Category: CGI News

Motzei Shabbos: As all Campers headed up towards the hill before lights
out, they saw an extremely terrifying scene. Behind the baseball field,
on the other side of the fence, AGM Meir Lax and GM Mendy Traxler were
cutting down a tree together. Suddenly a scream pierced the air as Mendy
slipped and the tree fell onto his foot. Meir quickly called into his
radio for immediate help, as the campers scampered into their bunks. EMT
Mendy Litzman quickly arrived on the scene with his sirens blaring, as
he immediately rescued Mendy from the tree and drove off with him. The
campers went to sleep, scared of the wors but hoping for the best.

Sunday: Camp was much honored to host a large group from Toronto. This
group of mekuravim from Toronto, accompanied by their Shliach Rabbi
Gansburg, had the privilege to visit the Rebbes camp, on their way to
the Ohel. They were greeted with a smashing “Haveinu Shalom Aleichem”
They were most impressed by the Campers and their devoted staff,
especially the Chasidishe atmosphere in which the camp is being run.

After Shachris the campers all recited tehillim together, in connection
with the incident that occurred the night before. The day continued as
planned. Towards the late afternoon a slight drizzle started, and as
thunderstorms were expected, all campers gathered into the shul for a
general learning class. Rabbi Baras started relating a very interesting
story, the Campers listened on, interested. In middle Rabbi Futerfas
walked in and whispered some words to Rabbi Baras. The Campers looked up
as HCYG took over. HCYG told the Campers about the
serious situation in which one of the Staff members were in and explained that he is undergoing surgery at this time. Siddurim
were handed out and everyone began reciting Tehillim. HCSM made a heartful plea for silence, on behalf of his friend
Mendy, who he himself hired. HCSM choked in tears as he wondered aloud
how he would face Mendy again. Suddenly the curtains opened and Mendy
Traxler himself stood in the center, holding a chainsaw, screaming:
COLOR WAR!!!
The Campers let out a great sigh of relief as the Staff rushed to the
center of the Shul and started dancing. Mendy Traxler was lifted up, as
all the Campers looked on in excitement. The campers than stayed in the
Shul as the teams were split up.

Hey, I knew it the whole time!…….

The Camp was divided into two teams, the team of Shliach and the team of
Chossid, The name of the war is Hiskashrus War.

Leading the team of Shliach is HC Simi Morgenstern as
General, Zalmy Greenberg as Lieutenant General and Isser New and Shmuly
Blesofsky as Captains. General Simi made his grand appearance dressed in
army fatigues, as the team of Shliach cheered in approval.

Leading the team of Chossid is LD Yehudah Stern as General,
Levi Gansurg as Lieutenant General and Levi Lipskar and Mendy Schapiro as
Captains. With professional Baseball commentary playing in the background,
General Yehudah, dressed in a complete Baseball uniform, dived onto the
stage scoring a home-run for his team.

Following the split-up, the first ever Mincha of the 5763 Hiskashrus war
took place. Both teams outdid themselves with lots of Chayus and fervor. Both teams were than dismissed by their Generals to the dining
room. After Benching the Campers headed towards the Shul to watch the
spectacular Scavengers.

Team Shliach were first with their Scavengers. They put on a very
amusing Scavenger about Hatzoloh. A second Scavenger followed depicting
a bus ride. After the first round of Scavengers everyone davened the
fist Maariv of the 5763 Hiskashrus War, and as by Mincha, both teams
davened beautifully. Following Maariv and a short video of the Rebbe,
team Chosid presented their Scavengers, including a very comical one
portraying a very important Jewish ritual. The Campers afterwards
recited Krias Shema and than headed towards their bunks.

All Friday afternoon, the Campers were preparing for a very special
Shabbos, Shabbos Chazon. The Campers scrubbed, scoured, washed, rinsed
and cleansed their bunkhouses in honor of Shabbos. Afterwards bedside
inspection took place, the Head Counselors making sure everything was
immaculately, sparklingly and spotlessly clean. The Campers afterwards
quickly headed towards their learning classes. During learning classes
they learned a sicha on the Parsha, and as every week they learned
another of the rebbes nigunim. This week they learned and sang the Nigun
“ki anu amecho”.

