Camp Gan Israel

Though it’s been a tradition for over 20 years now and a tradition much appreciated by the Rebbe all the years, when the Rebbe would give the children special attention, this years trip to the Ohel & 770 by The Rebbe’s Camp, the camp he established 47 years ago, Gan Yisroel, NY was very special.

Early Monday morning the camp had reveille followed by Mikva. After davening & breakfast the camp was ready to leave to the Ohel.

Every year camp travels via yellow school buses. This year however, there were air conditioned coach buses. 10 coaches buses, 3 – 15 passenger vans & 1 mini-van transported the 500 k”ah campers & staff to the Ohel & 770.

Upon arriving at the Ohel, shortly after 2:00pm, the campers were directed into the tent behind the Chabad House @ the Ohel where they were given drinks. @ 2:30pm there was a very special International Kinus for Camp Gan Israel’s around the world. The Kinus was conducted live via hookup.

Campers from CGI’s in different parts of the USA as well as CGI Montreal, Sweden, Russia, England and Argentina participated in the recitation of the Rebbe’s Kapitel, 12 Pesukim, Ad Mosai, Niggunim & listening to a part of a Sicha Kedosha from the Rebbe. CGINY H.C. Moshe Steiner served as MC for the rally.

After the rally the bunks were dismissed to the Ohel where the campers said Tehillim and read their Panim.

When the campers left the Ohel they washed their hands and went into the second tent for supper. The tables were set up in an orderly fashion – a private table for each bunk. Tuna & Peanut butter & jelly sandwiches as well as cold drinks and fruit were served for supper in a very orderly fashion.

A bit after 4:00 pm the camp boarded the busses for the trip to 770. When they arrived @ 770 all the campers with their counselors and staff who were wearing their beautiful new CGI t-shirts were seated on benches that occupied the entire front of 770 until the Bima HaKriah. The Staff of CGI & Yeshivas Kayitz stood on benches around all the campers.

As the campers waited for their comrades to arrive and be seated they sang camp songs.

H.C.’s Mendy Kornfeld, Asher Deren & Moshe Steiner conducted the singing and davening in 770.

When everyone was seated a smashing Mincha began. The Amen’s & Yehay Shmay Rabas were heard outside!

Following Mincha the entire camp began singing songs. The singing and chayus reverberated throughout the whole 770 where everyone stopped what they were doing and focused on the Rebbe’s camp “Shepping Nachas”. The type of chayus displayed by camp is impossible to put in to words and has to be seen to be believed.

After about 20 minutes of singing the bunks were dismissed to the buses.. Outside of 770 the sweated up campers were cooled down from the excitement with ice cold drinks before their trip back on the very comfortable air conditioned coach buses to The Rebbe’s Camp.

Camp Gan Yisroel New York’s annual trip to the Ohel and 770 for Chof Av, Yahrtzeit of the Rebbe’s father, Horav Hagaon R’ Levi Yitzchok Z”YA there will be a special international rally, live via telephone hookup.

the spirit of Shnas Hakhel, Luabvitch camps from around the world will join together with Gan Yisroel, NY reciting the 12 Pesukim, listening Sicha of the Rebbe and singing Nigunim.

Any camp wishing to participate in this international display of Achdus should please call 845- 295 – 0715

Final preparations are currently underway @ Gan Yisroel, New York for the 28th annual Yarchei Kalla that will take place IYH this coming Shabbos & Motzei Shabbos Eikev.

The Yarchei Kalla was established in 1974 to mark the Yahrtzeit of the Rebbe’s father, HaRav HaGaon Levi Yitzchok Z”TL.

For the last 27 years the biggest Rabbonim, Roshei Yeshivos and Mashpi’im have come to participate in the Yarchei Kalla that the Rebbe was very fond of.

