Wow! 219 campers at Cocoa Club Sunday morning! This is absolutely amazing! This is more than any other Cocoa Club, any other year in any other Gan Israel! One of the major incentives for the children to come was that every kevutzah that every member attended was awarded a special color picture of the Rebbe – never given out previously and never to be given out again! As I type this, I see through the windows the children running to the front lawn to one of the new gazebos where Moshe Frank and Menachem Benchemhoun are sitting giving out the pictures. A total of 18 kevutzah won. In addition to the color Rebbe picture, every single attendee was awarded with 1. a black and white picture of the Rebbe 2. a yellow 3. a ticket in a raffle for a fifteen-speed bicycle 4. a raffle ticket for a glass chess set 5. a raffle ticket for one of five mugs 6. cup of cocoa 7. a raffle ticket for a framed picture of the Rebbe 8. a Mincha Maariv 9. a leather band watch. Another important factor is devoted and creative MPB Director Moshe Frank, and persistent assistant MPB director Menachem Benchemhoun
CGI TO DEDICATE NEW BUNKHOUSE
On Sunday the 22nd of Tammuz, a dedication ceremony will IYH take place in Gan Yisroel, in Parksville, New York for a brand new bunkhouse.
The bunkhouse, the 11th on the hill in camp is being dedicated by the Fellig family in memory of their father R’ Yosef Mordechai ben Tzvi Meir OBM.
The ceremony will take place outside the new bunkhouse @ 1:00pm.
WHAT A SHABBOS IN THE REBBE’S CAMP!
This Friday night the davening was absolutely amazing. Counselors, as well as learning teachers and general staff sang and danced with the campers throughout Kabolas Shabbos and Maariv. During the meal the campers watched in amazement and several kept count aloud as Head Counselor Yudi Steiner stacked up no less than thirty-four twelve packs of soda. He then proceeded to explain that this soda was sponsored by the family of Shmuel O”H Chitrik, who passed away going to Camp Gan Yisroel on the 20th of Tammuz, 1987. Every single camper (and staff member) was then given a can of soda. The remainder was distributed throughout the night. The singing continued late into the night.
The next morning we were up bright and early to get ready for the Shabbos morning davening. The campers davened with chayus and enthusiasm until the afternoon. We then went to make Kiddush and eat Seudas Shabbos. During the meal more songs were sung. After the meal there was a break until learning class/farbrengen. In honor of Shabbos the learning teachers were given chips and soda, to farbreng with their class. Learning class was followed by Seder Nigunim and Minchah. During Shalosh Seudos Night Activity Director Dovid Taub and Counselor Yosef Hott put on a hilarious rendition of “A Week in the Life of a Camper.”
After a smashing last-Maariv-of-the-Shabbos, the winners of Shabbos Completion were announced. The winners were Bunks Daled, Tes, Yud-Bais. The runners-up were bunks Chof, Chof-Alef and Yud. Due to the unusual chayos this Shabbos, in addition to the usual three winners (one from each division) and three runners-up, this week there were two bunks who got vouchers to ‘Chips and Dips’ (a local restaurant) due to their outstanding participation.
GAN ISRAEL OVERNIGHTS A SMASHING SUCCESS!
One participant of the Older Division overnight described the overnight as “smooth” everything went according to schedule. (I’m sorry I have no more information. I wasn’t there.) Over seventy (out of eighty) campers attended Cocoa Club Thursday morning AT THE CAMP SITE! After going to sleep who knows when!
Thursday afternoon the Younger Division went on their overnight. Bunks Yud-Alef and up went to a site far from camp. Bunks Alef through Daled camped out at “The Rebbe’s Forest,” a five minute walk behind the soccer field. The site has a little brook and a nice pit, surrounded by rocks, for a bonfire. When they arrived they set up their sleeping bags, then set off to collect wood for the bonfire. As the fire burnt, they listened to stories from the various staff members who were there. Between the stories they sang songs and ate hot dogs. Then they davened Maariv and went to sleep. Friday morning they woke up and davened. After davening they had a breakfast of scrambled eggs fried on a grill. They then packed up and marched back to camp. In camp they had a special activity, Challah Baking! Each camper got to shape his own challah.
