About The Tzofim Beit Am

Once a barn under the ownership of David Leavitt, the barn that is now the Tzofim Beit was a part of a thriving estate known as The Brookside. No one would have imagined that this dairy would one day be the physical heart and soul of the URJ Eisner Camp.

More than 600 plaques adorn the walls of the building with thousands of names and millions more memories. The earliest plaque in “The Tzof” is dated 1964’ and is actually a serving platter, created by the dishwashing crew from that summer… Marc, Kenny, Arne, and Gene. Some plaques are simply names and testaments to a long history while others might be considered elaborate works of art.

Find Your Plaque

In celebration of the 50th anniversary, we would like you to share your memories with us. We ask that you browse the walls of the Tzofim Beit Am in the “Browse the Plaques” section of this website and once you find your plaque use the “Tell Your Story” section to send us your fondest memories of Eisner Camp.

We are creating a film that will tell the story of the Tzofim Beit Am and with it the rich history of the people at Eisner Camp. Your stories will help us to create a meaningful script, so that our stories will live on for the countless generations of future Eisner campers.
 

Building and Growing for the Future

This year the Tzofim Beit Am complex including the dance room (currently the Chaverim Beit Am and formerly the Ofarim Beit Am), and the Art Shack are undergoing renovations to build a modern facility that will house enhanced programs for Music, Art and Dance. A generous donation from the Tilles family will bring arts at Eisner to a new level, to improve the level of arts instruction and the depth and breath of programming throughout camp.

The Dance Room will be complete with mirrored walls, ballet barre and new floor to complement a program that will feature many types of dance including Israeli dancing, jazz, ballet, as well as modern dance.

The Art Shack will become a craft center designed so that campers can create their favorite camp keepsakes like lanyard necklaces, tie-dye shirts, and homemade candles. For the following year, the other barn structure will serve as the fine art center for activities like pottery wheel ceramics and painting.

The Tzofim Beit Am will still remain the home of Eisner’s 9th grade unit, but will also house Eisner’s music program and a recordings studio, allowing campers to play, perform and record band and choral performances throughout the summer. New instruments will allow for campers to hone in on their skills and give everyone a chance to perform for their peers no matter what instrument they play.

For the renovations the plaques have been temporarily removed, but meticulously photographed so that every plaque goes up exactly where it had been before. The results of this archival project are what you will see on this website, maps of the walls of the Tzofim Beit Am, and photographs of the individual plaques. Each plaque is now numbered and cataloged, but we need your help to find out about everyone who was on these plaques and passed through the gates of Eisner Camp. Please tell us your story and share with us those memories that have lasted you a lifetime.

[t] 201-804-9700 [f] 201-804-9785 [e] necampinstitute@urj.org
[a] Northeast Camp Institute | 301 Route 17N | Rutherford | NJ 07070