Injustice for a Jewish day camp on LI

In his famous “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. wrote:

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly."

King had many Jewish friends and supporters during his fight for racial justice in the 1960s. He reciprocated that friendship in full, most famously with Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel who became a fellow “drum major for justice” along with King, John Lewis, and many others. Now almost 60 years later, the Jewish community on Long Island is threatened by injustice.

The Village of Brookville was recently successful in its legal claims against Camp Jacobson, a summer camp enjoyed by hundreds of local Jewish and non-Jewish families since 2009. Following the 2022 season — and in light of the court’s decision — we made the difficult choice to announce the closure of the camp next summer instead of stringing families along through a drawn-out appeal.

The village asserted in court documents that the camp did not meet the criteria to be considered “religious” in nature. The courts unfortunately agreed that while the Jewish community center that runs the camp is Jewish, the camp was "recreational."

We have sought cooperative engagement with the village since 2011, losing our most recent attempt at our right to appeal in state Supreme Court in December 2021. While we disagree with the decisions, we are abiding by them. Since our closure announcement went public, I have received calls from families near and far pledging to do what they can to help. Many sent their kids to Camp Jacobson or Robin Hood (before we purchased the property almost 15 years ago). Families all over Long Island are heartbroken by the closure. It’s a wonderful show of support and we are genuinely grateful for all who have reached out.

But despite that outpouring of love, the court decision begs an obvious question: What right does the village or the courts have to decide who is or isn’t Jewish and what is “Jewish enough”? The JCC is an obvious Jewish institution (which the courts have acknowledged). Its lunch program was strictly kosher. Every Friday, the camp gathered together in the ancient practice of singing songs and ringing in the coming Shabbat.

Every summer, young Israeli men and women on a gap year after high school teach Hebrew words, songs, and dances. Values taught are inherently Jewish.

In most logical minds, this is Jewish.

The very nature of Jewish identity is one that Jews have struggled with for millennia. Rabbis and Talmudic scholars have argued over who is or isn’t a Jew since the times of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Wars have been fought over Jewish identity.

Conversions were forced over Jewish identity.

Pogroms ensued over Jewish identity.

In Europe — not too many generations ago — the Nazis murdered 6 million over Jewish identity.

In recent years, Jews in the United States have been unfairly targeted and persecuted over Jewish identity.

Now, the Village of Brookville is fighting with us in court over Jewish identity.

King was correct: Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. For the hundreds of kids who will not have the summer they so desperately wanted next year and in the years to follow, the Village of Brookville owes them at least a better reason why.

That would be the Jewish thing to do.

This guest essay reflects the views of David Black, executive director of the Sid Jacobson JCC, the only full-service community center on the North Shore.