Polish and of course Hindi and Marathi words and songs.


Some challenges of such a multicultural environment?

Integrating a Brazilian football party with a classic Indian fashion show- which actually worked! We had tables drapes in green and yellow, used as a catwalk, women and men draped in sarees and dhotis ( and jerseys), plus mehndi tattos of Indian symbols, stars of david, and football logos...

Cultural Challange? Try creating programs for communities that don't speak the same language you do and have a completely different outlook on the world


The highs?

Singing Am Yisrael Chai, the "Jewish Nation is alive", in a room bursting full of Jews young and old, all cheering and dancing around with incredible spirit; Seeing my Indian group slowly step up to the plate and take on more responsibilities in camp, like leading sessions to helping with a Talmudic Village, to dressing up as rabbis. I cannot stress how proud I am of this group.

Getting up with the Indian group onto chairs in the 'emataram' ( meeting place in Hungarian), laughing and shouting and having a blast with Jewish youth from all over the world

enjoy the photos



Latvian and Lithuanian Kids- the sweet girl in the center (purple T shirt) is twelev year old Ola, who upon arrival marhced straight up to the Indian bunk and made firends with all the girls- she was so excited to meet us!



A snap of me from a "Ask the Rabbi" night activity...



A photo from our Indian American Mifgash, where we played American games, painted mehndi, cooked Indian food and had a blast together with the American group