A major player in the for-profit Jewish camping industry has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, sending concern for thousands of families who attend one of the many Jewish summer camps across the United States.

New York-based brothers Michael and David Shabsels, through their company Simad Holdings, filed for bankruptcy in New Jersey last week, both personally and through their corporate structure. The group owns roughly 22 overnight camps and 8 day camps across the Northeast, including New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Maine.

The majority of the camps in the portfolio are Jewish camps, and numerous are frum camps attended by thousands of frum families.

“I really don’t know anything,” one camp representative told reporters. “I just know camp is moving forward as planned,” reflecting the uncertainty many operators are currently navigating.

Industry insiders say that while most camps are expected to operate this summer, the long-term stability of some locations remains uncertain if assets are sold during restructuring.

Under Chapter 11 protection, the camps can continue operating while the company reorganizes its debts.

Despite reassurances from some individual camps, concern remains high among parents and staff. A representative from another camp said, “Everything is good,” and insisted their operation is “absolutely financially healthy,” even as the broader ownership structure faces legal and financial pressure.

Demand for camp remains strong, with last year’s Foundation of Jewish Camp census showing that nearly 200,000 young people attended Jewish camp at an affiliated camp last summer.

“There is a lot we don’t know about the camps affected, but what we do hope for is a positive resolution so campers and families aren’t impacted, since we know camp is so influential”, Jamie Simon, CEO of the Foundation of Jewish Camp said.

“Our hearts are with everyone affected – and what we’re focused on this summer is making sure campers can experience the joy, friendship, belonging and Jewish community that camp provides.”

Some observers have noted that if certain camp properties are ultimately sold during the restructuring process, it could open the door for new buyers to step in, potentially creating an opportunity for Chabad mosdos and institutions to consider acquiring campgrounds for continued use as Jewish summer camps.

Despite the turbulence, most camps under the Shabsels portfolio are continuing preparations for the current season, attempting to maintain normal operations while legal and financial proceedings continue behind the scenes.