The stirring strains of "Hatikva" wafted across the athletic fields on the Rider University campus in Lawrenceville on a recent Friday morning as the Abrams Day Camp of the Jewish Community Center of the Delaware Valley heralded the coming of Shabbat.

For the young campers, it was a moment of observance and celebration. But for four of their counselors, it was also a touch of home.

Four Israelis — Vova Domunyan, 21, of Hod HaSharon; Roi Ivri, 22, of Kibbutz Dan; Amit Raffuly, 21, of Modi'in; and Tal Revach, 20, of Kibbutz Ayelet Hashahar — are counselors this summer at the day camp and the JCC's Teen Travel Camp.

At the same time, they are here as shlihim — emissaries from Israel — for the more than 300 campers enrolled in this summer's sessions.

"First of all, it's to represent Israel and to break the myths and to bring those kids Israel," said Raffuly, who plans to study international relations at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem in the fall. "It's to help the children and the Jewish community to be closer to Israel and Israeli culture. It's just a wonderful experience to get to meet people from another culture.

"It's fun for us to learn how to see the differences, even the small differences, in daily routine and lifestyle," he added. "We enjoy it."

Revach, a sergeant in the Israel Defense Forces who is serving as an Israeli culture specialist at camp, has literally been giving the campers a taste of Israel.

"This week, we made chocolate balls — like brownies — an Israeli favorite dessert for kids," she said. "I'm planning later to do army activities and a competition. Last week, we played 'truth and false' about Israel, and then I explained what's really true."

In a way, their presence teaches the campers what it means to be an Israeli, said Ivri, a sergeant major in the IDF who is a sports specialist at camp.

"Really, it's to bring them our Israel — the way we see it, just to bring them what it is to be Israeli," said Revach. "At the same time, we are taking from their culture and participating in all these wonderful things."

Domunyan, a native of Piatigorsk, Russia, said he hoped to explain to the campers what it was like to immigrate to Israel.

"I was born in Russia and had my own experience of what it was to come to another country to study about Jewish culture," said Domunyan, a sergeant major in the IDF. "What does it mean to come to Israel from another country? I came to Israel alone, and I have my own great experiences. I can bring the children my own experiences. I think it's very important."

Camp director Sue Millstein-Weiner expressed appreciation for the extra dimension the Israelis are bringing to camp. "It's wonderful," she said. "They bring Israeli culture to life. They share with the kids their experiences. We're showing the kids what the army is like and turning the camp into Israel."

Ron Schwartz, assistant camp director, also welcomed the presence of the Israelis. "I think they offer a lot," he said. "They bring Israeli culture to our kids and it's very important. They keep these relationships alive. I don't think the Israelis realize the impact they have on the community."