Dear Supporters, Friends, Alumni, Former staff and Campers,
When we decided to join the contest from the Aviva Community Fund we were very excited. Many times throughout the past few years we searched for ways to receive grants for our camp. This fund, we thought, would be a fun way to excite our community and try to receive money for our bunkhouses that need to be replaced. The excitement turned to awe when we saw the passion of the many people who voted for us. We saw the excitement in which our alumni, staff, parents and especially campers got involved and pushed for the vote. The pride that our supporters have for Camp Pardas Chanah has been extremely gratifying. As we made our way to the top our anticipation grew. Here was an idea that our community really supports. Today we stand in top place in the Aviva Community Fund.
When those in charge of the fund looked into our organization and saw the passion it generated they were really impressed. After researching our organization, they concluded that we are a faith based organization. Although, they are not explicit in their eligibility for the contest rules that the organization must be inclusive of all religions this is one of their criteria. Bottom line is; they may take a decision to qualify or disqualify an organization.
Unfortunately for us, the Aviva Community Fund has decided that they will be removing Camp Pardas Chanah out of the contest unless we would agree to the following 5 criteria:
• Interfaith Education as part of the camp experience (added to the current programming)
• Any Jewish faith based programming must be optional to all campers
• Campers of other faiths should be welcome to attend the camp
• Dress code policy must become optional
• Policy around reading materials must allow for agnostic reading materials including magazines…. quote from their website says: “girls bringing reading materials should bring books with Jewish content only. No magazines are allowed.”
It goes without saying that our values and convictions are stronger than money. Therefore, we had to make the decision that we will not agree to the above terms and conditions. Although we are deeply disappointed, we know that we have taken the correct course of action for our community.
We would like to take the opportunity to thank all our supporters, alumni, campers, and friends for your dedication in getting us so many votes. Your care and perseverance, your enthusiasm and your passion was very much appreciated. The comment that we have read and the real feelings that you have shown for our camp have humbled us. Thank you so much. We are forever grateful.
Rabbi & Mrs. Gurary
pc is an awesome camp!!! they shouldve gotten it but at the same time they made a gr8 kiddush hashem!! go gurarys!! they rock!! i wish i could go to pc for the rest of my life!
aint gonna leave p.c. this year, aint gonna leave p.c. this year. double double triple pay, in p.c. we wanna stay!!!, aint gonna leave p.c. this year.
why?
because i love p.c.!
p.c. is a gr8, awesome and very chassidish camp. It definetly “recharged” me! i wish they cld’ve won! they deserve and cld use the money!
~
a very happy camper of p.c.!
bursting with spirit,,,
i gr8 lace u betta believe it!!!
best place evaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
u rock 4 e/t!!!
go to camppc.com and click on “general info” under there is a copy of this letter as well as a “donate now” button… click on it
My daughter went to PC a few years ago and loved every minute. Thank you for your principled stand and for making a true Kiddush Hashem and Kiddush Lubavitch. May Hashem reward you many times over for doing the right thing. Where can we donate?
“When those in charge of the fund looked into our organization and saw the passion it generated they were really impressed.” does the fact that they WERE IMPRESSED (basically meaning kiddush hashem) mean anything to you?? and do you think that pardas chanah’s decline made them less impressed MOST DIFFIDENTLY TO THE CONTRARY for sure it made a big impact as it says quite clearly in the letter “It goes without saying that our values and convictions are stronger than money. ” obviously on a goyishe outlook it may not be as simple as we see it. But it is… Read more »
it rox! went there yr after yr…
so upset they didnt win…. 🙁
they coulda used the $….
still love da placeEE
no doubt- p.c. is an amazing camp! me and my sister went and we had a great experience. what a shame. they definetly deserve the $!
we shoul still love pc!
~pc camper~
it is. these r the governments requirements too…
the gurarys are great ppl
Great camp.
Obvious decision.
Thanks for letting us know.
The Gurarys should look into wether what the fund is doing is legal.
The gurarys are amazing! they are such warm ppl and they turned the camp around for the good!!
keep up the great work of setting such an amazing example for every one to follow!!
this is a big kiddush Hashem… but so disappointing!
hashem will bring them money in other ways!
