Historic Visit to First CGI Campgrounds in Ellenville, NY

Nestled on a small road near rural Ellenville, NY, lies a few acres of land. At a glance, this parcel of land hardly seems unique, but to Gan Yisroel – NY, it most certainly is. This is the site of the very first Camp Gan Yisroel, founded in 5716 (1956). These are the grounds that the Rebbe himself took time off his busy schedule to visit, days before camp began.

Each of the more than 400 Camp Gan Israels worldwide can trace their roots back to these unassuming fields and forests.

On Friday, 16 Tammuz, the very day that the Rebbe visited camp 59 years ago, the entire Camp Gan Yisroel – campers as well as staff – visited these grounds. In advance of their visit, the grounds were landscaped and prepared, and though precious few signs of the camp that was still remain, the visit was suffused with an atmosphere of both nostalgia and the here and now.

This was largely due to Rabbi Shemtov and Rabbi Lazar, who accompanied camp on this historic visit. Both shared memories of their time in these grounds as well as words of chizuk that apply to this day as they did all those years ago.

Lined up on the playing fields, the campers and staff joined in pesukim and camp songs, once again making the sound of Torah heard in the place that started it all.

The Rebbe

[Free Translation]

For various reasons Yeshivas, Chadarim and Talmud Torahs are closed during the summer for “vacation”. This is against the reality — Torah is our life — learning Torah is the life force of every child. Who has the right to make a distinction, that for nine and a half or ten months when school is open the child has to get life — but when school closes he must rest from studying Torah?! Torah is his life! This fact is uncivilized! Close school for two months or eight weeks or six weeks? For what reason? Actually the school should not even close! How can we close a “house of life” even for one day — let alone weeks or months.

If the point is money — life is worth much more. We speak of the life of the children and all the generations to come. Give him strength now so that he will have the ability — years later — to establish a family.

There is another argument — that the teachers need to rest, or maybe the children need a rest. They worked hard for 10 months, 6 days a week, studying — have pity, let them rest. The answer is there is no resting from life!! It is the opposite of rest!

For someone who must devote his time everyday to earning a living etc., for him we say, let him learn a short period in the morning and evening. For a father to say that the child worked hard for 10 months and needs a rest, tell them that the child lived these ten months through the Torah he learned and when he will grow up he will also not turn from it. Yet some wish to call this, “tired-out” and needful of rest.

Well if the teachers are tired, the Gemara tells us of Rabbi Yochanan. When he was tired he set himself in a place where he would influence the beauty of the future generation.

Torah is given for good life — it promises us: “I will provide you with rain at the right time.” (Vayikra 26:4) And all the other blessings listed in Torah. Of course one must not make this a condition, but it is promised to us. So Torah is a Torah of life.

When one sees a spiritually blind person — even if he put an obstacle in his own way; you have to do everything possible to remove the obstacle! This idea is universal. Any person knows that when someone wants to hurt himself we mobilize all the forces available to stop him — although he screams that it is undemocratic. In every town or city where the people are civilized, all will be done to remove such a person from potential danger.

So now that summer is here — there is free time — does it mean to be free from Torah, Yiddishkeit? G-d forbid, he is enslaving himself to his yetzer hora and to the Goyishkeit (opp. of Yiddishkeit), the opposite of freedom. He thinks that slavery is freedom. Well, since this is only darkness — it can be dispelled by a bit of light. Bring the light to any Jew — and he will run to do the will of Hashem! When a parent realizes that something is good for his child, we see that a father and mother give everything to provide their child more pleasure, more life and certainly more strength in his life.
Just show them the truth. When this day of liberation comes, we recall the sacrifice for the sake of the children and we see the results and fruits of that work which will go on and have a good influence for many generations.

If we speak words from the heart they will penetrate the heart, — and it will accomplish that all Jewish children will not minimize their Torah study during vacation, on the contrary — they are free of secular studies, and must increase Torah study.

Time for play, to strengthen the body; this, too, is holy. But some time must be added to Torah study and mitzvah observance. And even if this is done in the manner of education then:

Educate the child according to his way, even when he will be old he will not depart from it. (Mishlei 22:6)

This will be a preparation. As mentioned in Chassidus and Mussar, our mitzvos today give and provide us with a signal for the mitzvos in the future. For those who wish to know the reward — the reward will be to do more mitzvos — added Torah for the children, and everyone will do more mitzvos….

(Lubavitcher Rebbe zt”l 12th Day Of Tammuz, 5745- 1985)

13 Comments

There is a boss

Credit is due to Eliezer Z the architect of celebration 40!

July 6, 2015 6:36pm
אברעמל

An historical מאמענט!!

July 6, 2015 8:37pm
- Parent
  
  Which means absolutely nothing to anybody!
  
  Camp is a cop-out!!!
  
  Definition: cop-out also cop·out (kŏp′out′)
  n. Slang
  1. A failure to fulfill a commitment or responsibility or to face a difficulty squarely.
  2. A person who fails to fulfill a commitment or responsibility.
  3. An excuse for inaction or evasion.
  
  Yeshivas and Chedurim must be open 12 months a year!!!
  
  July 7, 2015 7:25am
I spy

My grandson, Yitzchok Brown!

July 7, 2015 1:33am
Chabad chosid

To number 3. Y dont u discuss this with the Lubavitcher Rebbe who thought a bit fiff. Than u!

July 7, 2015 11:11am
- Parent
  
  The sichos of the Rebbe regarding this matter have been posted on this website many times. Do a search.
  
