Entire Detroit Boys Camp Drives to New York For Gimmel Tammuz

Camp Gan Israel – Detroit Boys in Tustin, Michigan, traveled with a record 350 campers and staff members to New York to make the Rebbe’s 30th yartzeit on Gimmel Tammuz.

The 16-hour bus ride was transformed into a memorable experience by the efforts of the staff, who went above and beyond to ensure an educational experience for every camper, to prepare them for the special day.

Every bus was equipped with videos from JEM geared for children. Campers were given a booklet containing selected Mishnayos for Gimmel Tammuz and some reading material. They were also given a blanket and pillow to sleep on the moving bus.

Before arriving at the Ohel, the buses made one final scheduled stop at the Rabbinical College of America in Morristown. While there, they davened Shacharis and wrote panim in a calm and organized setting. On the way from there to Ohel, camper Mendel C. thanked his counselor for arranging that stop “I know there’s a lot of people and commotion by the ohel. Here I was able to focus, and really think about what I wanted to write”.

As they neared the climax of the trip, the visit to the Ohel, the campers lined up in the park and walked to the Ohel together as a group. After making their way through the line, they were zoche to enter the Rebbe’s daled amos, asking for and receiving the brachos for themselves and their families. As they exited, a unique rally was held immediately outside the Ohel.

As they exited, every camper was given a cold bottle of water. Properly refreshed, they once again boarded the buses, this time bound for Crown Heights, to visit the Rebbe’s room and 770. They disembarked at Oholei Torah school and were treated to a delicious lunch of pizza, fries and more.

Subsequently, the plan was to stop in 770 for a quick Mincha and return to camp. However, in tandem with their colleagues in YSP, the headstaff made a spontaneous decision to hold a full fledged rally together in 770.

The back half of 770, set up to face the Rebbe’s farbrengen bimah, was quickly cleared out and 600 children from 2 camps streamed in to take their seats.
Standing in the Rebbe’s shul, a one of its kind seder niggunim was led by the joint headstaff.

Six hundred strong, the cry of “Rebbe we need you” resounded throughout 770. Thereafter, the camps davened mincha together in achdus, culminating in the spirited singing of the Rebbe’s fathers niggun. Before leaving, Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky of Merkos 302 spoke to the campers, reminding them about the significance of where they were standing, and encouraging them to increase in Ahavas Yisroel throughout the summer.

Afterward, they headed to the Rebbe’s house and boarded the buses back to camp. Once again, a full package of recordings and videos were prepared, along with pillows and blankets. On Wednesday afternoon, the campers safely reached their destination, exhausted and happy, ready to dive into an exhilarating summer full of learning and fun.

This trip would never have happened without the consummate dedication of the camp leadership. From head counselors Mendel Azimov, Memkeh Goldshmid, and Mendel Slavaticki, to the BMD headstaff, Mendel Backman, Yossi Jacobs, Mottel Slonim, and Sholom Smith.

The list wouldn’t be complete without highlighting the consistent efforts of ECAD Yossi Steinemtz who went above and beyond to ensure that every single camper returned to Detroit safely, well fed and happy, and inspired to carry on in their shlichus in Gan Yisroel.