This summer, Yachad will introduce a new program at Camp Moshava Malibu at the Shalom Institute Campgrounds in Malibu, CA, to bring a summer of fun and Inclusion for all in a summer camp setting.
Campers will be between the ages of 8-16. Each Yachad camper will be accompanied by a shadow throughout the camp season. The shadows and program director of the Yachad program in Moshava Malibu will be hired and trained by Yachad and will serve as full members of the Moshava team. The Yachad program at Moshava Malibu will provide supervision for each child on his or her own unique level.
“Yachad,” the flagship program of the Orthodox Union’s National Jewish Council for Disabilities (NCJD), provides unique social, educational and recreational programs for individuals with learning, developmental and physical disabilities with the goal of their Inclusion in the total life of the Jewish community.
Camp Moshava Malibu, entering its second year, operates under the umbrella of Bnei Akiva, the religious Zionist youth movement of inspiring and empowering the Jewish youth of North America with a deep commitment to Am Yisrael, Eretz Yisrael, and Torat Yisrael. The camp’s duration will expand this year to eighteen days from two weeks last year. Moshava Malibu is the fourth Bnei Akiva-affiliated camp to join forces with Yachad, along with Camp Moshava Indian Orchard (IO) in Pennsylvania; Moshava Ba’ir in New Jersey; and Moshava Ba’ir in Toronto.
“This new program continues our strong relationship with Bnei Akiva,” Dr. Joe Goldfarb, director of summer programs at Yachad, said. “From the time that Moshava Malibu began preparations for the camp, Rabbi Kenneth Pollack, the camp director, has been in touch with us, because they could not imagine having a camp without including children with special needs. Their first year was a tremendous success and we are looking forward to campers with special needs enjoying the fun and exciting Israel-centered programs that are being offered.”
Rabbi Pollack shared: “I am very excited about this new partnership. Bringing Yachad into our Moshava setting is the perfect blend of professionalism and maintaining the Moshava brand, which is very important. Working with people who know how our model works is very important to me. Additionally, the Inclusion model that we are going to be working with will not only benefit our special needs campers, but will add to the overall environment that we hope to create in camp.”
According to Orit Faguet, director of Yachad Los Angeles, “Yachad promotes an atmosphere of inclusion, simultaneously helping to integrate those with special needs in our community and improving the sensitivity of those without special needs who participate in our programs. We hope to bring that same spirit of inclusion and sensitivity to Moshava Malibu and provide a great camp experience for our members with special needs here in the Los Angeles area.”
The campus includes an Olympic-sized swimming pool, high-and-low-element rope courses, an organic farm, an Israel discovery center and garden, sports and archery fields, a climbing wall, animal education center, dining hall and health center, outdoor amphitheaters, campfire areas and outdoor fireplace, arts and crafts pavilion, hiking trails directly to the beach, and waterfalls. Daily shiurim (learning sessions) will be filled with interactive activities that educate campers about Hakamat Hamedina (the establishment of the State of Israel) – the camp’s planned theme for this summer.
For further information please contact Nechama Braun at {encode=”yachadsummer@ou.org” title=”yachadsummer@ou.org”} or 212.613.8368 or visit yachad.org/summerprograms. For questions and registration, please email {encode=”office@moshavamalibu.org” title=”office@moshavamalibu.org”}, or call its toll free number 855-MOSHAVA. Office hours are 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. PST. The year-round office is located at Bnei Akiva of Los Angeles, 9030 West Olympic Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90211.