Following learning classes the campers headed to the Shul for Mincha.
After Mincha a Siyum was made by learning teacher Boruch Shalom Wolf, on
the entire Maseschta Sotah! After the Siyum the Campers sat spellbound
as Rabbi Baras related them a story. Following the story, all staff and
campers joined in for an inspirational, stirring and rousing Kabolas
Shabbos.

Subsequently all campers headed towards the dining room to eat their
Shabbos meal. Words can not even describe the euphoric atmosphere in the
dining room. Following the Rebbes directive, to increase in joy on
Shabbos Chazon, Head Counselor Yoelish Ganz led the campers in singing
many inspirational Nigunim and camp songs. Inspired by their counselors
initiative, Campers stretched their hands around the shoulders of their
friends, closed their eyes as hundreds of voices joined together in
emotion, elation and excitement. Following the singing, Campers sat down
together as Learning Director Shaya Gopin farbrenged about the meaning
and significance of the Nigun “Ki anu amecho”. Campers headed away to
their bunks, charged and content, getting ready to dream about the Beis
hamikdosh…

Shabbos morning: Following the morning snacks, campers headed towards
the Shul for Shachris. The Campers davened beautifully and watched in
pride as Head Counselor Simcha Morgenstern received an Aliyah in honor
of his birthday. Following Davening the campers headed toward the dining
room for yet another inspiring Shabbos Chazon meal. The dining room
rocked with Chayus as the singing was lead by head counselor Simcha
Morgenstern, throughout the duration of the Seudah. During the singing
campers were treated to a surprise as the hyped up members of the BMD
arrived from the Parksville Shul and shook up the dining room with added
joy and Chayus.

Following the afternoon learning classes, during which the Campers
farbrenged together with their learning teachers, all Campers hurried to
complete as much Mishnayos Baal Peh as possible. In honor of Shabbos
Chazon, double points were given for Tanya and the devoted staff was
occupied, testing all the eager campers.

The time for Mincha approached and Campers headed towards the Shul. They
davened Mincah and heard a Siyum on the entire Masechta Sotah, by
learning teacher Yitzi Jacobs. The Campers than washed for Shalosh
Seudos, sat down, ate and watched a very special SHMARYONKEE. Everyone
was rolling in lau8ghter as Moshe Hecht, Dovid Taub and Mendy Blesofsky
put on a very amusing and pleasurable performance. Maariv followed, than
Havdala and afterwards everyone saw a short video of the Rebbe before
heading to their bunks.

After a very topsy and turvy topsy-turvy day, routine began to settle in. During learning classes all campers were given their first test of the second month. Campers spent the past few learning classes reviewing what they had learned over the past week and half. The dedicated learning teachers of the rebbes camp, besides all their time spent preparing learning classes, spent hours to arrange and write the tests.

For the duration of the first morning learning session, tests were given out in the dining room. Many campers of the younger division crowded within, enthusiastic to put their knowledge onto paper. Afterwards, throughout the subsequent morning session, the older campers in addition came inside the dining room, to complete their tests.

Following Mincha in the Shul, campers stayed to listen to a very special Siyum. Since we are within the nine days, Siyumim are being made each day by various dedicated staff members. Today a Siyum was made, by the devoted learning teacher Zalman Korf, on the whole Mesechte Sotah! This follows yesterdays Siyum, by the devoted learning teacher Yehoshua Dubinsky, on the entire Mesechte Psachim!

As nighttime fell, campers were treated to a very special play performed by the Masmidim. The soccer field lit up under the glaring rays of the spotlights, as the masmidim performed splendidly.

As campers woke to a bright day in Gan Israel, they were informed that Topsy-Turvy day is approaching. Havoc broke out as the campers began to envision themselves serving the many functions of the dedicated staff of Gan Yisroel. After lunch the campers were given forms containing the various jobs in camp that were up for grabs. The campers had to choose a job and than obtain 100 signatures including 50 from the staff. The square was swarming with campers as they rushed to fill out their the forms. A frantic search for the staff began. The window of the lobby was covered with many beautiful posters, urging the campers to vote for them. After heavily campaigning the whole day, the campers settled down to eat a delicious supper. Afterwards the campers headed towards the shul for a very special night-activity. Campaign promises including “No raising hands” by the potential head-counselors, “Six flags” by the potential trip-managers and many more were announced at night-activity as NADMH introduced the potential candidates. Campers Chaim Eilenberg and Levi Plotkin automatically won the jobs of van drivers, camper Menachem Mendel Glazman won truck driver and camper Shneor Kotlarsky won assistant head counselor. Each camper was than handed a form containing the names of all the successful candidates, and were given the opportunity to vote. The campers than davened Maariv and headed to their bunks, everyone full of excitement from the days events and eager to find out the results tomorrow…

