Camp Ideal

Camp Ideal is a summer day-camp sponsored by the Federation for children in the community Grades K - 5. For older kids, 

For more than 55 years, Camp Ideal has been dedicated to promoting and sharing the values and ideals of the Jewish tradition alongside its commitment to provide a safe, enjoyable and growth-filled summer experience for children on the Federation’s beautiful 27-acre campus.

Click here for camp details

Camp Scholarships Are Available

The Jewish Federation is committed to helping make Camp Ideal, Teen Israel Trips and Jewish Residential Summer Camp Programs accessible to Jewish Youth of all economic means. As part of this commitment the Jewish Federation has scholarships available to community members who qualify.

Click here to download a scholarship application. Applications for Teen Israel Trips and Jewish Residential Summer Camp programs must be returned to the Jewish Federation no later than March 31, 2017. If you have any questions, please contact the Jewish Federation. 

SaBaBaH

SaBaBaH (South Bend Benton Harbor) is our Jewish community's youth group Pre-teens through high school. Programming includes holiday themed parties, volunteer activities, fundraising events, lock-ins and fun activities such as skating, bowling, kayaking, bon fires, hiking, and go carts. Please contact the Jewish Federation for more information.

PJ Library

The PJ Library® program supports families in their Jewish journey by sending Jewish-content books and music on a monthly basis to children from six months to eight years. Created by the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, and sponsored by our local Jewish Federation. To visit our PJ Library webpage, please click here.

Kapson and Roland Scholarships available for Jewish students

This year, the Jewish Federation of St. Joseph Valley will once again award scholarships to Jewish students in our service area  from the Craig and Carol Kapson Scholarship Fund and the Lillian and Harvey Roland Trust.

The Kapson Scholarship helps a Jewish students from our area attend a university, college or technical institute in Indiana. A committee of Jewish community members will review eligible candidates based on the motivation of the student to receive a higher education along with merit and financial needs. Scholarship amounts are based on need and number of applicants.

The Lillian and Harvey Roland Scholarship Fund serves the purpose of providing higher education scholarships to matriculating college students of parents who are either active in the Jewish community and are contributors to the Jewish Federation. This Scholarship will be awarded to applicants matriculating to Indiana University who have demonstrated academic achievement and financial need.

Interested students should contact the Jewish Federation for information about applications.  You may also print and mail the application to The Jewish Federation of St. Joseph Valley, 3202 Shalom Way, South Bend, IN 46615. Download the application here.

Neil and Leah Silver Advanced Degree Scholarship

For our graduate students, new this year, is the Neil and Leah Silver Advanced Degree Scholarship.

This new fund will provide support for a scholarship for Jewish students from our service area to attend an accredited university graduate program. Unlike the Kapson and Roland Scholarships, this scholarship is available to students attending universities outside the state of Indiana.

If you have been thinking about going back to school to get a master’s degree or to pursue a doctorate but have shied away due to the rising costs of higher education, thanks to the Silvers, the Federation may be able to help make this a reality.

Interested students should contact the Jewish Federation for information about applications.  You may also print and mail the application to The Jewish Federation of St. Joseph Valley, 3202 Shalom Way, South Bend, IN 46615. Download the application here.

Birthright Israel

Taglit-Birthright Israel offers the gift of a free, 10-day educational trip to Israel for Jewish adults between the ages of 18 to 26. Since its inception in 2000, Taglit-Birthright Israel has sent nearly 300,000 Jewish young adults to Israel. They come from 54 countries, all 50 U.S. states and Canadian provinces, and from nearly 1,000 North American colleges and universities.

The trip aims to strengthen participants’ Jewish identity; to build an understanding, friendship and lasting bond with the land and people of Israel; and to reinforce the solidarity of the Jewish people worldwide. Click here for more information.