A Message from the Executive Director

Shalom, Gilboa community!

Becoming the Executive Director of Machaneh Gilboa feels like a full-circle moment for me — a chance to bring together my lifelong love of summer camp with my ongoing commitment to building a radically just society for all peoples.

As someone with a Catholic mother and a Jewish father, I spent much of my life feeling like I didn't quite fit in Jewish communal spaces. That changed the moment I became a counselor at an inclusive Jewish summer camp. For the first time, I felt like I truly belonged — and it was there that my Jewish identity was strengthened in ways I'm still grateful for today.

Later, as City Director of Repair the World Los Angeles, I came to understand the pursuit of a just world not as separate from my Jewish identity, but as one of its clearest expressions. That belief is exactly why Habonim Dror's global youth movement — and its advocacy for progressive values around the world — feels like home to me.

We're having an incredible summer at machaneh (camp), where chanichim (campers) and tzevet (staff) alike are actualizing Gilboa's central philosophy of collective responsibility through our core values and rituals:

• Avodah – cultivating a sense of personal responsibility

• Kehilah – building a sense of community

• Shabbat – strengthening Jewish identity and inclusivity

• Chinuch – developing values-based experiential education

  
  

What makes Gilboa truly special is that this is a youth-led community. Our chanichim and tzevet aren't just participating in camp life – they're actively shaping it, constantly developing their own leadership skills along the way. I’ve had the pleasure of witnessing firsthand the social-emotional growth of our chanichim when given the opportunity to design and lead programming blocks for all of camp – including musicales (concerts), medurahs (talent shows), and Bocoup (Bogrim takeover of camp). Our passionate tzevet uplift our entire community with the intention and care they devote to crafting engaging peulot (education sessions) where chanichim are provided a psychologically safe space to explore their Jewish humanitarian values.

And, lastly, it’s been an absolute joy to work alongside Mazkirut, who are now actualizing the leadership skills they developed growing up at Gilboa as this summer’s youth leadership team.

• Shoshana, our Rosh, is the leading strategist for all programming and empowers everyone at camp to be leaders in their own right.

• Laila, our Melavah, is laser-focused on the physical and mental well-being of staff and campers alike.

• Guy, our Vatik, ensures the kessem (magical immersion) of camp is thriving at all times.

• Cody, our Chinuch, develops experiential-educational programming where campers explore their own philosophies and values.

• Miles, our Techni, safeguards the operational excellence of camp by ensuring all facilities run at peak efficiency.

  
  

Mazkirut, tzevet, and chanichim work in unison to embody what makes Gilboa so special: a community where young people are leading with care, passion, and conviction.

As I wrap up my first session at Camp Gilboa, I’m left with immense gratitude for being welcomed with open arms into such a tight-knit community.

Michael Auerbach Executive Director, Camp Gilboa