L'dor Vador

As a Jewish person, I've long been interested in the concept, formation and exercise of Jewish identity. In my project L'dor Vador ('From Generation to Generation'), I show the experience of coming-of-age as a Jewish person by focusing on the uniquely Jewish-American ritual of sleep-away camp.

Sleep-away camps first arose in the 1800s, born out of fears that European immigrants would assimilate too deeply into American culture and leave their Jewish roots behind. Passing along Judaism to a new generation still remains a top concern for most of the community. The fear isn't unfounded. Within the next decade, the last Holocaust survivors will die; Jews make up less than 3% of the U. S. population; 2026 saw the highest level of antisemitic attacks since the FBI began tracking in 1979; And, Jews have the lowest birthrates and highest rates of marrying outside the faith of all religious groups in the U. S. Consequently, there's never been more pressure to preserve and sustain the ethno-religion.

Camp has a record of strengthening Jewish identity. Research shows those who attended sleep-away camp are over 50% more likely to remain connected to Judaism than those who didn't attend camp. Set against a utopic backdrop of swimming and s'mores, camps help Jewish youth establish friendships, ethics, pride, and community. Through embedding at Camp Nah-Jee-Wah in Milford, PA, I document how one bunk of campers, on the cusp of bat mitzvah, form and exercise their identities. Just as sleep-away camps are keeping Judaism alive in America, this is my own attempt to immortalize the dwindling religion.

L'Dor Vador captures a coming-of-age experience that most anyone can relate to: celebrating girlhood, friendship, and discovering personal identity. Further, I hope it will serve as a catalyst for discussions within the Jewish community on preserving our culture amid a changing world, and challenge stereotypes and misconceptions held by the non-Jewish community. Each year media continues to be released about the Holocaust—holding the image of Jews in loss and the past. My photos, instead, look positively towards the Jewish future—focusing not on our struggle but on our perseverance and joy.

Today, as the community struggles to raise a new generation of committed Jews, camps are the most important resource for Jewish education, experience and identity. The future of American Judaism rests on the shoulders of today's youth—shoulders which get tanned at sleep-away camp.