Celebrating jubilee at Kiryat Gan Israel of New York

PARKSVILLE, NY – The flagship Camp Gan Israel is celebrating its golden jubilee this Sunday, August 6 - a half century since the Rebbe founded and visited the first campers at the original site in New York.

A global exhibit consisting of presentations by branches in 34 countries around the world and most states in our country will be held this Sunday at the picturesque grounds of the mother camp at Kiryat Gan Israel, Old Route 17, between Liberty and Parksville N.Y.

‘Global Gan Israel’ exhibit open this Sunday

Celebrating jubilee at Kiryat Gan Israel of New York

PARKSVILLE, NY – The flagship Camp Gan Israel is celebrating its golden jubilee this Sunday, August 6 – a half century since the Rebbe founded and visited the first campers at the original site in New York.

A global exhibit consisting of presentations by branches in 34 countries around the world and most states in our country will be held this Sunday at the picturesque grounds of the mother camp at Kiryat Gan Israel, Old Route 17, between Liberty and Parksville N.Y.

The magnificent program that was prepared, in house, by the outstanding talented staff with the participation of the campers, will demonstrate the historical revolution in the educational system introduced by its founder, the saintly Lubavitcher Rebbe, of blessed memory, five decades ago.

“The Rebbe was the first to recognize that summer camp should be viewed not as a vacation but as an ‘experience’ – not as a holding pattern between school years, but as the most important part of the Jewish educational year,” says Rabbi Abraham Shemtov, who has been with Gan Israel since its inception, and has served as its executive director for nearly half a century.

Today Camp Gan Israel is a global phenomenon with sleep-away and day camps throughout North America and in virtually every corner of the globe – including Argentina, Australia, Belarus, Brazil, China, Cyprus, England, France, Israel, Italy, Russia, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine …and the list goes on and on.

And to this day, every Camp Gan Israel, however great or humble, hews to the Rebbe’s original vision of embracing Jewish children of all backgrounds and providing them with a pure experience that will define how the rest of their year – and the rest of their lives – will be lived.

This year there are nearly 500 Gan Israel Camps operating worldwide, with a total enrollment of some 50,000 children.

Over 100,000 boys have enjoyed the Gan Israel NY experience since its inception, and with virtually no exception, the Gan Israel alumni serve also as the primary cadres from which nearly 3,000 Chabad Shluchim have been drawn.

The program on Sunday will also include a concert highlighted by a former alumnus of Gan Israel, the upcoming star, singer Benni Friedman, accompanied by a band and the camp choir, announced camp director Rabbi Yossi Futerfas.

The program is opened to the public and friends and former alumni are welcomed to participate.

11 Comments

  • The Parents

    Nice to see our son doing something "constructive"!!

    Please get a haircut before you come home!!:))

  • Pinchik

    So cute… I love it how all the guys in the camp are always so up for it when it comes to having a good time and making the best of things… really creative ideas are a plus!
    Have a nice Golden Jubilee!

  • I & s

    Hindy, get off Yossi’s case .. Yossi, you are the best!!!!!!
    "HOW CONSTRUCTIVE CAN YOU GET"!!!!

  • impressed

    For those who didn’t see this, it was awesome!!!!

    So much hard work, really impressive & creative. CGI really is a great camp.

    thanx for looking after my boys all these years!

  • Your Family

    Hey Nachmi!!! We Miss You!
    xoxoxoxoxoxoxox
    Love, your Family from all over.

  • feivel yovelshnook from cgi

    check out that ammazing learning program news stand it is the coolest ever, cgi never saw something like that.
    keep it up!