Yasher Koach!! Hashem should bless you 100 times fold!!
It seems to me that the 2009 winner called “NOËL VERT POUR TOUS” which is something about a Green xmas should not have been eligable either. It is exclusive for those who follow that religion!
um wait till ur offered that money and then talk
AFTER the kohls debacle, this is very refreshing.
I was beginning to think that in our circles money trumps all.
their still in!
i figured it out.
http://www.camppc.com
then clck the general information tab.
EVERYTHING of the 5 requirements goes against jewish law!
i still dont understand why people are impressed that they backed down with pride!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
isn’t this what you would do?
or would you tell your kids “from now on u can dress how u like”
we got $500.000 for it.
no more davening we got $500.000.
I was in pardas chanah for many years… I was talking baout this with several of my friends about this… and the thing is not the “mesirars nefesh” or anything else: what abot whats beyond it: this was a a non-jewish site… who knows what could generate from it… Waht about Kiddush Hashem?
what about just doing whats right without all the “pizzaz” whatever happened to that??
you will get the money iy”h !
we can also vote for friendship circle now
THEY R STILL ELIGIBLE!!
http://www.avivacommunityfund.org/ideas/acf7133
The Aibershter wants to give all of US the mitzvah of supporting this wonderful moisad! Aviva foundation is the loser! We are all the winners because we can have a part in this tzedaka. Everybody go to the website and donate! (I never went to Pardes Chana and don’t even know the Gurarys but they sound like great people.)
day after day we all voted… day afetr day we wathced the votes reach sky-high rates… third place, second place, first place… we were as happy as could be…. But now i realize whay PC really means to me… Pardas chanah is not just a place to have a wonderful summer. It goes beyond meeting amazing new friends with whom to bond… its a place of unwavering emunah…. strengthening us as woman, as the bnos chabad of tomorrow. They igrain within us true chassidishe values… and htis is what i am truly thankful for…. Pc we owe you a lot…… Read more »
Thank you Dinie!!! I’m really proud to say that i go to this camp!!!
to #12- of course its in a sense obvious that they would back down, but it doesnt mean it was easy!! $500,000 is $500,000, and it isnt a small amount. it was probably a very hard thing to do.
think about it. not always does everyone do what they are supposed to!!!!!!
Having worked in organizations that are audited by government I have many times been on the loophole search for a way to say we don’t do something we really do, or we do something we really don’t. The impressive thing here is Pardes Chana not doing any shtick but standing proud and saying “sorry—we won’t change a thing.” In the spirit of Chanukah, similar to Chana’s youngest son who wouldn’t bend down to pick up a ring in front of the idol to give even an appearance of impropriety. Kudos to you. May Hashem bless you with continued success and… Read more »
Are you nuts? This is a private contest and the company giving the money can set the guidelines however they feel. This is not an attack on our way of life … the company doesn’t owe us a cent.
I respect you guys a lot for this decision… Don’t worry Hashem will repay you every cent…;)
i am a person that peaople who know me refer to me as the critic i always hve the negative to say and i am he first one to shoot down these so called mesiras nefesh scenarios, but i hate to break it to you in this case i am actually impressed the administration of pc could have found a way aloophole of some sorts they could have taken down that line from the internet about magazines etc but rather they took the high road unlike some other organizations in lubavitch which only backed out after much pressure i think… Read more »
these are JEWS not goyim who run aviva!
kol hakavod
u guys are AMAzing! And what you did spoke more than any amount of moneyt ever can…
Yasher KOach, and im sure Hashem will reward you guys for your AMAZING shluchis!
yeah.. cant all those votes go for FC?
dini gurary u r amazing u did so much good for my duaghter this summer hashem will send it other ways
Thank you for letting us know that we do not have to continue trying to get votes, that is very considerate of you.
May Hashem grant you the funds through other means.
For those that want to donate, Camp Pardas Chanah set up a donation page
http://camppc.com/information/information.htm
amazing, money comes from Hashem…and He will give it to you a different way.
I am sooo proud!
We must not accept this! Did Kohl’s insist on such conditions with their contest in the US? Do we really believe that similar restrictions would be placed on lehavdil, Christian or Muslim (or other) institutions? Were other organizations also told how to conduct their affairs?? This is an assault on our culture and lifestyle. We should not back down.
