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2024 Storm Relief
The September 2024 storms in Hendersonville and the surrounding mountain communities have caused significant damage at Camp Judaea.
Our team is hard at work planning for an amazing Summer 2025, our 65th year, which promises to be full of joy and laughter. So, while the physical damage is significant, we are resilient and committed, and we will come out stronger together.
Below you will find communications and ways to help. If you’d like to offer support or have any questions, please contact us at development@campjudaea.org. This page will continue to be updated.
Storm Relief Fund
For those interested in assisting with our immediate necessities, please donate now.
Communications
2/28/2025 Hurricane Helene Update
Dear Camp Judaea Community,
It’s hard to believe that five months have passed since Hurricane Helene, and we have so much progress to share! Thanks to the unwavering dedication of our families, alumni, organizational partners, Board of Directors, and year-round staff, Camp Judaea is emerging from this storm stronger than ever.
Summer 2025 Plan
As we prepare for Summer 2025, we are not just recovering — we are making long-term investments for camp’s future. Our immediate plans include:
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New Guard House – Enhancing security with a strategically positioned entrance.
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Healthcare Center Restoration – Fully restored for continued use while we develop future plans.
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Flexible Office & Meeting Spaces – The Stuccos will be repurposed into temporary office and multi-use space.
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Staff Housing Additions – Upgrading some vintage cabins for staff housing, staff lounge and expanding support staff living spaces off-campus.
Long Term: Our Vision for CJ’s Future
With enrollment more than doubling since 2012 and over 800 campers expected this summer, we continue on an extensive master planning process in collaboration with a consulting firm. This process will ensure CJ continues to thrive for years to come. Our priorities include:
- Storm Recovery & Future Resilience – The master plan will guide long-term recovery, strengthening CJ against future storms and addressing risks in flood-prone areas.
- Camper Cabin Upgrades – Completing the transition out of vintage cabins to enhance the camper experience and allow for additional staff housing outside flood-prone areas.
- Programmatic Enhancements – Expanding activity spaces, adding shaded areas, and ensuring best-in-class facilities.
We will continue to share updates and opportunities for you to be part of CJ’s future. We’d love to hear your thoughts, ideas, and hopes for the future of our campus — feel free to share them with us through this feedback form.
Your support has already made an incredible impact, and if you’d like to contribute to our ongoing recovery efforts, please donate here.
As we approach our 65th summer, the ruach, love of Israel and joy that make CJ so special remain at the heart of everything we do. Thank you for being part of our CJ family — we can’t wait for a summer Full of Joy and Laughter!
Shabbat Shalom,
Lori Zeligman
Camp Director
Civia Gerber
Board Chair
1/21/2025 Around the Campfire Newsletter Update
The Camp Judaea team is diligently preparing for an incredible Summer 2025, our 65th summer, which promises to be full of joy and laughter.
Despite the damages, primarily in the lower part of camp, caused by September 2024 storms of Hurricane Helene, our commitment to Camp Judaea’s future remains steadfast. Our year-round staff and board are hard at work planning for the upcoming summer and beyond.
We extend heartfelt thanks to the many supporters who have reached out to help in the aftermath of the storm. If you’d like to contribute to our ongoing recovery efforts, please visit the link below.
10/30/2024
Dear Camp Judaea Community,
In the first 30 days since the storm, our year-round staff, board leadership, and facilities team have come together with a shared purpose: beginning essential clean-up, repairs and upgrades for Summer 2025 — much of which is already underway!
We could not have anticipated the intensity of the storm. I vividly remember receiving that first video from our facility manager, which we quickly shared on social media to keep our community informed. Seeing the high water levels and understanding the magnitude of what we faced was shocking, yet our commitment to restoring camp has only strengthened, and we have made important progress in just this first month.
The storm impacted the lower camp area most severely, affecting the main office, guardhouse, staff housing (the “stuccos”), staff lounge, and health care center. While various other parts of camp were also affected, inspections and insurance claims are ongoing, and we know the recovery and rebuilding process will be substantial.
Our guiding motto for this recovery has become: “One week, one month, one year, and after.” This perspective has helped ground our work and reminds us that each step forward is building a lasting foundation. We are excited about potential creative solutions to make Summer 2025 amazing, while also focusing on long-term plans that ensures a strong future.
I have made several trips to camp over the past month (see photos below), but my most recent visit brought me a renewed sense of confidence and joy, as the entire year-round professional staff joined in a cleanup effort. Being with the CJ team at camp meant everything — it underscored our collective dedication to restoring camp and preparing for an incredible Summer 2025. We are wholeheartedly committed to ensuring that our program, campers, and summer staff flourish at our summer home.
We are thrilled by our camper enrollment and staff applications at this stage in the season — a true testament to CJ’s lasting impact and bright future. In that spirit, I know we will make this season unforgettable, with all the love and resilience that has always defined our community.
Thank you for your ongoing support, your patience, and for believing in Camp Judaea.
With deep appreciation,
Lori Zeligman
Camp Director
Beauty Beyond the Storm
The majority of CJ remains vibrant as ever!
10/16/2024
10/1/2024
Dear Camp Judaea Community,
While our hearts are in Eretz Yisrael, we continue to assess the damage sustained at our little bit of Israel in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Since this weekend’s storm, we have been checking on our affected families, and you have been busy checking on us. We feel the love and hope you are safe. We are reaching out to provide an update.
In the coming weeks, we will deliver more information as we further evaluate the damage and identify our tangible needs. When the time is right and we know the full impact to camp, we will reach out with a specific ask.
We will not, however, understand the full extent of the storm damage or the full cost implications for some time, as the area is heavily impacted and access remains limited. Our initial assessment reveals heavy flooding, with some buildings near the main entrance submerged under many feet of water.
Here is what we do know.
Our team is hard at work planning for an amazing Summer 2025, our 66th year, which promises to be full of joy and laughter. So, while the physical damage is significant, we are resilient and committed, and we will come out stronger together.
As we start our work on recovery and begin this New Year, our hearts, thoughts and prayers are focused on safety in Israel.
The CJ Family wishes all of you a sweet, safe, and healthy New Year.
L’shanah Tovah,
Lori Zeligman
Camp Director
Civia Gerber
Board Chair
Mindy Opper
Immediate Past Board Chair