Haredi Summer Camps Become Political Hubs During 'Between Times' Vacation
Thousands of Haredi yeshiva students spend their annual three-week summer break, known as "Between Times," attending specialized summer camps called "kempim." These camps, which have grown in popularity in recent years, offer a more relaxed daily schedule than regular yeshiva study, often held in youth villages, boarding schools, or rented facilities. The break runs from the ninth of Av until the first of Elul on the Hebrew calendar.
Unlike typical Haredi educational settings where non-rabbinic politicians rarely speak, these camps have become venues for political speeches and debates. Notable politicians such as Knesset members Uri Maklev, Yitzhak Pindrus, and Finance Committee Chair Hanoch Milwitsky have delivered remarks that garnered media attention, including critiques of Religious Zionism and discussions about the alliance between the Likud party and Haredi factions.
Radio host Avi Gadelov, a prominent figure this summer, has moderated panels and discussions at several camps. He explains that the camps aim to maintain a yeshiva framework while providing a change of atmosphere. Activities include nightly events, music composition contests, and political symposia featuring Haredi journalists and sometimes Knesset members. These forums allow students to engage directly with public figures, especially on pressing issues like military conscription, which many students face with anxiety over potential arrest.
During one panel, MKs Michael Malchieli and Moshe Gafni answered students' candid questions about their draft status, with Rabbi Avraham Salim, a member of Shas's Council of Torah Sages, also participating. Despite the informal setting, the camps maintain traditional yeshiva routines, including dress codes, prayers, and study schedules.
These mobile camps also provide relief for large Haredi families during the challenging "Between Times" period, helping preserve family routines by occupying youth in structured environments. Yeshiva heads and rabbis frequently visit the camps to deliver Torah teachings and ideological talks, reinforcing the camps' dual role as both educational and social frameworks during the summer break.
