From the earliest stages of this season at The Jewish Agency for Israel’s Summer Shlichut [Emissary] Program, it was clear that significant challenges awaited us. Yet nobody could have anticipated just how complex things would become, or how powerfully our mission would guide us through.
The Jewish Agency’s summer camp shlichim (emissaries) are taking an unforgettable journey of resilience, creativity, and unwavering commitment, made possible by our senior leadership’s unshakable promise that all shlichim would reach camp this summer.
It all started on May 4, the day everything changed. A missile launched from Yemen landed near Ben-Gurion Airport, prompting nearly every major American and European airline to suspend flights to and from Israel. The resulting halt lasted nearly a month.
Just as flights began to resume in early June, Israel launched Operation Rising Lion, forcing the unprecedented closure of Israeli airspace for seven days. By that time, 1,200 of The Jewish Agency’s record-setting delegation of 2,050 Summer Camp Shlichim had already reached North America – but 850 remained in Israel. They were ready to go, yet grounded.
Still, we never questioned whether they’d get to camp – only how quickly. Now, the journey has moved from stress to joy, as the emissaries have received a warm welcome upon their arrival.
How exactly did we get here?
At The Jewish Agency for Israel, our senior leaders have strongly committed to making the Summer Shlichut Program a top priority.
That commitment sparked a round-the-clock effort to find creative, safe, and immediate solutions. The first breakthrough became known as Operation Aqaba.
The complex operation began on June 20, when 120 shlichim boarded buses in Haifa and Tel Aviv, and journeyed through the night to Eilat, stopping only briefly in Beersheba and to pull over during missile sirens. From Eilat, they crossed into Jordan and boarded a charter flight to Athens, Greece.
The next day, they were on their way to North America. This under-the-radar operation was executed by more than 30 Jewish Agency staff and partners across three countries.
That mission opened the door for hundreds more shlichim. Over the following week, The Jewish Agency secured 700 seats that were designated for summer camp shlichim on special flights, rerouting shlichim via Athens and through limited-capacity direct flights to New York.
A four-team structure – including a situation room monitoring air-traffic alerts, field escorts in Israel, a global travel desk, and full ground support in Athens – made it all possible.
This was more than a logistical operation. It was a living embodiment of what shlichut means.
For nearly a quarter-century, I’ve known this transformational experience firsthand. On June 4, 2001, I began what became the journey of a lifetime: my first of 19 unforgettable summers at URJ Camp Coleman.
That camp became my home away from home – where I built lasting friendships, grew as a leader, and discovered who I am. Today, I have the privilege of directing The Jewish Agency’s Summer Shlichut Program at a time when its meaning has never been more profound.
Even amid geopolitical uncertainty and real threats to our homeland, our goal has remained steadfast: to ensure that all shlichim fulfill their calling. Because what they bring to camp – and what they take home with them – is transformative in ways that ripple far beyond one summer.
The role of shlichim: building relationships
Shlichim, mostly aged 19 to 25, are outstanding contributors and leaders throughout the camp season. They serve as counselors, sports instructors, song leaders, educators, and so much more. But above all, they’re a living bridge to Israel.
They build strong, personal relationships with campers, helping them develop a meaningful connection to the Jewish state and Jewish people. Especially now, as chaos swirls in the Middle East, the shlichim offer something that no headline or news report ever could: an authentic, personal, and deeply human experience of Israel.
A typical day might include running a morning horseback ride, spontaneously teaching a new Israeli song at lunch, or leading an educational session on Israeli culture in the afternoon. These young Israelis strike a beautiful balance – filling essential roles at camp while infusing every moment with joy, connection, and cultural meaning.
For many North American campers and staff, shlichut is where it all begins. Building a relationship with an emissary may be their only meaningful connection to an Israeli.
This experience not only educates but also breaks down stereotypes and brings Israel to life in the most personal and relatable way. Through every conversation, dance, and story, shlichim are building bridges that last a lifetime.
This relationship-building goes both ways. Many of the emissaries arrive at camp having never encountered North American Jewish communities.
Their experience opens their eyes to the beautiful diversity of global Jewry – from Reform to Conservative, Reconstructionist to Orthodox, and everything in between.
They return to Israel with what I call “shlichut energy,” becoming more open, connected, and engaged Jewish leaders back home.
Hundreds of emissaries return summer after summer, bringing their unparalleled experience and deep-rooted relationships with campers and staff. Their continued presence is a testament to the enduring power of the program.
Shlichut is about relationships. Even after 24 years, the connections I built in my first summer still add value and meaning to my life. All Jews share a common story, and Israel is at the heart of it.
Ultimately, the summer of 2025 will be remembered not for its obstacles, but for the extraordinary commitment to overcome them, against all odds. All shlichim who’ve reached camp this year bring with them a story of courage and a heart full of purpose.
Their arrival isn’t just a victory of logistics. It’s a triumph of values: showing up when it matters most and bridging continents in service of a peoplehood that knows no borders. This summer is redefining what it means to commit to one another, and it’s proving that, when we come together for a shared purpose, nothing is impossible.
Because at its core, summer camp shlichut is about being there for one another. It’s about leading with heart. And it’s about building a future rooted in resilience, relationships, and hope.
The writer is director of the Summer Shlichut Program at The Jewish Agency for Israel.