Some of the many Rabbonim that are scheduled to spend all or part of Yarchei Kalla in Gan Yisroel include: Rabbis’ Gavriel Zinner, Lipman Shapiro, Shimon Goldman, Mendel Lipskar, Yoel Kahan, Yisroel Friedman, Moshe Bogomilsky, Dovid Raskin, Shlomo Zarchi, Nachman Sudak, Shimon Lazaroff, Yisroel Shmotkin, G.M. Garelik, Elimelech Zwiebel, Dov Brisman, Moshe Tendler & Zelig Sharfstein.

This year Bochurim in Yeshivas Kayitz under the leadership of Rabbi Moshe Wolberg have undertaken a very ambitious Seder of learning in honor of the Yarchei Kalla and they will be tested by the distinguished guests during on Erev Shabbos.

In addition a Siyum will be conducted by one of the Bochurim as part of the Motzei Shabbos program.

The main session that will include a lavish Seudas Melava Malka will take place on Motzei Shabbos Parshas Ekev @ 10:00pm in the large air conditioned Shul of Gan Yisroel. Many Rabbonim, Roshei Yeshivos & Mashpi”im will address the crowd.

There will be a separate section for women.
For more info call 845-292-9307 or 845-292-9665

The first session of the 47th year in The Rebbe’s Camp – Gan Yisroel, NY will end on Monday afternoon.

On Sunday night, to mark the end of one of the greatest 1st sessions in camp a delicious mini-banquet was held.

During the banquet special awards were given to best campers, bunks, learning classes and sports teams in the CGI leagues.

In addition, the campers sang songs and were privileged to listen to a very special guest speaker, the Rebbe’s Shliach in Bal Harbor, Florida, Rabbi Sholom Ber Lipskar.

For the 250 campers k”ah who had the Zechus to be part of it, they will remember their great experiences during a fun-filled month of activties, trips, Bog War, Farbrengens and the Shabbos Spirit that can only be found in CGI NY 12768.

On Monday afternoon dozens of campers will be making their tearful good-byes to their counselors staff and fellow campers leaving and dozens more arriving to take their place for a spectacular 2nd session.

Reveille was 1 hour later on Thursday morning, Tish B’Av.

After Davening all campers under Bar Mitzvah ate Breakfast. Afterwards the camp had exciting morning activities directed by the head counselors while the staff said Kinus.

After lunch their was a Soccer game between the campers from Costa Rica against the rest of camp, followed by the grand camper counselor baseball game and which the campers won.

For all those that were not interested in going to the game there were Tisha B’Av related videos played in the Shul. All those fasting were allowed to go to the game room for the day.

After the fast was over, there was cake and orange juice for the staff. Supper was delicious baked ziti, fresh salad, potato knishes and soup.

At the end of the meal the Staff were presented with a token of appreciation staff gift. A gorgeous, brown traveling hand bag with each staff members name & the CGI logo embroidered on it.

As previously reported, Hiskashrus war broke out with much enthusiasm. Immediately after the “celebration”, and indeed a celebration it was, the camp relocated to the Shul where teams were divided.

Team of Tziyur Penei Ha’Rebbe was led by General Ashi Hecht, and Lieutenants Shmuly Levitin, and Chezzy Deren, Team of Kesiva La’Rebbe was led by General Koppel Cohen along with his lieutenants Isser New, and Levi Gansberg, and team of Nesiah La’Rebbe was led by Yudi Steiner, and Lieutenants Zalmy Greenberg, and Yaakov Leaf.

After the teams were split up everyone davened a smashing Mincha with outstanding amount of Chayus, The teams were then dismissed by their generals for a delicious supper .

The scavengers were very funny. Constant bursts of laughter from the campers showed us that they really enjoyed the entertainment.

Lots of staff worked all Monday night writing up songs and plays.

Tuesday morning campers woke up extra early to start learning Mishnayos Baal Peh, the determining factor in deciding which team comes out victorious.

Following breakfast each team sent a camper representative to deliver the “theme speech”.

Team Time after learning classes was very intense, campers really worked hard to learn their theme songs. The teams performed their songs beautifully, after a rocking benching for Lunch.

