“Sarah Got The COVID Vaccine In Camp Emunah”

The following letter was sent to staff and administration of Camp Emunah, with heartfelt thanks to the camp that injected life and happiness, the “COVID Vaccine”, into their daughter.

Dear Staff and Administration of Camp Emunah,

Thanks to you, our daughter Sarah got the “Covid Vaccine” in Camp Emunah this past summer.

Sarah is our most artistic and creative child, full of deep compassion for those less fortunate, an avid student of history and how it impacts our lives today.

Last year, Covid abruptly removed our daughters from their physical schools, replacing them with online learning.

For Sarah, not having her few friends to spend time together, davening in a class setting, and interacting face to face with teachers took a toll on her.

We recognized the risks and dreaded the fallout that we would face from this new reality. We monitored carefully and spent so much more quality time than ever before, trying to compensate for what Sarah was missing from her regular life.

We found ourselves more than ever attempting to be the teachers and guides of our Chabad values and how the Rebbe would respond to the remarkable circumstances.

The transition from elementary school to high school is formative on any year; this year for Sarah and her friends, its effect would be tenfold.

Sarah did not have a good experience in overnight summer camp in the past summers; we knew this summer it was critical for her Begashmius, Uveruchnius.

The Rebbes repeated message on how vital overnight summer camp is for our children rang loudly in our ears.

“24 hour immersion in a Chassidishe, Torah environment undisturbed by the distractions of home life and the streets are giving life to our children”

“Summer camp elevates not only the learning of Torah, but transforms sports, art and drama into Kedusha”.

We shared with Sarah the remarkable story of how the Rebbe sent her grandmother, Mrs. Zipora Edelkop (Kanevsky) when she was 13 years old (the same age as Sarah last summer), to Camp Emunah for the summer as the Rebbes personal guest.

When Sarahs Savta was twelve years old, her family immigrated to Eretz Yisrael from Ukraine where her family observed Torah and Mitzvos with true Mesiras Nefesh. At the Rebbes personal request, for Yud Beis Tammuz, 5732 (1972), she traveled to NY to meet the Rebbe, together with another girl Chaya Shtroks (Kuzliner) who was the same age and also recently immigrated from Russia to Eretz Yisroel.

In Yechidus, the Rebbe spoke to her filled with love and care and asked her gently many questions for over 20 minutes. “How are you doing in Israel? How are the Israeli girls treating you? Are you comfortable there?” and asked about her Limudei Kodesh in great detail and about her life in Ukraine before immigrating and then gave her a Siddur as a present.

The Rebbe then made a special request for her and her friend, that he would like to send them as his guests to be campers in Camp Emunah. The Rebbe said he wanted the American girls to meet them and learn how it was to live a frum life in Ukraine under communism. The Rebbe said it would inspire the other girls to greater levels of Yiddishkeit.

When it came to visiting day, the Rebbe asked his secretary, Rabbi Binyomin Klein, to drive to Camp Emunah in the Rebbes car and bring treats to the two girls, as they would not have their parents visiting them on visiting day. The Rebbe wanted to make sure they were not left out. Imagine how they felt when the Rebbes car pulled into Camp Emunahs grounds.

Sarah last summer reluctantly agreed to go to BJJ Emunah teen camp. We knew it was right for her, but Sarah did not yet know how amazing it would be.

The phone calls and notes to us at home were remarkable on how transformative the summer was for her. She made new friends, immersed herself in the activities, fell in love with the Farbrengens on Friday night, and was deeply inspired by her counselors and the Mashpios.

When Sarah called on her birthday from Camp, we asked her what birthday present we can get her. We were amazed and thrilled when she told us that she wanted a one-year subscription to Chayeinu to continue learning her daily Chitas throughout the year.

We know that Camp BJJ Emunah had a lasting effect on her, as Sarah has not missed her weekly learning of her Chayeinu since then.

The Chayos, Chinuch, Hashpah and life that you gave her this summer and the “vaccination” against the external “virus” entering her system has helped Sarah grow and prosper in her first year in Beis Rivkah high school.

No parent should spare any expense to ensure that thier daughter should have the most meaningful and inspired summer, that will be the foundation of their chinuch that will last a lifetime.

This summer marks 65 years from the Rebbes historic visit to Camp Emunah on 16 Tammuz, 5716 (1956); we know that the Rebbe never left New York City in over 50 years other than to visit Camp Gan Yisroel and Camp Emunah.

What a precious lifeline and gift we have to send our daughters back to Camp Emunah this summer.

Sixty-five years later, Camp Emunah continues to live up to the vision and ideals that the Rebbe saw and guided when he walked alongside the legendary Rabbi JJ Hecht, on the grounds of Camp Emunah in Ellenville. The Rebbe saw the faces of the girls who attended then and the girls who will attend for all summers in the future.

Thank you for giving our daughter health, begashmius uberuchnius that keep her going throughout the year.

Avraham and Leah Berkowitz