Inside Camp Sarah in Nigeria
A children’s playground for arts, sports, singing & dancing, leadership training, and learning Judaism:
Jewish camping, as an activity, aims to provide participating individuals, families, and groups with an unforgettable camping experience that encompasses Jewish culture, traditions, and educational values. It is common to observe that these camps blend recreational activities with Jewish learning, cultural immersion, and community building to create delightful memories. In the majority of campgrounds in the United States, camping often takes place during the summer vacations and stretches out over a period of time that can be as long as ninety days.
On the other hand, there are no regular, structured summer camps that take place annually anywhere from the west coast of Sub-Saharan Africa to the central and eastern regions of Africa. Because of this, the establishment of a Jewish camp in Nigeria in 2023 was a commendable effort on the part of the organizers, and it was a great accomplishment for the black Jewish communities, particularly those in West Africa. According to its objective, Camp Sarah is a Jewish organization that teaches Judaism to children between the ages of five and sixteen. The organization’s mission is to promote unity among Jewish communities for the purpose of enhancing Jewish life in Nigeria and beyond.
Prior to making the decision to establish a Jewish summer camp in Nigeria, the organizers of Camp Sarah first sponsored a number of young people to participate in summer camps across the United States. Now, the primary mission is to achieve a greater impact by allowing more individuals to enjoy the experience of camping in Africa rather than just taking a select few children to the United States.
In the summer of 2023, the inaugural summer camping event took place in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria, at Tikvat Yisrael Synagogue at Kubwa, a suburb of the federal capital territory. The camping program debuted as a one week gathering, running from August 21st to 26th, accommodating a record of forty campers who shared in living, learning, praying, and celebrating together. Nevertheless, after that ground-breaking debut, the camp organizers held two additional events before the next summer camp. Firstly, the camp organizers sponsored a joint Hanukkah festival service at the Gihon Hebrew Synagogue, one of the earliest Jewish communities in the country. Then next was a Purim event, which was brightened by a Camp Sarah colorful children celebration in Gihon Hebrew Synagogue.
Between August 5th and August 16th, 2024, children mostly from the Jewish communities in Abuja had another amazing and unforgettable summer camp experience in Tikvat Yisrael Synagogue. The second edition of summer camping began with a 3-day leadership training program hosted inside the social hall at Gihon Hebrew Synagogue. Prospective camp workers, volunteers, and instructors received a briefing on the planned activities for the 2-week camping period. Selected individuals were drawn from 2 synagogues in Abuja and from at least 4 other synagogues outside the capital territory.
The final day of the leadership training coincided with the start of a National Youth Shabbat, which was hosted in Gihon Hebrew Synagogue. This special Shabbat was attended by youth from nine different states across the country. It was indeed a super weekend for the youth, with lots of activities beginning with a colorful Shabbat candle lighting and ending in a high-spirited musical havdallah. On Sunday, the following day, spectators gathered in a field to witness the road to the Maccabi Games as a Nigerian youth soccer team was set to make its debut in the Jewish Olympics.
Camp Sarah officially opened the following day at Tikvat Yisrael Synagogue in Abuja, where preparations were made for the event. This year’s camp hosted a total of 79 children, who were separated into four age groups: ages 5-7, 8-10, 11-13, and 14-16, with around 20 children in each group. Each group was supervised by counsellors who were volunteers. A total of eight international volunteers from three continents and three nations provided assistance to the camp. These volunteers were Rotem from Israel, Degania from Denmark, Aviv, and five others from the United States of America. In addition, the success of the camp was primarily attributable to the involvement of twenty-two Nigerian volunteers. These volunteers included Shlomo Ben Yaakov of Eden Hebrew Class, Kadmiel Ben Emmanuel, Olachi, Edina Bat Emmanuel, and a number of other enthusiastic youth teachers.
While speaking with Mrs. Debbie Isser, the director of Camp Sarah, during an interview at the Tikvat Israel Synagogue, the venue of the camping, she disclosed that Camp Sarah generated funds for its activities through donations and fundraising. She mentioned that Rabbi Kerrit’s son Micah had his bar mitzvah this year, and for his bar mitzvah project, he asked people to contribute to Camp Sarah. She also said that people contributed to Camp Sarah in memory of her mother, Charlotte (Sarah) Isser, a renowned Jewish educator who has contributed immensely towards Judaism. She laid emphasis on Camp Sarah’s mission of fostering a sense of community, strengthening the bond between campers, strengthening Jewish identity, and promoting leadership skills while having fun.
