A major player in Jewish American camping declared bankruptcy last week, a move that could affect thousands of Jewish campers just as the summer season is getting underway.
New York-based real estate owners Michael and David Shabsels declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy in New Jersey last Thursday, both personally and under their umbrella group, Simad Holdings. Since declaring bankruptcy, the brothers and their firm have refused to speak to the press.
The brothers, who entered the for-profit camp business in 2006, own 22 overnight camps and eight day camps across the Northeast, predominantly in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Maine.
Many of their camps have Jewish programming or are primarily attended by Jews. The…