Author: cgi

The winners of Shabbos Competition for Shabbos Parshas Vaeschanan are: Bunk Zayin, Bunk Yud-Bais (Winners of Shabbos Competition four times, and winners of Bunk Competition last month.) and Bunk Yud-Tes.

Night Activity Director Dovid Taub, also the creator of www.itchekadoozy.com, put on a special presentation for Sunday’s and Monday’s night activity. Rabbi Itche Kadoozy (a puppet) played a game with the campers, called “A closer look.” A video of the show is available at www.itchekadoozy.com

Tuesday night, Rabbi Itche Kadoozy served as moderator during a night activity entitled “How Well Do You Know Your Brother?” The game is played as followsThree pairs of brothers come on stage. The older brothers leave, and the younger brothers are asked questions about their brothers. The older brothers are then called in, and they answer the questions themselves. If the brothers’ answers concur, that pair receives a point. For the first round, three pairs of campers came on stage. For the second round, Head Counselor Yudi Steiner and his two brother, Head Counselor Shaya Gopin and his brother came on stage. Itche Kadoozy himself was asked questions about his “brother” Dovid Taub.

Sunday night was the overnight for bunks Yud-Daled through Chof-Hey. Bunks Aleph through Yud-Gimmel went on their overnight Monday night. Bunks Aleph through Daled camped out in “the Rebbe’s Forest,” a short walk from camp. The older bunks camped out further from camp.

Although the specific schedules varied from one bunk to another, the general schedule was as follows: When the campers arrived at their site, they unpacked their bags, and then went to collect wood for the bonfire. The bonfire was lit, and everyone ate a barbeque supper. As the night wore on, the campers sat around the bonfire and sang songs and heard stories from the staff members. Although they were not in camp, the next morning Cocoa Club was held, as usual. Over 85% of the campers at both overnights attended Cocoa Club! Everyone then davened Shachris, ate breakfast and packed up to return to camp.

Sunday Morning, three campers put on tefillin for the first time. The names of the campers are: Yaacov Kaplan, Levi Sharfstein and Levi Hassan.

Sunday was the first day of the leagues! For one activity each day, the campers are divided not by bunk, but by team. The performance of each team is recorded. At the end of the summer, the top teams will play each other in playoffs, culminating in a championship game. The camp is divided in three divisions, according to age. Each team has campers of all ages from within that division. On Sunday, as it was the first day, the scores did not count for the record.

A new system has been introduced for the Bar Mitzvah Division’s seder chassidus. Previously, chassidus was learned with the same learning class as the other sedarim. Since Friday, a class of chassidus consists of two to four boys. Many learning teachers of younger classes, as well as some general staff, were asked to teach chassidus. Each learning teacher can teach what he feels suits his class, however most classes are learning selections from a sefer called “Mehusom Shel Yisroel” by R. Yoel Kahn.

This Friday night, the Number One Division, Bunks Aleph through Daled, had a separate minyan for Kabbalas Shabbos. They davened in the BMD Zal.

The yearly Dance Night took place this Motzai Shabbos. The benches in the Shul were moved to the sides, and the center of the Shul became the dance floor. Kitchen Manager Dovid Altien played the keyboard. Bar Mitzvah Division Head Shumly Friedman and Counselor Yehudah Friedman sang. At one point, General Manager Mendel Traxler juggled fire, much to the delight of the crowd. Snow cones were given out to all the campers. The singing and dancing lasted well over an hour, and a great time was had by all.

This morning, the Talmidei Hachodesh were announced. The best student from each learning class was selected as the winner. Each winner received a certificate, and a picture of the Rebbe. The winners of Kevutzah Competition were also announced. The members of the winning classes each got a plaque with a picture of the Rebbe on it. The winners are Shmuel Dovid Hurwitz’s class, Kevutzah Hey; Baruch Hecht’s class, Kevutzah Vov; Menachem Benchimouhn’s class, Kevutzah Chof-Aleph and Yitzi Kleinman’s class, Kevutzah Lamed.

From each division, one camper was given an award for the most Mishnayos Baal Peh in his division. From the first division, Menachem Mendel Rosenblum earned one crown and one gold. In the second division, the winner is Menachem Mendel Spalter, who earned one crown and one red. In the third division, the winner is Menachem Mendel Zirkind, who earned one flag, one gold and one red. From the fourth division, the winners is Avremi Zippel, who earned one crown and two golds.

After Breakfast, learning classes were held as usual. After learning class, the campers who were leaving went to get their stuff. Some were picked up by their families directly from camp. Others went in camp’s van to the airport. Most campers went by bus to Crown Heights, New York City, where many of them live. Some will fly home from there.

Later on, the new campers arrived. At 2:00, the head counselors gave their welcoming speech. After the speech the campers were split into bunks, and went to unpack their stuff. Everyone met in the Shul for Mincha, followed by supper.

After supper, it was time for the first Night Activity of the second month! Night Activity Director Dovid Taub came up with the innovative idea of playing “musical chairs” and “Simple Simon says” simultaneously. Several selected campers went up on stage, and had to dance around the chairs, while following the instructions given by “Simple Simon.” At the same time, they had to make sure to grab a seat as soon as the music stopped. After night activity, Maariv was davened and everybody went off to sleep, to prepare for tomorrow, the first day of the second month.

121 Campers came to Cocoa Club this morning. If all the campers of any bunk came, each one received a picture of the Rebbe. Meir Blesofsky, of Bunk Chof-Aleph won a bike in a raffle, from among all those who learned at least two yellows last shabbos. A bike is raffled off every week.

Today was the first trip of the second month to… Skaters’ World! Bunks Aleph through Yud-Gimmel left camp at 3:10, and left the rink at 5:00. Bunks Yud-Daled through Chof-Hey left camp at 5:00, and left the rink at 7:00.

For supper tonight, the hard working kitchen staff put together a barbeque. Everybody ate outside. In addition, Camp bought soda and corn chips to complement the meal. Songs were sung during the meal, and afterwards we played a special round of Simon Says. Some of our talented staff got together their instruments, and played music for the campers during the meal.