This week marked a profound milestone for six campers at Camp Yeka Ukraine, who made the bold and life-changing decision to undergo a Bris Milah.
At Camp Yeka Ukraine, Jewish identity isn’t just an abstract lesson. It’s a living, breathing experience. That reality was made all the more vivid this week when six boys chose to join the eternal bris of our forefather.
Among them was Yan, a veteran camper whose connection to the camp spans nearly ten years and over twenty sessions—summers, winters, and Yamim Tovim. Though his commitment to Yiddishkeit had grown over time, the step of Bris Milah remained one he hadn’t yet taken.
One Friday night this summer, as Shabbos settled in and the atmosphere turned soulful, Yan sat with his counselor for a heartfelt farbrengen. The conversation turned inward and deep, as his counselor gently encouraged him to consider making the leap. After some quiet reflection, Yan raised his eyes and said with quiet strength, “This time, I’m doing it.”
But soon after, doubt crept in. A close friend—who isn’t Jewish—told Yan that he would cut ties with him if he went through with the bris. Conflicted, Yan struggled with the decision. That night, as uncertainty weighed heavily on him, several staff members sat beside him on a bench. Without a word, they began to sing: first the beloved camp anthem, “Yeka oh Yeka,” then Shamil’s haunting niggun. As the familiar melodies washed over him, tears welled up in Yan’s eyes. In that quiet, emotional moment, his heart became clear—he would go through with it.
The following day, flanked by his devoted counselors, Yan walked into the Bris room with strength and a sense of purpose etched on his face.
After the camp session concluded, Yeka staff didn’t stop there. They continued their mission by visiting Jewish families scattered across rural towns and villages throughout western Ukraine. In places where Jewish children often grow up disconnected from their heritage, the team brought warmth, inspiration, and a renewed sense of belonging.
{Matzav.com}
