KIRYAT GAN ISRAEL NY Inside the Journal: Calendar 2 Mishnayos Ba’al Peh 71 Rebbe Letter 4 Song Book 77 Head Staff Letter 5 Diary 85 Bunk Pages 8 Birthdays 89 Campers Write 57 Yellow Pages 97 Learning Program 63 Thank Yous 101 ב"ה CGI CALENDAR – MONTH 1 תמוז - אב תשס"ז / JUNE - JULY 2007 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SHABBOS י "ד פ' בלק 30 י "ג 29 י "ב' 28 י "א 27 י' 26 Staff Arrive Leave Campers Arrive N.Y. @ 11am Leave NY @ 11am כ "א פ' פנחס 7 כ' 6 י "ט 5 י "ח 4 י "ז 3 ט "ז 2 ט "ו 1 First trip Fast day Bowling כ "ח פ' מטו"מ 14 כ "ז 13 כ "ו 12 כ "ה 11 כ "ד 10 כ "ג 9 כ "ב 8 Visiting Day Overnight Camp Overnight BMD Grand trip שבת מברכים Masmidim Six Flags ו' פ' דברים 21 ה' 20 ד' 19 ג' 18 ב' 17 א' 16 כ "ט 15 9 Days Bog War Bog War Carnival י "א 26 י' 25 ט' 24 ח' 23 ז' 22 Change Session תשעה באב Topsey turvey NY-9am Camp-1pm ב"ה CGI CALENDAR – MONTH 2 אב תשס"ז / AUGUST 2007 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SHABBOS י "ג פ' ואתחנן 28 י "ב 27 י "א 26 Change Session NY-9am Camp-1pm כ' פ' עקב 4 י "ט 3 י "ח 2 י "ז 1 ט "ז 31 ט "ו 30 י "ד 29 First trip First Trip Furen Tsum Holiday Puttin Plus Rebben Mountain (older div) From Camp @ 11am כ "ז פ' ראה 11 כ "ו 10 כ "ה 9 כ "ד 8 כ "ג 7 כ "ב 6 כ "א 5 Visiting Day Overnight Camp Overnight BMD שבת מברכים Masmidim ד' פ' שופטים 18 ג' 17 ב' 16 א' 15 ל' 14 כ "ט 13 כ "ח 12 Staff Play Color war Color war ז' 21 ו' 20 ה' 19 Goodbye CGI Grand trip Pack/ Leave Camp @ 11am Hershey Park Banquet Page 4 KIRYAT GAN ISRAEL NY Letter From The Rebbe A letter of the Rebbe to a reunion of Camp Gan Yisroel By the Grace of G-d 17th of Shevat, 5723 Brooklyn, N.Y. To All Participants in the Reunion of Camp Gan Israel, G-d bless you all, Greeting and Blessing: I trust you know that a few days ago (on the 10th of Shevat), we observed the Yahrzeit of the late Lubavitcher Rebbe, my father-in –law of saintly memory. Camp Gan Israel, which you enjoyed so much during the summer, and which you are now gathered to honor, is one of the im- portant activities of the Merkos L”Inyonei Chinuch, which the late Lubavitcher Rebbe has created for your benefit. In this connection, I wish to tell you a story which my father-in-law related. Some of you may have already heard it, but it is worth repeating, for its lessons can never become “out of date”. The story is as follows: The first Lubavitcher Rebbe, known as the “Old Rebbe” (and about three weeks ago, on the 24th of Teveth, we observed the 150th year since he passed away) has a son Rabbi Dov Ber, who later succeeded his father as the second, or “Mitteler” Rebbe. Rabbi Dov Ber was known for his unusual power of concentration. When he was engaged in a study or prayer, he did not hear or see a thing around him. Once, when Rabbi Dov Ber was engaged in study, his baby sleeping in a nearby cot, fell out of its cradle and began to cry. Rabbi Dov Ber did not hear the baby’s cry and continued to learn. But the infants grandfather, the Old Rebbe, who was in the room on the upper floor and was also learning at that time, did hear the baby’s cries. He interrupted his studies, went downstairs, picked up the infant, soothed it and put it back in its cradle. Still the infants father did not hear or see what went on around him. Later on, the Old Rebbe told his son: “No matter how important the thing is in which a Jew is engaged, one must always hear the cry of a child.” This story was told not only to parents, teachers and grown-ups who have to take care of children, but also to the children them- selves, because this story has an important lesson for children also. You see, everyone has a yetzer tov-which puts good ideas into the head, and a yetzer hora-which tries to put bad ideas into the head. The yetzer hora is the “older” one, for it comes early in the life of every boy and girl to temp them to do things they shouldn’t. The yetzer tov is the “baby”. It sometimes happens that just when a boy or girl has to do something really important, such as to study, do homework, and the like, they suddenly get an idea to do something else instead, which may also be good in it’s proper time, but not now. For example, when it is time to do homework, the