After many hours spent last night counting and recounting the votes, the dedicated staff went to rest a bit before giving over the great task of running Gan Yisroel, over to a fresh crew of campers.

Everybody woke up Wednesday morning to the hi-pitched voice of Ari Treitel, who took over the task of “the voice of CGI”. Meanwhile as all the exited campers started jumping out of their bunks, the newly appointed division head Yisroel New was busy pouring cocoa at the BMD Seder chasidus, and head lifeguard Yossi Dalfin was busy supervising, as the Mikvah opened. The kitchen was also boosted up with the help of Mashgiach Mendy Avtzon.

The campers (and counselors) stood by line-up as Motty Harlig, Mordy Harlig and Levi Scharfstein took over the strenuous job of Head Counselors. Everyone was eager to put on their very best behavior, as points were being given for bunk-competition. As everyone was headed for Davening, a very special crew of waiters was in middle of hearing Kriah in the waiter’s minyan. After they finished davening they headed towards the dining room following the direction of their very talented head waiter Yankel Hecht. Meanwhile the talented replacement for the great job of younger division head Avremi Raichik began leading the younger division in davening.

Beep-beep, the camp truck and vans roared out of camp, driven (nearly) by van drivers Chaim Eilenberg and Pinny Goldin and truck driver Mendy Glazman under the direction of their ECAD Yossi Hershkop. Meanwhile canteen manager Yankel Kievman rolled up his sleeves and started preparing for a long hard day in the canteen. The campers finished breakfast and than headed to their learning classes, some stopping off to get some expert medical advice from EMT Yossi Leches. A grim-faced Tzvi Meir Fellig, an equally serious Levi Harlig and Levi Chein took over the job of learning directors and began circling the campsite making sure that everyone was busy learning.

“Learning never ends, learning never ends” OM Ari Treitel announced as everyone headed for line-up. The head counselors dismissed everybody to lunch including a very special group of staff which included Shmais.com, whose job was taken over by Isaac Sufrin. After lunch the campers were dismissed to rest period where they were given their canteen, presented by CM Yankel Kievman. They than headed towards their activities, arranged by a very capable Program Director Shmuel Pearlstein. Towards the end of the day the campers were treated to a very special night-activity under the brilliant NAD Boruch Sholom Blesofsky.

The head counselors would like to thank their assistant Shneur Kotlarsky for his round-the-clock help, as well as general managers Shmuly Posner and Yaacov Dovid kotlarsky and their assistant Nochum Schapiro for their constant backup. Special mention goes to OD Motki Newirth who has a long night ahead of him.

Wednesday: The first hike of the second month took place on Wednesday for a few bunks. Light showers continued but camp ran as usual. For night activity, Moshegene divided the campers into three groups: Cows, Goats, and Chickens. They then played some wild game which required animal noises to be made. Moos and clucks etc. could be heard throughout camp.

For the youngest bunks in camp ( the youngest division) a sepperate night activity was made. These bunks were also notified of the “shower competition”, exclusively for the youngest division. Shower updates to come.

Thursday: Light showers continued and indoor activities took place. A special visit by a French journalist and photographer came to camp and was very impressed.

Night Activity was entitled Guess the Voice.” Recordings of various people in camp (staff-members and campers) were played and campers tried to guess who they were. Sounds fun

Monday morning: As the new campers arrived, those campers who were unfortunately not staying for the second month began to load onto buses. Tears ran down there eyes as they remembered the camp songs that had been pounded into their heads over the past few days.
All campers were then brought into the Shul to find out their bunks for the second month. After unpacking and relocating, the campers were gathered once again for the announcement of learning class Kvutzas. As the campers and teachers were announced, each Kvutza went off to there learning class locations for a brief 15 minute class.