The Chai Society is Camp Newman's Leadership Giving Society.
In a world where people are feeling increasingly disconnected and people are searching for meaningful connection to their Judaism, Camp Newman offers opportunities to immerse yourself in Jewish values, surrounded by a loving community, while experiencing unfiltered Jewish joy and belonging.
The Chai Society is built of our most generous donors who make an $1,800+ gift to URJ Camp Newman, providing vital support for both annual operations as well as on-going capital campaign efforts.
These transformative experiences can’t happen without you. Please join us in building a brighter, more connected, joyful, and thriving Jewish future.
Your gift to Newman provides:
Scholarship: 50% of camper families receive some form of financial assistance to attend camp, and we know that there are some who might not even ask because their need is so great. Your support allows us to ensure camp is not cost-prohibitive for any of our families.
Social-emotional support and accessibility: The generosity of funders has enabled the level of community care and access to expand dramatically, including a team of staff dedicated to the social and emotional wellbeing of all campers and staff.
Program Innovation and Impact: What happens while immersed in the Newman environment is the true magic. Donor funding is critical to sustaining and expanding the current programmatic offerings. As the needs and interests of the community continue to evolve and grow, so too does what is needed for programmatic excellence.
Seasonal Staff: Newman staff are the cornerstone of the impact of the Newman experience. Your gift is central to attracting and retaining our staff while also enhancing the impact camp has on them.
Camp Facility Enhancements: Your support is critical for maintaining and improving the structures throughout the campus, ensuring safety, comfort, program expansion, and overall excellence.
Chai Society Levels
Legacy Circle | Gifts of $250,000+
Visionary Circle | Gifts of $100,000+
Champion Circle | Gifts of $50,000+
Director Circle | Gifts of $25,000+
L’Dor V'Dor | Gifts of $18,000+
L'Chaim | Gifts of $10,000+
Chai Five | Gifts of $5,000+
Double Chai | Gifts of $3,600+
Chai | Gifts of $1,800+
As a way of saying thank you,
Chai Society members will:
- Be recognized on our annual report and website
- Receive Insider updates via email
- Be invited to Chai Society Appreciation Events at camp
'25-'26 Chai Society Members
For gifts received since January 1, 2025. New donor names are added on a monthly basis!
Dr. Marshall and Gail (z''l) Littman - Marci, Moshe, Rivi and Shayna Dollinger - Barry and Debbie Cohn -
The Donner-Klein Family - Paul and Gail Wunsch - Lea and Richard Rubenstein - The Silk Family -
Barbara Merino - Cantor Paul and Lisa Buch - Rhoda and Sheldon (z"l) Wolfe Family - Brown Family - Frederick J. Isaac Philanthropic Fund - Tina and Richard Wasserman - Jennifer and Todd Kaufman -
Bruce and Robyn Cohen & Family - Eileen Ruby - Roberta and Terry Bavin - Bruce and Julia Hartman -
Dr. Abraham Shani and Elaine Elkin-Shani - Gloria and Jack Clumeck - Harriet and Bruce Skelly -
Karlin-Resnick/Cheng Family - Jennifer and Gabe Wolosin - John Pritzker Family Fund - Sue and Barry Brucker - Rabbi Karen and Harvey Sherman - Gerald and Phyllis Greenbach - Michelle & Keith Tandowsky -
Rabbi Brian and Caroline Lurie - Elkan and Laurie Scheidt - Mark Seiler - Sandy and Scott Stolberg & Family - Aviv and Relli Siegel - Joshua Leslie - Peter and Diane Goldenring - Gale and Eliot Swartz -
Marc and Stacie Hershman - Marc and Betsy Rosen - Richard Burg and Deborah Burg-Schnirman -
Rabbi Lee and Judith Bycel - Jennifer Krieger - Rabbi Doug and Ellen Kahn - Skylar and Peter Cohen - Deborah and Larry Stadtner - Steven Fadem and Laurie Baskin - Julie Harris and Etan Gumerman -
Avodah Class of 2025
Daryl Messinger and James Heeger - Rabbi Heath and Amy Watenmaker - Talia and Daniel Kaufman -
Rabbi Paul Kipnes and Michelle November - Daphna and Shamy (z"l) Noily - Sarah and Ari Vared -
Anonymous (4) - Jeffrey Kallman and Ann Morgenstern - Julia Friedman Rosen - Samara Leader -
Kent Newton and Bill Slaton - Liat Bycel - Benjamin and Julie Waltzer - Steve Krause - Leslie Wasserman - Deborah Tuttle Berkowitz and Michael Berkowitz - Wendy Allyn and David Barkan - San Francisco Humanities, Inc. - Jewish Community Federation & Endowment Fund (JCF) - Harold Grinspoon Foundation - Foundation for Jewish Camp; Foundation for Jewish Camp’s Yashar Initiative funded by The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation; Foundation for Jewish Camp's Yedid Nefesh Initiative funded by The Marcus Foundation - Sholom Groesberg Living Trust - Milton and Dorothy Sarnoff Raymond Foundation -
Maurice Amado Foundation - Roxanne and David Cohen - Joanne and Fred Greene -
Dr. Reynold and Janet Karr - Cohen Family - Raffi Krigel - Stephanie and Paul Reisz -
Paul Friedman and Family - Nancy and Scott Kane - Frank and Helen Ponder Family -
Stephanie and Adam Donner - Janet Newman - Third Plateau - Rudy Brandt and Samuel Abrams -
State of California - In memory of Corbin Barrientos (z"l) - The Rodan Family Foundation - Daniel Cutter - Hannah's Giving Circle - Robin Gross - Sunil and Millie Arora - Rabbi Joseph Gitin Memorial Scholarship Fund for Interfaith Families at JCF - Eric and Lydia Weiss - Ryan and Lisa Marks - Jessica and Michael Nusimow -
Olivia Tong and Robert Goldstein - Libitzky Family Foundation - Dr. S. Jerome & Judith D. Tamkin Foundation - Rachael Friedman and Jim Murakami - The Astren Family Endowment Fund at Jewish Community Federation & Endowment Fund Bay Area