| Camp Yavneh | |
| Pushpin Map: | New Hampshire |
| Pushpin Label: | Camp Yavneh |
| Coordinates: | 43.1825°N -71.1658°W |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location within New Hampshire |
| Location: | Northwood, New Hampshire |
| Campus Size: | 65 acres |
| Established: | [1] |
Camp Yavneh is a 65-acre residential Jewish summer camp in Northwood, New Hampshire.[2] It was established in 1944 by the Boston Hebrew Teacher College under the leadership of Louis and Leah Hurwich, initially as a Hebrew study camp.[3] [4]
Yavneh is accredited by the American Camp Association. It offers children aged 8–17 a camp environment where Jewish values and activities are emphasized. The camp is not affiliated with one religious movement, considering itself K'lal Yisrael .
Dean Louis Hurwich (1887-1968), a co-founder of the Hebrew Teachers College, became the third dean of the institution in 1932. He promoted Hebrew education for youth and sprouted the idea of a Jewish summer camp.[5]
Dean Louis Hurwich and Leah Hurwich first conceived Yavneh in the early 1940s. Originally, it was intended as an all-Hebrew summer school program. In late 1943, Dean Hurwich gained approval for his summer school camp from the Board of Trustees of Hebrew Teachers College. He formed a group of 37 founders, each donating $1000 (about $18,236.59 in 2025) towards the founding of Camp Yavneh.[6]
Hurwich purchased Camp Hickory in New Hampshire for $18,000 ($328,258.61 in 2025). He renamed the camp to "Yavneh" after the region in east Israel.[7]
Because of World War II, the Hurwiches had extreme difficulties finding counselors in the first years of the camp. They had multiple options: The Yitzhak Elhanan Yeshiva and the Jewish Theological Seminary. Of course, they also had Dean Hurwich's own Hebrew College. They recruited only those who spoke Hebrew fluently and were mature enough to support children.
Hurwich was beloved at the camp for his charisma and love for all his campers. After four years of working at Yavneh, Dean Louis Hurwich was forced to retire from his position at camp because of illness, and Frieda Shore took his role at the camp.