Lake Como, PA June 23, 2014 – Through the generosity of Theodore and Harriette Perlman, the Perlman Family and two visionary foundations, Beber Camp has purchased B’nai B’rith Perlman Camp – a residential children’s camp and home to BBYO, at which it runs two summer leadership programs for Jewish teens from across the globe. B’nai B’rith Perlman Camp was known to many growing up in the Mid-Atlantic during the 50’s and 60’s simply as Starlight, after the original mailing address of the camp.
Through the purchase of Perlman Camp these three organizations are partnering to engage Jewish youth and teens year-round.
The bridge that brings these Jewish organizations together is Ted Perlman. Ted is currently serving as a board member for both Beber Camp and BBYO and will now serve on the board of directors of Perlman Camp. Perlman Camp is named after Ted’s mother, Anita Perlman, the first Chairperson of BBG, the girl’s chapter of BBYO. Anita understood that shaping Jewish identity was the key to involvement in the larger Jewish community. With the Perlman family’s generosity, Perlman Camp will continue to fulfill the mission of Jewish youth engagement through BBYO’s year-round and summer leadership programs and through the summer children’s camp program.
The acquisition includes a $3.5 million investment into the facilities and program areas at Perlman Camp. The executive team, in conjunction with BBYO, has developed a phased plan to implement upgrades, which includes the renovation of all the major structures while expanding living spaces to accommodate the growing demand for BBYO programs.
BBYO has signed a long-term lease making Perlman BBYO’s summer home for years to come.
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I never knew it was referred to as Starlight. I thought CBB. I wonder what Camp Starlight thought about that!! A great place no matter what you call it!!
Irene – Although some may have nicknamed it “Starlight”in the 50s & 60s (and there separately being a Starlight Camp), Camp B’nai B’rith began in 1954, later changing its name to B’nai B’rith Perlman Camp in 1975 following the acquisition of B’nai B’rith Beber Camp. For more, see here.
Having worked at Bnai Brith camp for twenty years from the sixties to the eighties I can guarantee that no one ever called it Starlight. We called it Camp Bnai Brith, CBB, and just plain Bnai Brith. When the Perlman name was added there was at least season when the seven weeks children’s hycamp was called Bnasidohi Brith Camp at Bnai Brith perlman camp in an effort to keep the old identity. My understanding is that the Perlman family objected. Otherwise a nice article. Great to see that the camp will undergo a rebirth
Apologies for the typos. Fat fingers on a tiny keyboard
I ha a funny experience at Camp Pearlman in the late 1990s. I was called to do special programs for a few days each summer related to Judaism and nature. Part of these programs took place at night – solo sits, night sky stuff, etc. It was July 4th and I took a group out to see the night skies. We went about 200 feet and started to see fireworks from across the river in PA. We stopped, watched for 20 min., thought it was an extra special treat and continued the walk. Another couple hundred feet and a NY town started it’s fireworks display. We watched another 20 min. In the meantime, we’re not even out of camp which had a LOT of lights. In search of a darker area, the group led me to the lake. We arrived just as the camp was doing its fireworks — at the lake. That was the end of that night hike.
B’nai B’rith was never called Camp Starlight. It was Camp Windsor until 1954 when the name was changed to Camp B’nai B’rith.