From every learning class one student, who had good grades, and behaved well, was selected to go on a special trip of bowling! Mazal Tov to all the winners, and keep up the good work!
Another MBP Record Set! First Learning Class Chidon!
Today 165 campers came to Cocoa Club! This was despite the fact that no cocoa was served, due to the fast. Every camper was awarded an exclusive, color picture of the Rebbe. Rabbi Avremel Shemtov commented, “It has never happened before in the Rebbe’s camp that 156 campers came to Cocoa Club.” We are making CGI history! So far every day’s attendance was greater than the previous days’!
During Learning Class the teachers spent time reviewing the material we have learned so far because today was… the first Weekly Chidon! Each learning teacher selected one camper to represent his class. The Mishanyos and Chumash Divisions held their Chidon in the Dining Room. Learning Director Asher Hecht presided over the Chidon. After Oshi read the question, the first contestant to raise his hand would answer the question. Two judges (selected from among the campers) watched, to determine who raised his hand first. If the contestant answered correctly, his kevutzah got two points. Some times Asher asked questions to the crowd at large. The winners were Kevutzah Vov.
Also announced at that time were the Talmidei Hashavuah. They’re names and pictures will be posted in the near future. Each Talmid Hashavuah was given a beautiful certificate and a framed picture of the Rebbe.
There will be a test on Wednesday and on Thursday. All campers who receive a passing grade, and have behaved satisfactorily will be going on a trip.
The Gamara Division had their Chidon in the Shul. Rabbi Baris Presided over their Chidon. There is some uncertainty as to who won. We will post the winners we when it is known.
Due to the fast the normal activities were not played. Some campers played board games while others watched videos of the Rebbe (and last year’s camp video.)
Mazal Tov to Menachem Frank on his Hanachas Tefilin.
WE WANT YOUR OLD CAMP PHOTOS
Dear Parents and Friends:
We would like to complement the photo archive with
some photos of when you were in camp. Please email us any photos you
might have from the past years with a description and approximate year the photo
was taken.
FIRST TRIP OF THE SUMMER!!!!
Once again The campers outdid themselves: 147 campers came to Cocoa Club this morning! Everyone is scratching their heads in wonder and astonishment at this amazing turnout! Tomorrow there will hopefully be even more campers present because every single camper who attends will be awarded an exclusive, color picture of the Rebbe! Notably the entire Bunk Chof-Aleph came to Cocoa Club two days in a row, Keep it up guys! Shmuel Nochum Kotlarsky was the winner for the ten speed Bicycle raffled off among all the attendees of Cocoa Club and anyone who learned a certain amount of Mishnayos Baal Peh on Shabbos. A similar bike will Iy”h be raffled off ever upcoming week. Every Kevutzah in which every member participated, in some way, in this week’s MBP was put in a raffle. The winning kevutzah was Kevutzah Chof-Daled. The will be awarded a BBQ later this week.
This morning it rained, so Learning Classes were held indoors.
Today was the first trip of the summer! We went to the Holiday Mountain Ski and Fun Park, a park that has just opened recently. Among the many features of the park that the campers got to enjoy were Go-Karts, bumper cars, an 18 hole mini golf course, batting cages, arcades, and a rock climbing wall. Throughout the park one could hear shouts of “CGI! CGI!” and “Wherever We Go” and more songs to show our pride in being the Rebbe’s camp. The Younger Division went to the park early and ate lunch at the park. The Older Division stayed in camp until after lunch and then went to the park. After lunch (for the older boys, in camp), Yudi Steiner taught the campers a rhythm to bang on a table. It went something like BANG clap BANG clap BANG BANG clap clap BANG clap BANG clap. Or something like that.
Tonight before maariv, it was announced the campers of the bunk which davened the nicest, would each receive a color picture of the Rebbe. It was defiantly a beautiful davening, and surely the Head Counselors had a hard time choosing. In the end the winning bunk was Bunk Yud-Daled!