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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 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.
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
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