We must do something: call Aviva. Make a boycott. Call the newspapers and tell them about this unfairness.
I deeply applaud the camp’s decision not to bend to PC. Unfortunately, this represents a growing dilemma among Orthodox institutions that rely on government funding. Whoever has the hand on the purse strings calls the shots, and it takes great courage under financial duress to take a stand.
Im just wondering, and this isnt meant to be a nasty comment, arent there camps and organizations that are for one specific religion? Its like having Americans going to a Chinees-only program\camp etc.
that must be realy dissapointing
shame but may hashem send u more then wat their offering b/c u stand in ure belief!
hatzlochah!
pc is not writing this to toot their own horn. they are writing this simply to explain why they are no longer part of the contest. simple. so relax. yes anyone would do it, and then they would send in a similar letter so people know. it’s an awareness thing.
camp pc was there for me 45 years ago when i was a kid, and i’m proud to say my kids have all gone there as well. consistently great, and getting betrter and better under the gurarys. the warmth, and old fashoined family values are what make it special. the aibershter will send you the money, tenfold, from another, kosher way.
you are 100% right/
Are we supposed to be impressed that pc did not cave in and and teach “Interfaith”
Are we supposed to be impressed that pc did not cave in and change their dress code rules
Are we supposed to be impressed that pc did not cave in and make learning jewish values “voluntary”.
HELLO!!!!!!
Does that turn them into mesirus nefesh HEROES?????
It is the basic decision you would expect any frum Jew to do!!!!
pc is really in need of new bunk houses just like u were all so gracious to vote for them, lets see how we can some how raise some funds to help them out, Avremel and Dinie are so ibbergegeben, they are amazing, they are the best, pc is very lucky to have them, as a child i was a camper there and i promise you i wish i could have had directors like them.
so please even if its $18,$36,$72 or more please they really need it.
dinie you are the best
a proud montreal community member
We must not accept this! Did Kohl’s insist on such conditions with their contest in the US? Do we really believe that similar restrictions would be placed on lehavdil, Christian or Muslim (or other) institutions? Were other organizations also told how to conduct their affairs?? This is an assault on our culture and lifestyle. We should not back down.
We must do something: call Aviva. Make a boycott. Call the newspapers and tell them about this unfairness.
ANY lubavitch mosod would back down under such conditions
Is there an email address to the people at Aviva that we can write to?
It’s ridiculous to be wowed by PC not accepting the condition, Dinie Gurary is frum, and didn’t post the story to say how much mesiras nefesh they had only to explain why they backed out
It’s equivalent to someone posting that they will not be serving a certain food as planned because it’s treif and everyone saying kudos, wow, good that you put your foot down.
The Gurary’s are truly amazing – changed Pardes Chana to a true chassidishe camp where everyone has an amazing summer!
Keep up the true values and may Hashem pay you back many many more times over!
I applaud PC for standing strong for Yiddishkeit and Chassidishkeit. Please use the rest of your votes for Friendship Circle so it can go to one of OURS
THEY R STILL ELIGIBLE!!
http://www.avivacommunityfund.org/ideas/acf7133
Very good. This should receive widespread publicity. I have absolutly no connection with this camp but was very impressed by your stance. It is a shame that your application was accepted when you did not meet the criteria. Your efforts and the efforts of your supporters will certainly not go unrewarded.
This is very sad!!! As this is a great, warm camp and exactly how the Rebbe would want we she educate our children.
M.L.
No doubt Rabbi and mrs Gurary made the right choice! Albeit difficult, our yiddishkeit comes before money. May hashem bless you to receive many donations that you can give grants to all those who need! Keep up the good work.
You are true shluchim, exemplifying the best chinuch in Lubavitch without psharos and the reason that we have chosen to send our daughters to Pardas Chanah year after year. we are so grateful.
I used all my votes for PC!
Is there a petition we can write to Aviva to get them to give you the grant without the conditions?
Either way, Rabbi & Mrs. Gurary, you are the best!!! Thanks for standing strong in all your beliefs.
We are proud of you!!!
u guys r the best g-d will bless u in another way and he does bless u amennnnnnnn