Relay Races spiced up the day very much; it was a sight to see 3 large groups of campers cheering for different team mates.

BOG WAR PLAYS

The first one was Kesiva La’Rebbe, the next one was Tziur Penei HaRebbe, which was a story how the Russian KGB tried to send the nephew of the President of America to Kill the President, but the nephew refused, and they jailed him for that. Then the KGB continued on with the nephew’s son, who thought his father died, and just before he was going to take the mission he receives a call from a good friend of his father, who tells him that his father is alive and how just as his father refused to take the mission so to he should refuse it, and at that same time the son remembers his father telling him years ago how many test’s may come his way, but he should keep strong, and the man continues telling him on the phone that he should imagine what his father has told him and what his father continues to hold, and then the third one. All three were amazing plays, and the campers really loved them.

Wednesday morning after learning classes, the judges announced the winners, much action, fun, excitement, and lots of water was splashed over the judges and staff (see in the camp pictures). The winner was……….Tziyur Penei Ha’Rebbe!

Due to Erev 9 Av there were no afternoon learning classes, instead the activities were a bit longer, followed by Mincha and supper. The campers then changed their shoes to non-leather ones.

They then washed for Seudas Hamafsekes

Eicha was read by Moshe Markel

The week started off with a bang. The Chayolei HaRebbe campaign introduced the “Netilas Yodaim” as the project for the week. Through a very nice and funny skit, the campers were taught how to wash their hands properly for bread. Big signs were posted in the camp square and in the washing areas with the Halochos.

Since the sports for the first month is coming to a close, it had to end off with a bang, with an especially big sports event to give the kids an incentive to try harder in sports and strengthen themselves physically. So there was an All-Star game for each division in camp 1st , 2nd and 3rd which included every camper in camp. There were 24 campers in each division, 12 kids on each team, in the All-Star game. There were papers advertising the All-Star game all over camp. (They were put up when all the camp was sleeping)

The first division played Hockey whiles the 2nd and 3rd played intense games of Basketball. Almost the whole camp showed up to watch the games. The games were awesome the games were refereed by Head counselor Mendy Kornfeld refereed and sports Director Shmuel Chaim Plotke. The campers had a great time and they wer all happy. The M.V.P. in each division, was; 1st division: Schneur Werde and Schneur Zalman Raitport, 2nd division: Mendel Shemtov, 3rd division: Zalman Raksin.

After supper the campers had a blast with a “String Hunt” all over the camp grounds. Following Maariv, Night activity director Moishe Markel walked into the Shul with all the strings around him and announced the winners.

Later on this night there was the first official staff meeting for all staff members, planning out the rest of this week’s fun (I.E. Bog war) that the camp is going to experience.

Stay tuned for the next report of this very special week in Machane Gan Yisroel.

You’ve heard of all those crazy, scary and even spooky Bog war & Color war breakouts that take place in overnight camps during the summer.However, Monday afternoon’s Bog War break out in Gan Yisroel, NY was a classic. During rest period, H.C. Asher Deren got on the loudspeaker and announced to the entire camp that his colleague, H.C. Moshe Steiner had become a Choson to BrOcha GeWARsky. immediately pandemonium broke out in the camp square with singing & dancing of campers & staff alike. For added emphasis some Lechaim was distributed to staff as well.

In addition a special, very authentic looking SHMAIS.com report with news of the engagement was hung up on the official news board in camp.

After activities, word reached camp that Moshe had decided to come back to camp early before his Lechaim in New York in order to celebrate with his camp.

@ lerech 4:30 word reached camp that the “Choson” was minutes away from camp. Immediately campers & staff gathered outside the Debra to greet the Choson. When the Choson walked out of the debra he was mobbed with hugs and kisses and was lifted unto the shoulders of the staff amidst singing and dancing into the camp square where there was huge sign wishing him Mazel Tov.

