Camp Tel Yehudah

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Deer in the early morning at TY.

Camp Tel Yehudah is the official senior camp of Young Judaea, which is backed by Hadassah. It is located in Barryville, New York. It is for Jewish teenagers from ages 13-17 (going into high school up until college.) It is located on the banks of the Delaware River.

There are two parts to camp - Aleph and Bet. Aleph is the older camp with cozy bunks that have bathrooms but not showers, and many apple trees. Discussions often take place under the apple trees. To shower, campers have to walk to the bathhouse.

Bet looks a bit like an army camp. The bunks are built in a horseshoe shape with the dining hall and beit ha'am at the opening of the horseshoe. There is a staff house in Bet, that is supposedly haunted by the ghost of Rebecca Quick.

Tel Yehudah used to have four sessions: Regular (now called Alumim) - where first time campers learned about Jewish history. Ulpan - where campers learned Hebrew through songs, Israeli folk-dances, and conversation, Machon - leadership training, and Machoneh Avodah (affectionately called M.A.), where campers lived in the tents, prepared their own meals, grew vegetables, and milked cows. M.A. was supposed to simulate life on a kibbutz.

Seniors in high school can apply to work at camp. There are positions such as babysitters, kitchen help and office staff.

Each summer, campers put on plays. They say the ha-motzi before eating meals, and sing the Birkat Hamazon afterwards. They often sing songs out of the Young Judaea shiron-a book of Jewish songs and prayers- and dance around the Hadar Ochel (dining hall).