’We begin every day with a big circle and end every day with a big circle; we have songs and other different activities, including leadership skills and bonding, as part of our daily activities.
The creation of a unique Camp Sarah Siddur by Anya Herzberg, daughter of Debbie Isser, is an interesting feature of the summer camp that took place this year. The Camp Sarah Siddur, which is a collection of prayers and blessings that members of the camp community recite as part of their daily routine, was used in teaching the youngsters who were present at the camp. The prayers in the Siddur aim to fulfil Jewish obligation and strengthen the Jewish bond within the camp community. The Siddur is dedicated to Charlotte (Sarah) Isser (zichrona l’vracha), whose creativity and innovation as a Jewish educator inspired the establishment of Camp Sarah.
During an interview, one of the campers expressed that the activities at the camp provided her with a sense of belonging and opened up opportunities for her to interact with other Jewish children from other parts of the country as well as children who had travelled from abroad to participate.
My name is Batyah. I am one of the campers. What interests me the most about Camp Sarah is their high level of principle when it comes to management, organization, and time management. I learned so many new things, like bead making and painting, and I am most excited about the opportunity to socialize with Jews from all walks of life. Camp Sarah made my holiday enjoyable and memorable.
In an interview with a guardian of some children who were at the camp, Mr. Kaim, who introduced himself, expressed his reasons for enrolling his wards in the camp. He conveyed his wish for them to expand their Jewish connections and fully embrace their Jewish identity by engaging with the instructors’ insights. He emphasized his belief that the experiences at Camp Sarah Summer Camp would enhance the Jewish identity and understanding of the children. Their ability to respond to questions and defend their Jewish identity was important. In another brief discussion, Sar Habakkuk, the leader of Tikvat Isreal synagogue, expressed his joy regarding the impact that Camp Sarah has on the upbringing of Jewish children in Nigeria. He asserted that Camp Sarah’s vision surpasses his own vision for Judaism in Nigeria because it includes ambitious plans for the younger generation, who are poised to become the future of the Jewish faith. He admired the effort the camp organizers are putting into raising our children to become leaders, and as a result, his message for Camp Sarah is one of encouragement.
Activities such as singing, art and painting, various types of presentations, public speaking, meditation, sports, and Jewish education are among the most important activities that take place within the camp. With these regular exercises, the children’s mental, physical, and spiritual abilities are said to be transformed and enhanced. The organizers of the camp had implemented a standard grade system in order to monitor and evaluate overall performance, and they had also encouraged teamwork in order to accomplish their objectives.
Anya Herzberg, who is an international volunteer for Camp Sarah, acknowledged that her involvement with the Nigerian Jewish community had a huge impact on her spiritual life during another important chat. Anya Herzberg is a member of the Camp Sarah international volunteer program.
The prayers and singing are very inspiring for me and so much more beautiful than my community in the US because it is so lively and seeing the kids really know and dance to the songs. It’s a very spiritual experience for me; I haven’t felt this connected to Judaism.
According to all the evidence, it is evident that both campers and volunteers expressed good responses, highlighting the sense of belonging, socialization, and Jewish connection that they were able to cultivate. A number of children who are currently residing outside of Abuja, in the more faraway parts of eastern and southern Nigeria, have expressed interest in enrolling and attending subsequent summer camps. Parents also expressed their hopes that future editions of the camp could take place in parts of the country with significant Jewish populations.
On top of that, given that it is the only Jewish summer camp in West Africa, it would not be strange to learn that Jewish children from nearby nations like Cameroon, Gabon, Ghana, and Cote d’lvoire would be just as excited to come and get some important experience as their counterparts from Nigeria.
From all indications, Camp Sarah is more than just a summer camp—it’s a beacon of hope, inclusivity, building Jewish literacy, and addressing Jewish continuity. With only two years of existence in Nigeria, Camp Sarah has demonstrated outstanding commitment in their sacred mission for Jewish children. The camp’s on-going growth and evolution will impact future generations as these children grow to become knowledgeable leaders and devoted Jewish adherents. With adequate funding, future editions will not only include children and counsellors from various regions of sub-Saharan Africa but also extend the camp duration to a minimum of 30 to 60 days. Building bridges within and beyond the Nigerian Jewish community—Camp Sarah will strengthen Jewish identity, build a stronger connection to Israel, and increase participation in Jewish community leadership.
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