When things finally quieted down a bit the “Choson” was given a moment to speak. After thanking camp for all of the Mazel Tov wishes 1 staff member called out is she coming to camp? To which the Choson responded “Brocha Gewarsky is not coming to camp…BUT BOG WAR IS!”

The sign hanging above the camp square was immediately revised to read “BOG WAR!”

And so it was a classic break out, only here in The Rebbe’s Camp!

Before Mincha the campers were told about a big prize for the Shabbos camper raffle. They were also told about the new order for the Shabbos competition, three bunks from the entire camp.

Koppel Cohen Director of the BMD (Bar Mitzvah Division) Davened Kabolas Shabbos @ the Umud.

The younger bunks left to the dining room a few minutes earlier for Seudas Shabbos. Seudas Shabbos was delicious.

For the 3rd week in a row the dining room rocked with Chayus. During the meal the bran news “the 12768 Weekly” camp newsletter was distributed. The Friday night song sheet was filled with songs from bunk war. Following the meal there was a farbrengen for the campers.

Shabbos morning there was Mikva in the indoor pool followed by snacks – kokosh cake, fruit & cereal.

Learning teacher Mendy Cohen, davened Shachris & Mussaf @ the Umud.

Before Kriah, H.C. Asher Deren auctioned off the Aliyos for campers & bunks who would learn Mishnayos Baal Peh.

Division Head and Night Activity Director Moshe Markel Lained. Levi Hodakov CEO of Shmais.com received the Aliya of Shevee’ee & Survival Director Gershon Sandler received Maftir.

After a very lebedik lunch led by H.C. Moishe Steiner, there was rest period & canteen, followed by Farbrengens that each learning class has with their learning teacher.
Rabbi Shemtov farbrenged all afternoon in the guest dining room.

After learning classes there was a very successful M.B.P. session.

After M.B.P. camp had a Seder Niggunim that was led by L.D. Mendy Kaplan, davened Mincha, Shalosh Seudos & of course Shmaryonky.

This weeks’ Shmaryonky was put on by Division Head Moshe Markel, Counselor Kushi Schusterman & V.D. Yochanon Klein.

On Thursday morning, with background sound effects of “can I get a breakfast special…..pass me a snapple and can I have a danish?” a historic Minyan for Shachris took place in the Camp Gan Israel, NY Canteen.
Although it’s possible that this was not the first time there was a Minyan held in the canteen, SNS is pretty sure that it was the first time that a Minyan included Krias HaTorah.
The Baal Koreh was counselor Itche Grossbaum. With no Leviim in the canteen counselor Betzalel Borenstein was Zoiche to

Today camp had no time to waste they were starting out for a full day of Hiskashrus war. After lunch each team presented their theme speeches and theme songs. Then all the teams went to prepare for their grand plays. Meanwhile all the younger bunks were having normal fun activities. After supper the teams presented their grand plays each one out doing the next. The campers displayed talents that some staff were envious of. After lights outs there was staff seder. There was a strong showing of staff to the Seder where they learned a Sicha about a Chassid being a lamplighter. The Seder was dedicated in memory of Leibel Kahan, whose Yarzteit is today. After the seder they showed the Living Torah video and that was followed by farbaisen.

Camp woke up a bit later, in order to rest up from the last few days.

After lunch Hiskashrus (Bunk) war, was broken out for bunks Yud to Chof Bais. The teams are Gan Yisroel, Cheder Chabad, Shlichus, Kinnus Hashluchim, Shliach , Avodas Hashlichus, Temimim and Neiros Lehair. They began making their cheers and preparing their scavengers for later this evening.

@ flag lowering, in conjunction with this years special Chayolei HaRebbe program, 6 campers were promoted to the rank of Sergeant.

After Mincha Learning Teacher Dovid Dubinsky made a Siyum on Mesecheta Makos.

Later on in the evening the bunk war teams presented their scavengers. Bunks Aleph through Tes were in the audience.