URJ Henry S. Jacobs Camp

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Jacobs is the Reform Jewish Movement’s summer camp serving the Deep South: Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Western Tennessee and the Florida Panhandle. Since 1970, Jacobs Camp has been providing a caring community in the summer that builds young people. Our retreat facilities also support the program goals of groups who want to build a strong sense of community among their participants. Each group designs their own program and our capable staff will do their very best to make sure that each retreat is the best ever!

Our Staff

	Jonathan "J.C." Cohen, Camp Director Jonathan “J.C.” Cohen has served as the Director of the URJ Henry S. Jacobs Camp since 2000. J.C. received a bachelor’s degree in Religion from Colgate University, a Masters in Social Work from the University of Southern California, and a Master of Arts in Jewish Communal Service from the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Los Angeles.

	Gary Brandt, Assistant Camp Director Gary Brandt is no stranger to Jacobs Camp. He has been coming since 1983 (as a staff brat), and started as a Olim camper in 1990. After going on the NFTY in Israel trip in 1999, he came back to spend numerous summers on staff serving as Machon work coordinator and director, counselor, adventure director and ropes course specialist, and as facilities manager.

	Ellen Alexander, Development Director Ellen is a native Mississippian, but grew up in Birmingham, Alabama. She is a graduate of Auburn University and then worked in the non-profit world for a number of years. Ellen realized how special Jacobs was in the summer of 2004 while attending the concert of a popular Jewish musician. After watching the campers sing and jump with exhilaration that night, she immediately downloaded his songs to her iPod!