Winter Camp Rejuvenates, Inspires Jewish Children

For a week in the Catskill Mountains, a group of boys ages 9-16 created Jewish memories as they enjoyed a dream winter vacation, with skiing, snow-tubing, and other winter sports at Camp F.R.E.E. – Gan Israel.

A project of Friends of Refugees of Eastern Europe, the winter camp is one of several year-round activities for public school children, like shabbatons, holiday programs, and summer camp.

“They have a good time, develop confidence and Jewish identity,” said camp administrator Rabbi Dan Dashevsky. “We want them to feel comfortable in a Jewish environment, make Jewish friends and be part of the Jewish community.”

Several Bochurim took time off from their studies to be counselors at the winter camp. A highlight of camp came each evening when the boys and the staff got to hang out together and schmooze. “We’d farbreng with the boys, play games, talk and answer questions,” they said.

Some of the boys came from the Released Time program – which permits public school children to leave school early once a week for religious instruction – and so had some Jewish education; others knew nothing at all about Judaism, and they had plenty of questions. Questions like: “What is Torah?” “What is Shabbat?”

“They came not knowing what to expect,” said camp director  Rabbi Mendel Altein – known to campers simply as “Mendel” – “but at the end of the week they had a real varemkeit (warmth) toward Yiddishkeit, they saw that Judaism is not something strange and weird but is fun and something they have a connection to.”

Parents were happy to know that their kids at camp were safe, happy, cared for and spiritually nurtured.

“Camp gives kids the chance to be very gently introduced to Judaism, so that they can consciously comprehend it and make a conscious decision,” said the mother of one camper.

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