boy or girl wants to put their room in order, or run an errand. Worst still, when the yetzer hora tempts them to do something they shouldn’t do at any time. When this happens, the yetzer tov “baby” feels pushed out of it’s cra- dle, unhappy, and begins to cry. The story I told you is to remind you to hear the cry of the “baby”-the yetzer tov, and keep it happy by doing the right thing at the right time, and not doing the wrong thing at any time. I will conclude by reminding all of you that this coming shabbos we will read in the Torah about G- d giving us the Torah at Mount Sinai, when all Jews, young and old, boys and girls, declared with one voice: “All that G-d has spoken, we will do!” If you will remember this always-the yetzer tov will have no tears, and you, too, will be happy in every respect. I send you and your teachers and parents greeting and all good wishes, With Blessing, M Schneerson PARKSVILLE, NY 5767 Page 5 Letter From Executive Director שי' Dear colleagues and friends Reunion is always a moving and emotional experience. Yet this reunion is special because the initial re- union was special. In my travels over the years I have, as I am sure you have during your own travels, come to realize the unique and long-lasting deep impact of Gan Israel on the lives of the thousands who have passed through its environment over the four decades of its existence. Today, we reunite not only in remembering the past, but in realizing its impact on our lives up to the present. Generally, summer is seen as a problem to be solved and a challenge to be met, with camp as the solu- always sees challenges and opportunity. And so the Rebbe founded a camp asזי"ע tion. But the Rebbe an island where torah and chassidus can be taught, undisturbed by the outside world, in a wholesome environment, something that is not possible in even the best yeshiva in the city. The Rebbe sees Camp Gan Israel as a kavadla (mold) where the character of the true chossid can be probably molded. With the establishment of Gan Yisroel, the Rebbe started a revolution. Quantitatively, the Rebbe founded a global network of institutions serving thousands of youth, turning the summer vacation, months free of school, into a recreational and educational opportunity. Qualitatively too, the Rebbe created a program that transcends all barriers, a setting that comfortably serves the entire spectrum of Jewish youth, from the public school students whom Gan Yisroel introduced to Yidishkeit, to the Ben Torah, for whom it of- fered an insight into the light and warmth of Chassidus. Gan Yisroel was entrusted with an enormous task and zechus and we remain dedicated to the continued fulfillment of this unique shlichus. As we are blessed with the unique zechuss to mark the completion of the Yovel – Jubilee (and marking the ground of the new acquisition), we hope and prayאי"ה the beginning of the new “Yovel” with breaking for new insights into the words and wishes of the Rebbe that will be translated into increased efforts that so"הקיצו ורננו שכוני עפר" ,will hasten the Geulah speedily in our time, with the fulfillment of the prophecy that, together with the Rebbe, we will march to the Geulah Sheeimah speedily in our time. With esteem and affection, I remain, Sincerely, Avrohom Y Shemtov Page 6 KIRYAT GAN ISRAEL NY Letter From Head Counselors Tayere campers sheyichyu, As the summer comes to an end and we begin to reflect on the unbelievable times we all had to- gether we want to leave you with a few reminding words until next year when were all back together for another smashing year. Amongst all the activities and trips and exciting carnivals and outdoor barbecues and overnights that we shared together, was a message that camp told us. The pride of being a chossid and excitement of being a yid the chayus in davening and bentching are the daily ideas that we lived with for the last 2 months. But throughout the summer we learned many different lessons that we should think about and live with at home this year as well. Those of you that began to read the album of the Rebbe, should continue to read it and enjoy the valuable information that you can get from it.