The Jewish Girls Retreat, recently concluded the summer session with 90 campers and 40 staff members.
“JGR”, located near Albany, NY is an overnight camp geared for Jewish girls of all backgrounds and is directed by shluchim, Rabbi Avraham and Nechama Laber who work with Rabbi Israel Rubin, head shliach of Capital District Chabad.
At the conclusion of each retreat, there is a candle lighting ceremony, where campers and staff reflect on their experience at JGR.
Talya, a teen camper from Florida lit a candle and spoke, “As I was sitting around watching everyone lighting the candles, I was thinking about how everyone has a candle inside them waiting to be lit and here at JGR that is what happened. I hope that after this summer, I can go home and take that light with me and continue to spread it.”
“At JGR, girls are discovering their unique light and gaining the leadership skills to shine brightly among their communities,” said Linda Schwartz, the mother of a camper from California.
The camp theme this year was “Discover Me.” Each day, the campers learned a verse in the song, aishes chayil, and explored the noble qualities of Jewish women throughout the ages who brought light into the world. Through, hands on activities, discussions and debates, campers uncovered the noble qualities of the woman of valor hidden within their souls.
In an atmosphere of warmth and acceptance, and with a focus on the arts, each girl is given a chance to shine. Girls had the opportunity to star in a camp movie, directed by Chavi Resnick and Saralaya Rockford and filmed by Danny Finkelman and his crew of SPARKS NEXT Productions. The title of the movie is “A Flame to Follow” and is a story that shows the power of Shabbos candles.
Many of the campwide activities also offer campers various ways to express their talents and shine. This includes creative art clubs, gymnastics, sports, public speaking, talent and fashion shows and color war.
At a beautiful concert, led by singer and composer Rivka Leah Cylich, talented JGR staff and teen campers had the chance to perform before an audience of women and girls. The spotlight was on staff soloists, Chaya Schochet, Menucha Rothstien Chaviva Elharrar, Devorah Serraf and teen camper Tamar Guterson. Mali New, a counselor accompanied on the piano.
Guest speakers and women who are living examples shared their light and wisdom with campers and staff. Some of the speakers included Rabbi Asher and Sara Esther Crispe, Rabbi Yossi Paltiel, Shimona Tzukernik, Leah Caras, Rabbi Yossi and Chana Atara Madvig, Chaya Bracha Rubin, Shirley Goodman, Yaffa Lown and Mayer and Neomi Gniwisch.
Deanna from Upstate NY, lit a candle and shared how she will add more light once she leaves camp. “My family doesn’t do Shabbos or Kosher or anything like that. Something I really want to try harder is to light Shabbos candles and keep Tznius outside of camp.”
Riva from Michigan was next to light a candle and shared, “My mom told me to try out this camp. I was kind of nervous. I didn’t think I would make such good friends or come so close to G-d or Judaism and I’ve just learned so much. I love being Jewish. I’ve become such a proud Jew. This summer taught me to be more spiritual. And these friends I made here will be my friends forever.”
“After each retreat, my heart is filled with joy upon seeing how every soul at JGR has been ignited in just a few weeks of camp. Our girls are inspired to add more light with each new mitzvah and dispel the darkness in the world today,” says Nechama Laber.
It is thanks to a dedicated team of 45 staff members, who provide unconditional love and guidance, enabling every girl to shine with her unique light.
Head Staff included program directors, Leah Caras, Chaya Schochet and Chaviva Elharrar. Bracha Morozow, Chana Faygen and Bryndel Gniwisch were head counselors. Specialty staff at camp were Nurse Ellen Zagorsky Goldberg, Shoshana Pimentelli, Devorah Serraf, Shprintza Gutnick, Tova Leah Steinmetz, Itty Wagner and Menucha Rothstien, Mrs. Chana Atara Madvig, Chaya Leah Dickel and Tonna Pevsner.
“My daughters came home glowing thanks to the impeccable organization, to the staff (all who are amazing), the fun (of course), the close JGR friendships and family, the Yaldah magazine inspiration and all the artistic expressive opportunities and the delicious and healthy food. Now all we need is a permanent home!” said Linda Schwartz.
This year, JGR was held at the Holiday Inn Express in Latham, NY. The Labers and the JGR building committee are currently raising funds to purchase a permanent camp grounds so that the light of JGR will never be extinguished and will inspire the Jewish women of the future.
To find out more, and to contribute to the building campaign, visit www.ahomeforjgr.com.
For more information on the winter or summer retreats, visit www.jewishgirlscamp.net, call Rabbi Avraham or Nechama Laber at 614-JGR-CAMP or e-mail [email protected].
