Donor Thrown Into the Pool

By Dovid for COLlive.com

“Even 32 years after leaving camp, this will always be ‘my camp’,” expressed Uri Laber in his remarks.

I was privileged to be, this past Sunday, at the pool dedication ceremony held at the CGI Detroit Grounds in Kalkaska, Michigan.

Laber, an alumni of CGI Detroit and the generous donor of the pool, continued on passionately, directing his words to the staff, urging them to constantly bear in mind how much of an effect they have, and can have, on every camper entrusted in their care.

His still-vivid memories of past experiences he had in the lake in CGI Detroit, Uri continued to say, were the main drive behind his inspiration, to build a state of the art pool, in the same camp which had shaped so much of his life.

The mood was festive, when I arrived at the campgrounds yesterday, seeing the many honorable visitors who had made the trek up in honor of this momentous occasion.

Aside from the many parents who had come to see there dear children, many others, including many alumni, honorable Shluchim and distinguished guests, came to join the camp in the celebration of 60 years of the Rebbe’s leadership, 50 years of CGI Detroit and the dedication of the Uri and Bassie Laber Pool.

The camp was adorned with signs reminding all to do Sefer Hamitzvos, Mishnayos Baal Peh, and of course tip your waiter. I was surrounded by fun booths, moonbounces, and rides. All around me were happy, excited campers dressed in their special yellow “50 Years of CGI Detroit” T Shirts.

However something stood out – my eyes beheld a most beautiful, new state of the art swimming pool and stunning bath house built next to it! The freshly paved pathway up to the pool was bordered by well groomed gardens and secure fences surrounding it. This was a project in which no detail had been overlooked. It was a project well done, a project that truly befitted the Rebbe’s children and the Rebbe’s Camp!

“A call comes forth… I am a Shliach and that’s a novelty,” At the dedication ceremony the campers and staff shared with us the lively spirit that is unique to this camp, as they sang and danced to niggunim and camp songs, led by a melodious choir headed by staff member Shmuly Sassonkin, suddenly all eyes turned heavenwards as the roar of a plane was heard carrying in tow a large banner proclaiming “Thank You Uri & Bassie.”

The excitement and appreciation shown by both the campers and staff on this monumental breakthrough was visible to all, and they each had a representative that verbalized their deep feelings on behalf of them all to the entire crowd.

As Learning Director Mendel Levertov (of Austin, TX) put it simply: “The pool has made this summer the most successful summer camp has ever experienced both physically and spiritually.”

Camper of Bunk Daled Mendel Goldman (of Gainesville, Florida) compared the water to the Chassidishe Chinuch that is exclusive to CGI Detroit and the pool surrounding it, together with the lifeguards, symbolize the amazing physical standards found in this camp and the dedicated staff who give selflessly to make camp a most memorable and Chassidishe experience.

This point was further reiterated by Rabbi Berel Shemtov, Head Shliach of Michigan and the founding Shliach of CGI Detroit, who spoke warmly how camp inspires a child to feel how the Rebbe still lives within us, and that children these days have reached even greater heights than the generations preceding them.

Former CGI Detroit Head Counselor Rabbi Bentzion Korf (of Miami, Florida), who traveled the great distance in order to mark this celebration together with the CGI Detroit family reminded us that there are two conflicting waters; dangerous treacherous ones, and peaceful calm ones. We must constanly remember to be in the pool of the calm waters, and swim only in the right direction.

MC Rabbi Kasriel Shemtov, Shliach in West Bloomfield, MI, spoke about the impact of camp throughout the years on thousands of Jewish children and how their lives have been positively affected through it.

And as Camp Director Rabbi Moshe Shemtov (of Stamford, CT), spoke emotionally about the significance of the day, he quoted a rare letter of the Rebbe sent to the dedication of another Chabad Mosod, which similarly took place in the “three weeks” period of mourning over the Beis Hamikdash, where the Rebbe stresses how important the physical wellbeing of a child is, and how his physical wellbeing is intertwined with his spiritual wellbeing, remarking how this alone was proof enough that we must put in all effort to perfect the physical standards of this camp, and specifically then will we be able to achieve our goal of inspiring every camper to add more Yiddishkeit, and Chassidishkeit into his life.

Therefore, Rabbi Moshe Shemtov continued on, that the most fitting and meaningful token of appreciation he could present to Uri and Bassie, was a copy of this Letter of the Rebbe, engraved in brass on a striking solid wood backing. This hopefully will help us “engrave” the message of the Rebbe in our hearts and minds, to do our utmost to better the physical- and hence the spiritual- wellbeing of the campers.

Mazel Tov, Mazel Tov! were the shouts that were heard as the ribbon was cut. Rabbi Shemtov, Uri and Bassie Laber, and families, led the way up the picturesque pathway, and through the pool house, amongst much cheering and singing from the campers and staff.

All watched in amazement as the electric pool cover rolled off the pool, revealing the clear, clean pool waters and suddenly Splash! Overjoyed and thrilled to see a dream come true some of the guests, family and staff got into the camp spirit by throwing Uri and camp director, Moshe Shemtov into the pool, in their clothes! Following them were many of the excited staff who jumped in after them, as they began to dance in the pool in celebration of a new future for CGI Detroit!

Displayed outside the pool house were the magnificent plans of a renovated and redesigned Camp Grounds.

The hope that I felt and was surely felt by all the visitors, was that this pool should only be a springboard for the growth and rebuilding of a most beautiful Camp Grounds that will truly make every child want to say that this camp is “my camp.”

VIDEO: Uri Laber thrown into the pool

CGIDetroit.com