For the first time in post-war Lithuania this summer a Hebrew language camp was held from June 22 to 24. Vilnius Sholem Aleichem ORT Gymansium Hebrew teacher Ruth Reches organized the event. She has been teaching Hebrew to adults for two years now at the Lithuanian Jewish Community.

Ruth says the idea for the camp occurred to her spontaneously. “I was speaking with students and we began to talk about how it wasn’t enough to learn Hebrew in the classroom. We were thinking about immersion in a Hebrew language environment and how good it would be to go to Israel for that reason. But first we decided to attempt to create a Hebrew environment at a camp,” she said.

The camp was held on a rural farm where for three days over 40 people from all over Lithuania gathered. The people ranged in age from students to pensioners.

Besides language classes, the camp featured events showcasing Jewish traditions and culture. The students themselves were deeply engaged in setting up the program. They held quizzes on Jewish topics, for instance. It turned out the general level of education among the group was very high.

On Friday they baked challa and celebrated the beginning of the Sabbath. One student said the Sabbath prayer, and on Saturday evening after the appearance of three stars they bid farewell to the Sabbath in song.

In the morning the campers prepared an Israeli breakfast of humus and shakshuka.

Ruth Reches noted the Jewish community has become more open over the last few years and is accessible to everyone, and now people of different backgrounds are able to learn more about their neighbors the Jews, leading to greater tolerance and friendship among peoples.

More photos here.