JGR was the best summer i ever had miss all of the staff and counselors and of course my bunk mats miss u all
#goJGRgo
Theres camps all over, this one is special. The campers aquire friends, self respect-esteem-love, my daughter came home a changed person for the better. Thanks for giving my daughter a summer of a lifetime!!
Theres camps all over, this one is special. The campers aquire friends, self respect-esteem-love, my daughter came home a changed person for the better. Thanks for giving my daughter a summer of a lifetime!!
is there a camp like this for boys?
Warm atmosphere. The Labers are one of a kind!
Waitrossssssss
this place is so amazing, like heaven on earth. i had an amazing experience all three years and i always had amazing bunkmates and counselors. thank you so much JGR!
GO MENUCHA AND MESODY!!!!!!!!!!
I was privileged to come to jgr this year as a counselor! Jgr is truly a place where heaven and earth meet! I heard a camper say that jgr feels like moshiach! And it really does. The unity and acceptance brings out only the best in each camper and every camper is really taken care of as an only child! There is such a warm atmosphere and love for yiddishkeit in the atmosphere! IJGR, you are loved! 🙂
I loved this camp better than any camp I’ve been to I love every counselor and staff. They show only love and no judgement. :):)
Thank you JGR for all the memories you’ve given me!
Just a specail thank you to My counselors, Mali and Menucha M&M’s together….and to the O.D Shoshana Pimentelli And finally, to Shaina Wolosh for making this summer happen!!!!
Love,
Chani Paul
Go Sara S and Yael!!!! Best counselors and best summer I ever had!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
JGR is the most amazing camp ever and he best place to be!!! Everyone can be themselves and is loved for who they are!
Remember dear JGR, we really love you!
u r amazing!!!!
yay go rochel baila wolffe and shaina efune!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
an english friend!!! 😉
I loved JGR!!! The theme this year was “Discover Me” and each day we learned something about the special woman in our history!!! when I left camp i really discovered who i really was!!
Thnak you JGR!
best camp ever created! love love love jgr! cant wait for next year 🙂
jgr helped me discover who i really am. thank you jgr!
Keep up the good work and making us feel so proud
May H find you a definite place where you call it home for JGR
“each time that u smile, each thing that you share, your changing the world cuz u took time to care… your giving me nachas, each mitzvah you do you… Remember dear campers we really love you” …… JGRRRRRRR R R R R R R ROCKS:):)
Mazal Tov to JGR Staff member Bracha Morosow on her engagement to Chaim Rendler!! we wish u only blessings pouring forth!
I love JGR. There is no explanation good enough to describe how amazing jgr is!!!! Thank you so much jgr for everything you do for me each summer i return. 😉
JGr is really an unique summer opportunity where everyone is loved and gains in so many ways . I loved grow workshops ans the clubs or of course just daily fun conversations! Trips were flying
YOU WERE AN AMAZING COUNCILLOR!!!!!!
Special thank you to Chana Faygen and Bracha Morozow . There are no words to express what you did for JGR this summer. Every minute was incredible because of the two of you, there is no way to show you both how much you have changed lives. You shod both go from strength to strength in ruchnius and gashmius.
Bracha and Rivka Leahhhh
I had an amazing summer with such devoted counselors and head staff! And I can’t wait to watch the film!!!
True. I think 99% of JGR (including staff) can say the same
BEST CAMP EXPERIENCE EVER
Is the MOMMY of us all. We <3 you!
My daughter was in truly special hands there this summer. She came home a much more confident and happy girl. Definitely the only camp I will ever send my girls to! Thank you to all those who made her experience so wonderful and to Nechama Laber who dedicates her family to this shlichus. Thank you!! Elisheva Weiss
Amazing camp! Thank you for all the hard work! Rabbi and Mrs. Laber put together a wonderful camp. The counselors made the girls feel special and well taken care of. My daughter enjoyed expressing her creativities and making great friends.. And of course The movie was the highlight!
Never before have I gone to a camp like JGR. It’s the only place I’ve been to where no one is called “nerdy” or pegged “chassidish,” and where cliques and bullying are simply not stood for. Everyone is given equal chance to shine and share her personality, whether she is from a Lubavitch home or barely keeps kosher. Nechama Laber has created an atmosphere reminiscent of Moshiach times: a camp where no one cares about status quos and designer clothing, and focuses only on the neshama of each girl. Every Jewish–and Lubavitch–institution can learn a thing or two from JGR… Read more »
I wouldn’t be who I am if not for jgr
Absolutely loved it!!!
I’ve been to all the camps out there and this is the best. A place where you always come out a better person than you were before you went. Thank you JGR!
Best place ever. A place where everyone feels comfyorable just being themselves. Never went to a camp like this in my life. There is 0 judgement. Not once did I ever hear “that’s so weird/odd” when I was there. Just a place where everyone can be the self and that =happy.