Category: CGI News

Published: August 09 2009

PARKSVILLE, NY [CHI] — The Yarchei Kallah convention held in Camp Gan Israel in Parksville, NY over the weekend came to a close this Motzoai Shabbos with a gala Melava Malka.

Addressing the crowd at the Melave Malka were Rabbi Yoel Kahn, the Rebbes Chozer, Rabbi Mordechai Shmuel Ashkenazi, the Rov of Kfar Chabad, Rabbi Leibel Schapiro, Shliach in Miami, and Rabbi Avrohom Shemtov, Shliach in Pittsburgh, among others.

Published:August 09 2009

Published: August 07 2009

Wednesday, August 05, 2009

CGI PREPARES FOR YARCHEI KALLAH
– CGI @ 6:44 pm PST

Saturday, August 01, 2009

Week in Review
– CGI @ 9:39 pm PST

This past week has been so hectic that it has been hard to find time to sit down and write. That’s right, here in gan yisroel there is never a dull moment, especially as the first month is coming to a close. So on Sunday right after lunch came the announcement: bivouac!!! For those of you out there who haven’t gotten it yet that is the code word here in camp for overnight. We were all very excited as you see its been weeks already that we were chanting the famous bivouac chant, and here what do you know, we’re going. Anyway after packing everything that I might need into my bag we headed down to shul for mincha and then onto the buses. We had such a good time, my friends and I, collecting wood, setting up the campsite and finally supper, maariv and the real bonfire experience. There is nothing as special as sitting around the fire and having your counselor tell you and your bunkmates great stories with great lessons that will last a lifetime.

The next morning we went back to camp, showered, and before you could say “bunk competition” they were announcing the winners. By the way they are bunks zayin, yud-zayin, and chof-daled. Tuesday off they went to Six Flags Great Escape along with all the campers who missed the first grand trip.

Wednesday afternoon by the second activity I knew something was off. All the head counselors were acting real weird and saying things like “the laundry is mixed up” and “were playing stratego” or capture the flag, or both, or I’m not even sure anymore and then when I thought I had it figured out they broke out bog-war, well waddayuno, I was wrong. They soon explained that it is called Chayolei Beis Dovid war and that we are the soldiers in Hashems army fighting our yetzer harah and the 3 teams are the 3 things you need to win the battle. Achdus – unity, kabbolos ol – listening to the directions without question, and simcha –joy.

From scavengers to M.B.P. in the morning and then theme speech, theme song, races and the grand plays, but don’t forget the main part davening and bentching with lots of chayus. We had such a great time that by the time it was over I just wanted to do it again. Friday they announced the winners … team achdus!!!

The last shabbos of the first month was beautiful yet sad, my best friend is going home, but don’t worry, we traded addresses and I am going to keep in touch with him, I promise. Motzei shabbos was the all-star game and now we are packing up and getting ready for the banquet to begin. Gotta go but I’ll see you next month here in the Rebbe’s camp!

Friday, July 31, 2009

Cocoa Club Ad
– CGI @ 1:44 pm PST

Camper: Shaya Liberow
MBP Director: Shlomie Denberg
Written & Directed by: Zalman Kohn
Video Editing by: Levi Sharfstein

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Month In Review
– CGI @ 1:17 pm PST

Monday, July 27, 2009

Brand New Camp Gan Israel hat’s
– CGI @ 1:54 pm PST

Available now for $10

Wednesday, July 08, 2009

IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR
– CGI @ 10:05 pm PST

Dear Parents:

In light of the recent outbreak of the Swine Flu that is spreading in some of the bungalow colonies and camps in the Catskill Region, we strongly urge all parents and children who may have come in contact with the virus to refrain from coming to camp.

We strongly recommend that on visiting day, parents remain on camp grounds with their children, to prevent exposure or contact with the Flu. If you will be taking your children off camp grounds, please be cautious and do not take them to the bungalow colonies and camps that have had cases of the flu.

BH at present we have had no cases of the Swine Flu in our camp. We want to prevent any outbreak of the flu at our camp and are urging you to please assist us in maintaining and continuing a healthy and safe summer camp experience for your child and all our campers.

Sincerely,

Rabbi J. Futerfas
Director

Sunday, July 05, 2009

The voice of C.G.I.
– CGI @ 2:40 pm PST

Here we are trying to sit down for one minute to put down on paper all the exciting things that have happened since camp started and I just don’t know where to begin. I guess I might as well begin at the beginning which for me was as soon as the first camper set foot on camp grounds for this smashing summer of 5769. It was bright and early Tuesday morning and soon the shul was full for the opening speeches, dividing of the bunks, and then everyone was off to the hill to unpack their suitcases in their bunks. Already that night night activity director Zalmen Kohn aka “Shnoozy” had us in stiches from his hilarious games.
The next day was our first full day of camp and boy was it great (yes even a regular day in camp is packed with fun).
The next day started nice and early with the first coco club of the summer and from there, off to a day of davening, learning and great activities. Hey wait, where is the older division going? Great, we are off to a local park for some great sports on proffesional fields, and then it just gets better with a grand B.B.Q. for the whole entire camp.
Friday rolls in as just any other day but then preparation for Shabbos starts and what do you know, we even have time for a quick phone call home before bedside inspection.
Shabbos in camp is an experince that can’t be described, it must be lived, but nevertheless for the benefit of those parents whom have never been in camp I will try to describe the scene. Starting with the Erev Shabbos learning classs and the mincha we move into high gear for Kabbolas Shabbos with great singing and dancing by Lecha Dodi. The Friday night meal is not just full of great food but also great spirit as camper and counsler together sing songs slow then fast, hear stories of old and tales of today.
The next morning up we get up for Shachris like no other in the world, full of chayus as each child davens word for word from their siddur as if nothing else matters. Before Kriah we were lucky to have Rabbi Shemtov, the executive director of camp adress us. The Shabbos day meal is just as action packed as the meal from the night before only with new songs and inspiring Divre Torah.
Rest period, learning class and then Mishnayos Baal Peh all keep us moving. Seder niggunim and then Mincha and off to the dining room for shalosh seudos. “Shmayonki” is as funny as ever and then back to shul for Maariv. Things are wrapping up on Shabbos, and the winners for shabbos competition are … none other than bunks Beis, Zayin, Yud-Zayin and Chof-Daled. Well ah gutte voch and good night, I gotta go its almost light out.

Wednesday, July 01, 2009

RARE PHOTO OF THE REBBE TRAVELING TO CGI
– CGI @ 4:38 pm PST

The Rebbe in his car during his visit to Gan Yisroel NY in the summer of 1957

Photo by: HaTomim Avrohom Reiss, special thanks to Rabbi Bentzion Kravitz

Camp schedule (camp time)
– CGI @ 11:29 am PST

7:00 Reveille (Mikveh times 7:00 – 8:00)
7:20 Clean up
7:40 Snacks
7:50 Lineup
8:05 Shacharis
8:15 Hodu
9:20 Breakfast
9:50 Bentching
10:00 Break (prepare for learning class)
10:05 Learning class begins
11:00 Recess
11:15 Resume Learning class
12:10 Snacks
12:15 Activity
1:20 Wash up
1:30 Line up for younger bunks
1:35 Line up for older bunks
1:40 Lunch
2:00 Bentching
2:10 Break
2:25 First afternoon activity
3:35 End of activity
3:40 Second afternoon activity
4:50 Snacks
5:05 Learning classes
6:05 End of learning class
6:10 Flag lowering
6:25 Mincha
6:55 Supper
7:35 Night activity
8:20 Maariv / Video
8:40 Dismissal
9:05 Lights out

4:50 Snacks