Say Shalom to Our Israeli Camp Counselors!
Every year, Camp JCC is fortunate to host shlichot, Israeli counselors. They work at camp while living with host families in Greater Raleigh. Our shlichot for this year are Olga Dudchuk and Violet Pavlyukevich. We were excited to ask them a few questions to get to know them better.
Olga Dudchuk (L) and Violet Pavlyukevich (R)
Q: Where did you grow up?
Olga: I grew up in a small town in Russia before moving to Israel. I spent my high school years in Herzilya.
Violet: I grew up in Ashkelon in Israel.
Q: What are your jobs at camp?
Viola: I am a Rikud specialist. I will be teaching Israeli dance.
Olga: I am a Tarbut specialist. I will be teaching about Israeli culture.
Q: What are you looking forward to this summer at camp?
Olga: I’m looking forward to being with the kids. I want to give them information and answer their questions about Israeli culture and life in Israel. I want to share with them my experience, and I’m looking forward to learning something from the kids and other counselors as well. I love when we can share those experiences with each other and listening to them talk about their Jewish life here. It’s interesting for me.
Violet: I came here because I love children and the Jewish community here in America. I expect a great experience with the kids and counselors. I see it as my mission to bring the beauty of Israel to here, especially with everything going on now. I want to show them the beautiful and real side of Israel.
Q: What are your plans for after this summer?
Violet: I’m going to travel. The ending will be in New York.
Olga: I am going to travel as well, to Costa Rica and California and New York with my boyfriend. I’ll also meet my cousin in California.
Q: What do you like to do for fun?
Violet: I like to dance and do Pilates. I like to go to the beach, and I like to draw.
Olga: I do yoga and read books, the classics.
Q: What is your favorite summer treat?
Olga: Ice cream—Pistachio ice cream!
Viola: I also love ice cream, but I like everything with chocolate.
Q: Is there anything you would like our readers to understand about you, camp, or Israel?
Viola: We are happy to hear from everybody about their life here. We don’t know much about Jewish life outside of Israel, and I’ve been surprised by a lot.
Olga: Every Israeli Jew has their own story. It’s really interesting how American Jewish communities are when they are so far from Israel. Here [Jewish life] is changed, and in Israel they’ve stayed with a lot of old ways. It’s important for us to share this knowledge and the changes, from our Jewish experience and from the American Jewish experience. The religion, the lifestyle. It’s important to share. For example, Reform Judaism is so spread out here. In Israel, I would never see a girl wearing a kippah or putting on tefillin. They prioritize other values from Orthodox Judaism. Israeli Jews don’t pay attention to this.
We are still looking for families to host our Israeli counselors this summer. To learn more, click here.