Young Jews Now Have A Day Camp

Trinity, FL — After moving here in March, Rabbi Yossi Eber, his wife, Dina, and their three children quickly reached out to other Jewish families.

The Ebers, who moved from Brooklyn, N.Y., the center of their Hasidic faith in the United States, founded the Chabad of West Pasco in New Port Richey, which supports the Chabad Lubavitch tradition.

Through Chabad Lubavitch, one of the largest branches of the Hassidic movement, more than 4,000 families around the world have relocated to help, teach and inspire Jews in 70 countries. One result is something new to the area, a summer day camp for Jewish youngsters, Gan Israel Day Camp.

“Our leader, the Lubavitcher Rebbe, wanted followers to go out and open Jewish centers, to do anything and everything possible to support people spiritually, mentally, emotionally, physically,” Eber said.

“Rebbe,” which comes from a Hebrew word meaning “master” or “mentor,” is the Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, who became the seventh leader of the Lubavitcher movement in 1950. Although Schneerson died in 1994, the Lubavitcher Hassidim never named a successor and still consider him their leader.

Some Lubavitchers consider Schneerson to be the moshiach, the messiah promised in Jewish scripture, though that idea has generated lots of controversy within Judaism.

The Ebers follow Schneerson’s example. A portrait of the rebbe hangs on the wall overlooking the table where they eat Friday dinner and Saturday lunch during the Sabbath.

On Friday, they will cover the table with a dairy buffet and ice cream to celebrate Shavuot, a holiday commemorating the giving of the Torah, or Jewish scriptures, at Mount Sinai.

The meal is a departure from the sect’s strict dietary laws, which Jews began observing after Moses received the Ten Commandments, Eber said.

Eber also expects many Jewish children will love west Pasco’s first Jewish summer camp.

The Ebers will hold Gan Israel Day Camp from June 26 to July 7. The camp will run from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays at the Jewish Community Center in Port Richey.

Eber remembers attending the same type camp as a child and said he looks forward to helping boys and girls ages 4 to 12 learn about Jewish traditions while having fun. Campers will share Shabbat, or Sabbath, dinner, bake challa bread and make havdallah candles; they’ll also enjoy traditional summer camping activities such as basketball, baseball, football, soccer, hiking, dancing, acting, cooking and woodworking.

Camp registration is still open, and scholarships are available.

Eber said he is excited about the new beginning.

“In New York City, there are probably 100 Jewish camps, but here, this is the only one,” he said. “It’s a first for here. We’re very happy about it.”

In addition to the camp, the Ebers hold a variety of events that reflect Jewish traditions. On Monday nights, Eber gives a weekly Torah reading to show how the sacred text addresses “the timeless issues that confront us all.”

Wednesday evening, he leads a group in traditional Jewish meditation.

For information, call (727) 376-3366.

“In New York City, there are probably 100 Jewish camps, but here, this is the only one. It’s a first for here. We’re very happy about it.”