Camp Galil - History

History

Camp Galil was founded on its current Bucks County site in 1946 as part of Habonim, a Labor Zionist youth movement. Its name refers to the famously scenic area of northern Israel surrounding the Sea of Galilee. Prior to and during the 1948 Israeli War of Independence, Galil used its resources to help the war effort on the Israeli side by holding weapons in its barn. As the new Jewish state emerged, Galil trained and educated many of its members to visit Israel and eventually make Aliyah (literally to "go up), or move to the Land of Israel. Galilniks, along with other members of Habonim, helped found and build several kibbutzim (socialist farming communities) all over Israel, including Gesher Haziv, Urim, and others.

In the 1980s, Habonim merged with Dror to form Habonim Dror North America (HDNA). Galil retained this slightly alterted affiliation and is still a member of HDNA.

The 1990s were a happy time, both for Galil and for the rest of the nation. Galil's enrollment grew again, and any thoughts of shutting down disappeared. In 1995, counselors from Camp Miriam in British Columbia helped successfully restart Camp Gilboa. Following their lead, many from Galil helped reestablish Camp Naaleh in northeastern Pennsylvania. In 2007 Naaleh acquired a new property in northern New York and relocated there for the summer of 2008. Gilboa and Naaleh are still running and growing in size.

The early 2000s were also an exciting time. HDNA once again had 7 camps, all of which were relatively successful. After about two decades without any movement members making Aliyah, HDNA sent its first new garin (literally "seed," it refers to a collective group moving to Israel) in 2000, which included Ezra Weinberg, who was rosh (head) of Galil in 1999 and 2000. HDNA sent two more garinim a few years later, one of which included Joshy Cohen, who was rosh in 2002 and 2003. With high enrollment numbers and a clear and exciting new direction, things sure are looking good for Camp Galil!