We had the opportunity to speak with 15-year-old Isaac Raboy from La Serena, Chile. Here’s what he had to say about this once-in-a-lifetime experience.

In La Serena, there are only two Jewish families. There are no Jewish schools, shuls or rabbis. Therefore, it is very difficult to be affiliated to the Jewish religion. My mother grew up in La Serena, but the community was much bigger then and now many have either passed away or moved to Santiago.

I do have Jewish friends in Santiago, Chile’s capital city. Sometimes I go there to celebrate the Jewish holidays.

It was an amazing experience to be able to live with other Jewish teenagers this past summer. I learned a lot from each of them. I also learned a lot about my Judaism. And, I learned how to read Hebrew.

The highlight from the summer was our trip to New York City! My second favorite was going to Six Flags.

I would love to tell all Jewish teenagers throughout Latin America to give Or Haner a chance. You really do have a blast, you go on amazing trips and learn a lot. There really are some geniuses working in camp!

I came to camp with tefillin that belonged to my great-great-grandfather which his son was able to manage to keep even through life in a German concentration camp. I received this tefillin from my grandfather when I was a bar mitzvah. It is more than 300 years old and is considered an antique and is of great personal value to me.

Camp Or Haner gave me new tefillin so I can use it every day and become more attached to my Judaism.

Being Jewish is an honor because we are the chosen people and I am very proud of that.

Learn more about the Jewish camp experience.