Congregation Gates of Prayer Announces $1 Million in Funding to Defray Cost of Jewish Summer Camp for All Members

NEW ORLEANS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Congregation Gates of Prayer, a vibrant reform synagogue in Metairie, Louisiana, today announced a $1 million investment to make Jewish summer sleepaway camp an affordable reality for hundreds of families for decades to come.

The Gates of Camp Initiative (a.k.a. GO-Camp Initiative) represents the temple’s largest-ever investment in its congregation’s children and will reduce the cost of sleepaway camp — a quintessential rite of passage — by 50% for all qualifying J-FLEx religious school students.

“Studies have proven that Jewish summer camp children are more likely to be congregation members, observe Jewish rituals at home, and support Israel,” said Rabbi David Gerber, Senior Rabbi of Congregation Gates of Prayer. “With the GO-Camp Initiative, we hope the children of our community will have impactful summers at camp and meaningful Jewish lives with our congregation throughout the year.”

The tuition award is available to all congregational members in good standing who achieve participation milestones during the calendar year. Both students and their families can achieve milestones through J-FLEx (Jewish Fun Learning Experiences) participation, participation in the temple’s youth group and other meaningful community activities, attendance at services and holidays, committee service, singing in the choir, or joining Sisterhood or Brotherhood.

For more information on the Gates of Camp (GO-Camp) Initiative, please click HERE. For more information and to register for J-FLEx, please click HERE.

About Congregation Gates of Prayer

At nearly 175 years old, Congregation Gates of Prayer is the oldest ongoing congregation in the Greater New Orleans area. Located in Metairie, LA, the robust, vibrant, and welcoming Reform Jewish synagogue has been on the cutting edge of Reform Jewish life and programming emphasizing inspirational and creative worship services. Our mission is to help members of all ages find Kedusha, or holiness within their lives, through worship, lifecycle events, educational and social programs, and social action.