Camp Gan Israel
Questions parents ask
The practical things, answered plainly.
What ages is camp for?
There are three divisions: ages 2 to 4, ages 5 to 7, and ages 8 to 13, each with its own schedule. The camp describes itself overall as being for ages 2 to 12, so if your child is near the top of the range, call and check before you plan around it.
Where is camp held?
Camp is based at the Chabad House, 5580 Almaden Expressway, San Jose CA 95118. Trips leave from there and come back there.
What does a day look like?
Camp runs Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM. Days mix trips, swimming, sports, nature, art, science, special events and shows, and the older division goes on trips twice a week. Fridays are built around preparing for Shabbat and end with a celebration. The office has a sample daily schedule and a parent handbook that go through it hour by hour — ask for both.
Who looks after my child?
Mussi and Mendel Weinfeld direct the camp, with head staff over a team of counselors and junior counselors. Junior counselors are teenagers, aged roughly 15 to 17, who assist counselors rather than supervise alone. Staff go through an ongoing training program before and during the season. Swimming is supervised by professional swim instructors and lifeguards.
What is lunch?
A hot kosher lunch is included with registration, plus a morning and an afternoon snack. There is nothing to pack and no lunch tickets. Bagels with spreads and cereal are out every day alongside the day’s menu. No outside food is allowed on camp grounds.
What about allergies?
Camp is peanut and tree nut free. Tell the office about any allergy or dietary restriction when you register, over the phone or on the registration form they send you — not in a website message box.
Is there a bus?
There is daily pickup and drop-off at a few locations in Sunnyvale, for an extra weekly charge. A dedicated driver runs a 15-passenger vehicle, and parents provide their own car seats. The specific stops and times are not published here — ask the office which are running this season and whether one is near you.
Is there care after 3:30?
Yes. After care runs from 3:45 PM to 5:30 PM for free play on the camp grounds, with its own staff, at an extra weekly charge.
How Jewish is camp?
Campers come from every kind of Jewish background, and nothing assumes prior knowledge. Jewish values and holidays run through the ordinary business of the day rather than sitting in a separate lesson, and Fridays turn toward Shabbat. It is meant to be a window into a joyful and relevant Jewish life that any Jewish child can enjoy.
What if my child has a birthday during camp?
Let the staff know. They mark birthdays at camp and will arrange it with you.
Can my child bring a friend?
There is a Bring-A-Friend Friday for children who have never been to Gan Izzy — a day as a camper to try it out. It needs to be booked and confirmed in advance, and space is limited.
How do I see what they got up to?
The camp runs a WhatsApp group for parents with photos, reminders and updates through the season. Ask the office for the current invite link.
How do I reach the camp director?
Call the office on 408-910-2034 and ask for the camp director, or email info@ganisraelsj.com.
Answered by the office
These come up every year and the answers change from season to season, so they are not written down here. The parent handbook covers most of them, and the office will send you a copy.
- What your child should bring each day, and on trip and swim days
- Whether a camp T-shirt is worn every day
- How much of the day is spent outdoors, and how water breaks are handled
- How to arrange a late arrival or an early pickup
- This season’s dates, weekly and daily rates, and after care and transportation costs