How Camper, Tal Varol ended up at SAC

---

---

When you Google the words “Seattle, Sephardic, and Camp” guess what shows up in the browser?  That’s right!  But that’s no surprise considering Sephardic Adventure Camp is not just the only Sephardic overnight camp in Seattle, but the only one in the nation!  In any case, this is exactly the same search Hayim Vitaly Varol of Ashdod, Israel entered in Google in hopes of finding a Sephardic summer camp community for his 15-year-old son Tal. 

Hayim explained that he did not just want his son to hear about how his family kept Sephardic traditions, (like you would read in a history book), but more, he wanted Tal to see for himself by experiencing a living breathing Sephardic community firsthand. He was inspired by what he had heard about Seattle over the years, and was drawn to the fact that the Seattle Sephardic community has two active Sephardic congregations, and a community that follows a strong Ladino culture with a similar background to his native Gallipoli.  He was excited when his search produced a Sephardic Youth Camp in the Seattle area!  He set the project aside to work on other things. But no more than a few days later, in early January, something happened that set things in motion!  A nice couple serendipitously walked into his jewelry store in the Machane Yehuda district of Jerusalem.  They wanted to purchase several things and started talking to Hayim.  After a very short time, he found out that the couple was visiting from Seattle. It turns out, they were Steve and Rachely Hemmat, long-time Seward Park community members who belong to Congregation Ezra Bessaroth.  Rachely immediately wondered why Hayim did not sound like a native Hebrew speaker.  After further conversation, the Hemmats found out that Hayim and his wife Vered Virginia speak Ladino as their first language.  And, that both Hayim and his wife are of Turkish Sephardic ancestry.  In fact, Hayim’s family name, “Varol”, was actually altered slightly by his father from  “Varon”, a name shared by our own Seattle SAC community members. 

Shortly after the chance meeting at Hayim’s jewelry store, Beth Jacoby, SAC Marketing director received messages from both Hayim and the Hemmats.  The message was loud and clear!  Tal Varol must go to SAC!  It was clear to his father that this was his destiny.  Hayim was on a mission to provide Tal with the opportunity to move forward in life by knowing where he came from.  And he could think of no better place for him to learn where he came from than Sephardic Adventure Camp where he would have the opportunity to learn about his common history with other Sephardic youth. 

Fast forward 7 months and Tal is indeed on the ground in Cle Elum, Washington!  Hayim accompanied him all the way from Israel to attend SAC last week, and SAC is exactly where Tal has been experiencing Sephardic Ladino culture among his new friends.  He has already read Sefer on Shabbat, attended daily K’hal, spoken in Ladino with Linguistics Professor, Bryan Kirschen, and is meeting friends whom he has the chance of making life-long connections with. All this, of course, in addition to experiencing many fun recreational activities in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. 

Hayim and Vered Virginia Varol are happy to hear that Tal is making friends and getting an infusion of Sephardic pride.  And, SAC is beyond thrilled that we have attracted a family to our camp from across the world whom we share the same meaningful mission with!  Todo Bueno!  Vengas en bonora al SAC… Welcome to SAC, Tal Varol!  And may our traditions continue de jenerasion a jenerasion, l’dor va’dor, from generation to generation!

By Beth Jacoby, Marketing Director, and Staff Writer