When you hear the words "surfer dude," the image of an observant Jew shooting the curl might not spring immediately to mind. But Ari Soshtain, 35, and Oran Bendelstein, 26, are amped about changing that narrow perspective. "We're hard-core surfers and true-to-the-game Jews," Bendelstein says. "We have that balance in and out of the water, and we want to share it with others."

During the summer of 2006, Soshtain and Bendelstein started doing just that. They opened Joe V Surf Camp, named in memory of Soshtain's longtime friend Joe Voroba, who died on Rosh Hashanah in 2004. Voroba, a proud observant Jew, was an avid surfer who sought the perfect wave in Hawaii, Costa Rica, and Indonesia. He introduced his friend to surfing while the two were in Israel; Soshtain studying at Hebrew University and Voroba hanging ten and talking Judaism in Tel Aviv. "Whether he was surfing in Europe or Hawaii," says Soshtain, "Joe always told the other surfers how important Judaism was to him."

Voroba's commitment to Judaism and his passion to demonstrate that religious observance and surfing are not mutually exclusive became the driving force behind Joe V Surf Camp. When you're surfing, says Soshtain, you "see how small you are in comparison to the water; [you see] how nature connects to spirituality. Not that Torah isn't the way to roll," he adds with a smile, "but you have to take kids out a bit to show them within." In other words, spiritual renewal is possible only when people are willing to risk.

Dov Speiser agrees. He's a 14-year-old hodad from Valley Stream, New York, who attended surf camp last summer. Dov told BABAGANEWZ he now finds himself seeking a deeper connection with other people and feeling a deeper appreciation for the ocean. "Surf camp helped me maintain my commitment to Judaism and has made me more appreciative of all the world has to offer." Yoni Label, 15, shares Dov's feelings. "I live in Long Beach, New York, and I always wanted to get into surfing," he says, "so I was excited when I heard about Joe V Surf Camp at my synagogue."

Gnarlatious reactions like these don't surprise surf instructor Bendelstein. "Once you start surfing, you get hooked," he says. "You feel alive." Joe V Surf Camp works hard at transmitting that aliveness, and it succeeds. One teen's encounter, from takeoff to taking gas, provides the best example: "He was very unmotivated, and it was hard to get the kid to talk," recalls Bendelstein. "But once he hit the water and caught his first wave, he was one big smile. His heart opened up and he hasn't been the same kid since."

A SURFER'S GLOSSARY
Shooting the curl—riding a surfboard through the hollow part of the wave, which is formed as it crests over
Amped—excited, stoked
Hanging ten—to place ten toes over the nose of the surfboard
Hodad—a beginner surfer (also called a gremlin)
Gnarlatious—anything that’s really great or awesome
Takeoff—the start of a ride
Taking gas—to fall or be knocked off your board (also known as wiping out)