  Apparently the Rebbe had no say when it came to this issue and thus the camps are in essence a cop out. Of course the Rebbe would encourage the “next best thing”. Its either camps (with many still left out) or everybody (100%) roaming the streets for three months.
  Like i said cop out. I posted the definition.
  
  There was what the Rebbe wanted and there was the reality.
  
  Remember remember don’t forget. Cgi was intended for public school kids, not FFB.
  
  Again, the fact is, when it came to education, the Rebbe had no power (he had a say, but no power to make a difference ).
  
  July 7, 2015 12:34pm
Agree with 5

The rebbe thoughtta little different than u sorry ought a

July 7, 2015 11:47am
Great!

I spy Rabbi Shemtov clutching a great picture album, documenting the Rebbe’s visit to camp, by Rabbi Eliezer Z.

http://store.kehotonline.com/Binot-Deshe/productinfo/HRE-BINO/

A record of the discourses and talks of the Lubavitcher Rebbe during his visits to the Chabad summer camps “Gan Yisrael” (for boys) and “Emunah” (for girls).

There is a complete chronology and description of the visits, with photographs, facsimiles of manuscripts, and period newspaper articles. Coffee-table format.

July 7, 2015 11:58am
- Yaacov Deane
  
  Yes, it’s a wonderful book documenting in words and photos the true historical record of the Rebbe’s first trip to the camp. And Rabbi Shemtov, whose photo appears several times in the book, was one of the primary organizers of that trip. I particularly love the photo of the large sign (like a billboard) over the entrance to the camp which proudly proclaimed in Hebrew, “Yechi Adoneinu, Moreinu v’Rabbeinu, Melech HaMoshiach!” Clearly, ahead of its time.
  
  July 30, 2015 3:09pm

Clarification: when it came to our educational institutions the Rebbe had no power. This does not mean that we in 5755 (almost 56) cant demand this change.

July 7, 2015 12:36pm
The Rebbe

[Free Translation]

For various reasons Yeshivas, Chadarim and Talmud Torahs are closed during the summer for “vacation”. This is against the reality — Torah is our life — learning Torah is the life force of every child. Who has the right to make a distinction, that for nine and a half or ten months when school is open the child has to get life — but when school closes he must rest from studying Torah?! Torah is his life! This fact is uncivilized! Close school for two months or eight weeks or six weeks? For what reason? Actually the school should not even close! How can we close a “house of life” even for one day — let alone weeks or months.

If the point is money — life is worth much more. We speak of the life of the children and all the generations to come. Give him strength now so that he will have the ability — years later — to establish a family.

There is another argument — that the teachers need to rest, or maybe the children need a rest. They worked hard for 10 months, 6 days a week, studying — have pity, let them rest. The answer is there is no resting from life!! It is the opposite of rest!

For someone who must devote his time everyday to earning a living etc., for him we say, let him learn a short period in the morning and evening. For a father to say that the child worked hard for 10 months and needs a rest, tell them that the child lived these ten months through the Torah he learned and when he will grow up he will also not turn from it. Yet some wish to call this, “tired-out” and needful of rest.

Well if the teachers are tired, the Gemara tells us of Rabbi Yochanan. When he was tired he set himself in a place where he would influence the beauty of the future generation.

Torah is given for good life — it promises us: “I will provide you with rain at the right time.” (Vayikra 26:4) And all the other blessings listed in Torah. Of course one must not make this a condition, but it is promised to us. So Torah is a Torah of life.

When one sees a spiritually blind person — even if he put an obstacle in his own way; you have to do everything possible to remove the obstacle! This idea is universal. Any person knows that when someone wants to hurt himself we mobilize all the forces available to stop him — although he screams that it is undemocratic. In every town or city where the people are civilized, all will be done to remove such a person from potential danger.

So now that summer is here — there is free time — does it mean to be free from Torah, Yiddishkeit? G-d forbid, he is enslaving himself to his yetzer hora and to the Goyishkeit (opp. of Yiddishkeit), the opposite of freedom. He thinks that slavery is freedom. Well, since this is only darkness — it can be dispelled by a bit of light. Bring the light to any Jew — and he will run to do the will of Hashem! When a parent realizes that something is good for his child, we see that a father and mother give everything to provide their child more pleasure, more life and certainly more strength in his life.
Just show them the truth. When this day of liberation comes, we recall the sacrifice for the sake of the children and we see the results and fruits of that work which will go on and have a good influence for many generations.

If we speak words from the heart they will penetrate the heart, — and it will accomplish that all Jewish children will not minimize their Torah study during vacation, on the contrary — they are free of secular studies, and must increase Torah study.

Time for play, to strengthen the body; this, too, is holy. But some time must be added to Torah study and mitzvah observance. And even if this is done in the manner of education then:

Educate the child according to his way, even when he will be old he will not depart from it. (Mishlei 22:6)

This will be a preparation. As mentioned in Chassidus and Mussar, our mitzvos today give and provide us with a signal for the mitzvos in the future. For those who wish to know the reward — the reward will be to do more mitzvos — added Torah for the children, and everyone will do more mitzvos….

(Lubavitcher Rebbe zt”l 12th Day Of Tammuz, 5745- 1985)

July 7, 2015 1:20pm
Ukraine

Put your brim down!

July 7, 2015 3:04pm
Best Yisroelik Junik Spotted!!

Lookin good :)

Your favorite Monsey family

July 7, 2015 3:27pm

Comments are closed.