On a beautiful 350 acre campus in Hoosick Falls NY, 70 girls from every background united as one family. Along with over 40 staff members, we learned together, played together, laughed, created, performed and enjoyed amazing field trips.
From amazing GROW workshops, to basket weaving and cake decorating, performing at the WAMC Linda, to delicious food and roller coasters at The Great Escape, our summer was filled with joy!
The Jewish Girls Retreat summer session opened with a 5 day Staff Leadership Retreat offering leadership and team building skills. Staff were empowered to give the campers a summer of growth and joy; learning how to connect with campers individually so that each girl would grow and shine.
During JGR the girls explored the camp theme “I Text Torah” and discovered the deeper meaning in the Alef Bet letters in daily Grow workshops. These small discussion groups were taught by the staff in fun and interactive ways, engaging the campers and encouraging them to apply lessons to their own lives. Shining their inner light, developing and nurturing skills and talents – these were daily happenings for our wonderful campers at JGR.
In addition, the new One More Light Shabbos Candle Lighting campaign was integrated into the camp program. These three words, “one more light” were instilled through conversation, writing, song, drama and dance. The girls performed at camp and created a drama and music video based around this inspiring theme and the song One More Light composed by Rivka Leah Cylich. Girls also submitted their writings online for the second round of the JGU candle lighting writing contest.
Thank you to the following people who brought their skill and talents to JGR: Camp mom Bassy Weiss, coach Susan Axelrod, directors Nechama and Avraham Laber, graphologist Yakov Rosenthal, artist Deb Friedson, Dr Edward Jacobs, photographer Chanie Greenfield, coordinator Julie Hintz, art teacher Chaya Yehudis Dank, nurse Regina Minkoff, cooks Mr Binyomin and Mrs Gita Gammal, Mendy and Chaya Laber, and graphic designers Rabbi and Leah Caras of Carasmatic Design.
Thanks also to our amazing and dedicated staff including: Mushka Schwei, Devorah Layah Gansburg, Henny Lefkowitz, Sara Pessia Gross, Estee Blumberger, Miri Touger, Shaindel Freedman, Dev Eber, Yaffa Travitz, Mimi Russell, Chanale Morozow, Miri Meshchaninov, Leah Lazar, Shaindel Gordon, Rivka Namirovsky, Sheera Weisberg, Shternie Sirota, Racheli Dubov, Esty Van H, Tali Trencher, Chaya Mushka Karp, Rochel Leah Shepherd, Shayna Mushka Saxon, Tonya Schmukler, Rochel Benarroche, Basya Feldman, Chaviva Elharar, Miri Vogel, Leah Bakhash, Mushkie Spielman, Devorah Serraf, Basya Feldman.
A mother, Tzippy Furst, sent a voice message, “My daughter Chaya came home from JGR as the happiest camper I have ever seen. She wishes camp was longer and she loved camp so much she didn’t want to leave. She loved everything from A-Z. I can’t thank you enough. She is my youngest and I have never experienced anything like this before.”
Counselor, Rochel wrote, “It’s amazing how HaShem put me in JGR to gain so much. I learned more here than in all my years of education. Thank you for the opportunity to be part of the mission to empower Jewish girls around the world.”
Her camper Neshama from Oregon found JGU classes online and joined the global community, which led her to a summer at JGR. “I used to feel very alone as a Jewish girl in a small rural town in Oregon. I would see big communities in other places and wonder what it was like to feel a part of something so special. There are no other Jewish girls my age where I live. That changed when I found Jewish Girls Unite online. I loved learning and meeting new friends at camp and hope to come back soon. I thank my counselors for always being there for me.”
Nechama Laber, who with her husband Rabbi Avraham Laber is the founder and director of JGR and JGU, is the daughter of Rabbi Azriel Wasserman OBM whose 31st Yartzeit was on 4 Av. He inspired her commitment to teaching Judaism with love and joy through creativity and innovation.
Tzippy Furst, mother of camper Chaya shared, “Rabbi Wasserman was the beloved teacher of my brother Shuah years ago and we are so proud to be part of his legacy today. I see his beautiful legacy shining at the Jewish Girls Retreat and Jewish Girls Unite, the online global community that enables Jewish girls to stay connected year round to the camp inspiration. JGU offers many opportunities for girls to continue growing throughout the year by contributing their talents, joining virtual classes, sharing ideas on the safe forum, blogs and entering contests.”
Our global One More Light Campaign is happening now and we invite women and girls ages 3 and up to sign up to join at 1morelight.com. You can share your candle lighting story on our forum, submit your writing for the essay contest and Invite [others] to light to receive free gifts!
To find out more about the Jewish Girls Winter Retreat from Dec. 23-28 in Latham, NY and Jewish Girls Unite, check out www.jewishgirlsunite.com
Thanks to everyone who was in JGR this summer!
You really gave me a great experience!
May JGR go from strength to strength and bring Moshiach now!!!!
Thank you Rabbi and Mrs. Labor for creating such a loving warm camp. I’ve been to many camps as a camper and counselor but never experienced this before, we where all united as one growing and shining are inner light.
Thank you JGR I found my home away from home !
Thanks to everyone who was in JGR this summer!
You really gave me a great experience!
May JGR go from strength to strength and bring Moshiach now!!!!
Everyone for his amazing summer!!!
It couldn’t have been the same without anyone one of you!
Their is no camp out there like JGR! We were all so United as one staff, we all worked together and helped each other. I had never seen a camp that way when no one is judging. Thank you Nechama, Rabbi Laber, Devorah Leah, Mushka, and Bassy our heads, for giving us our strength to carry on and helped us so much through the way! Thank you head staff, Leah for Helping with all the activities, being there for us and always helping everyone, Yaffa the best OD putting our kids to sleep, Rivky and Shandel for giving them and… Read more »
JGR is like no other camp! A place where I learned to truly love a fellow Jew!
Thank you Mrs Nechama and Rabbi Laber for your amazing devotion to every camper, counselors, and staff member.
You are a true example of doing what the Rebbe asked wholeheartedly and with such a passion.
Looking forward to the next retreat
You are beautiful inside and out! Thank you staff for giving my daughter such a good time. B.S
U guys r awesome!!!
Dear JGR campers
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to be your staff member this summer it was an amazing experience one that I will never forget it changed my life forever I still feel the love from all of you and I miss you guys tonz!!! I hope to see you guys next summer or in the winter retreat!!!
Sarah M. Weissman!!!
Love, Guess Who???