Reflections of a Camp Counselor

By: Counselor of Bunk 3
From the Desk of a Jewish Girls Retreat Counselor

Jewish Girls Retreat. Where heaven and earth meet.
How much truth is in that statement? Is that even possible?

After being a counselor for winter retreat, I know it’s true and real. This is my perspective on these 5 days.

It’s Thursday night. Day two of JGR. The room is packed with girls and counselors, each has the story that brought them there, the shlucha and the girl from public school, the camper for years and the new girl. A group of girls from all different backgrounds yet in JGR, they are sisters. It’s the inspiration of 5 days to last a year, a weekend that has to last until the next time. And it will. It will because of the atmosphere, the warmth, the love and the sense of family. Every girl is important and each learns and grows. No question is out of place, no challenge is ignored. The Ruchnius that these girls leave with has to last until summer so the curriculum is intensely detailed with the lessons the girls will carry with them. It’s only been a couple of nights, but to hear the girls talk about how much they have gained shows that quality is more important than quantity.

The theme of this weekend is building the future, following the blueprint that HaShem set for us. The girls each set a mission for themselves to change themselves, what they want to work on this year. Each girl has a goal that she set her mind to and is working towards that goal with chayus. The sincerity that the girls show is what makes JGR special.

The atmosphere in JGR is a family, everyone feels valued and loved. The JGR family stays together even after outgrowing camp. Together, all of JGR celebrated the Florida wedding of JGR alumnus, Ariella Hertzberg and danced for hours. The atmosphere was electric, the unity was tangible. Every girl danced with all her soul, no boundaries separating each other, the only thing that mattered was the simcha. The night was action packed and now the campers are finally asleep. Strangely, 3:00 in the morning is the ideal time to pen your thoughts but I have to be a good counselor tomorrow. It’s too late at night to keep writing. Shabbos in JGR is legendary, and the experience is about to begin, I have to be awake for it to take in every second.

Motzei shabbos. Not sure where time went. It flew! “Shabbos in JGR, Shabbos in JGR, Shabbos in JGR, it’s gevaldig!” The room is shaking, the voices blend in harmony. After a Friday full of activities, Shabbos is finally here.

Licht bentchin was the beginning of an adventure, watching the girls sway as they say the bracha is beyond words. They feel it and live it, the words are real! Davening kabalas shabbos together, singing the classic camp songs, discussing what shabbos really means all play a part in the shabbos experience. Farbrengens after the meal had each girl sharing, it was a farbrengen, not a speech. It brought out the best in every girl. How can you limit the power of the farbrengen in words? How can letters capture the feelings that we experienced? It can’t. You just have to experience it to believe it.

By the time the girls were in bed, they had packed inspiration for the year into a few hours. The davening on Shabbos day was so eye opening. To watch all the girls daven with chayus and sincerity inspires every one of us. Davening was so real to them, it was felt and loved. After seeing your campers Daven like that, how can you not have more Kavanah? The meal was full of singing and excitement, the girls all were included. The rest of the day was packed with fun and learning. As a counselor, I have never seen girls so open and ready to learn.

Then shabbos ended, havdalah escorted out the energy that shabbos have but only to bring a new energy. It began with a Chinese auction raffling off gorgeous prize packages sponsored by the girls themselves. Every penny earned goes towards the JGR building project. Every girl wants a home for JGR so badly. When they heard the amount of money that was raised, the room erupted with excitement, we are a few steps closer to purchasing a home! The place that brings us together needs its own space.

Then we began the traditional candle lighting ceremony when every bunk shared what they gained this weekend. To hear the girl who told you at the beginning of the retreat that she struggles with davening, get up to tell everyone that JGR gave her an appreciation for davening is the most incredible feeling. This is what we are here for and its for this that the Labers opened JGR. Everything that we try so hard to instill in the girls is truly received and they grow so much. Emotions run high among both staff and counselors, we need more time! We have so much we need to do, yet we only have five days and four nights. It’s simply not enough.

The evening continues into a concert. Chaya Sara Weiss and Rivkah Leah Cylich spent shabbos here to give the girls a concert to remember. You could feel the energy in the room as the singing grew.

As the night went on, the realization that camp was almost over set in. Every single girl involved in camp from camper to counselor to kitchen staff was near tears if not crying already.

It takes so much to keep a straight face for your campers. Watching the girls that blossomed in your care prepare to leave the place that they call home is painful. You know you did a lot but you feel that you could have done more. There was no time! Five days? Five days of excitement and inspiration is all these girls have to keep them going until the next time, and as a counselor you Daven that you give enough.

Many counselors are saying that they felt like whatever they said did not feel like it came from them. It was completely the Rebbe’s strength coming through them.

Now it’s really late, 5:00 in the morning, any normal person would be in bed by now. But I can’t, I know I have to be up in three hours but the thoughts are racing through my head. Tomorrow is the last day of camp, anything else I want my campers to have has to be given now. Davening for the right words, for the right moment.

Sunday came and with it a rain storm, our goodbye tears mingled with the rain drops as girls parted from friends to last a lifetime. Emotions ran high as the buses pulled away, campers and counselors embraced as tears flowed.
Now I am back in school, real life has begun. Inspiration has to last, how can we do it? I miss the camper’s sincerity, the real Davening, the love, the excitement and everything JGR gives you. To keep it up is so hard. I am trying to figure out if it’s the campers or the counselors that gained the most. I learned so much from my campers, I miss them so much! Never in my life have I met girls who care so much, who want to learn so badly. People say that it’s a JGR thing, unique to this camp. It wouldn’t surprise me. The amount of respect the campers have is amazing.

I wish we could make a home for this incredible camp. They need a place where the campers can come back throughout the year. Can you be a part of that? Can you make this dream a reality? Can you contribute to make JGR a home? We can’t do it alone and we need it so badly. Every dollar counts. Please be a part of this incredible shlichus and create a place for our camp. It’s in your hands. Please don’t let the opportunity slip away.

For more information, visit www.ahomeforjgr.com