Gratitude Reflections by a JGR Staff Member

By Ahava Keet
Photo credits: Rivkah Laber Photography

“So what’s one thing you girls took with you from JGR and are doing in your lives now?” asked head counselor Devorah Leah Smith on a recent Zoom reunion, weeks after all the campers had packed their bags and left their home away from home—the Jewish Girls Retreat.

“I do G.R.O.W every morning, just like we did at JGR,” eagerly offered one 10-year-old camper from Connecticut, “And I’m just so much more grateful now. For everything in my life.”

Three-and-a-half weeks of camp. An impact worth a lifetime.

What is it that makes JGR so special?

Sure, there’s the scenic East Greenbush property, its glistening lake and endless trees. There are chickens, sheep, adorable baby goats, surrounded by fresh berries, garlic, and all kinds of other harvests. There’s the homey warmth entrenched in the very nature you feel the moment you step on site. And there’s Shaina and Raizel Laber, the phenomenal camp cooks, who make three objectively delicious meals a day (and not just compared to typical camp food!).

But there’s one more thing: There’s the genuine devotion and commitment of every staff member to incorporate the GROW method into who they are and how they interact in camp.

GROW is an acronym for Gratitude, Recognition, Oneness, Wishes and is based on the model of prayer from the Siddur. Starting off every day with a GROW Circle, facilitated by our founder and director, Nechama Laber, campers had time to reflect and write their GROW in their GROW Prayer Planner. The girls were eager to share their gratitude, and each day dug deeper into the recesses of their inner appreciation for everything they were experiencing. We all witnessed our campers blossom as the month passed by.

Emphasizing creative expression and tapping into each girl’s inner light to serve Hashem (an oft-used phrase in JGR), the girls created magnificent scrapbooks throughout the month exploring the idea of building their own inner mikdash as a way to prepare for Moshiach, the ultimate mikdash. It was inspiring to see girls, as young as 10 years old, truly “get it”. After learning the daily message behind the different keilim, they took on meaningful hachlatos such as being more giving like the women who donated their jewelry, or resolving to share their unique light and talents like the downturned Menorah cups.

In camp, it’s easy to get into a mode of complaining: “This is so boring!” “Why are we doing this?” “We did better activities last year…”

The GROW Method gave us an immediate tool to redirect non-positive sentiments. If we are in the middle of a boring activity, we are so grateful that the staff worked hard to prepare it and we can recognize that some activities are more fun than others. When schedules don’t go according to plan or last-minute adjustments have to be made, we are grateful for the opportunity to test our flexibility, and recognize this is Hashem’s plan for us. Teaching this formula to the girls often helped put things into perspective and effected real change in the dialogues campers had with staff and each other.

Throughout camp, the girls were led in advanced art workshops by the extremely gifted artist, Chana Laber @laberoflove. With patience and love, girls truly unlocked their inner potential, as Chana encouraged them to believe in their art and their ability to do anything they put their minds to. Along similar lines, I felt lucky to be able to share my performing arts experience and my music with the girls (you can listen to my album, The Journey, here). At the end of the summer, every girl made a unique performing arts video, showcasing their special gift from Hashem—whether dancing, singing, art, poetry, beading, gymnastics, or baking—and each girl felt valued and seen as her video was presented to her friends at the grand banquet.

In our society, we place a huge emphasis on seeking happiness. But where we tend to fall short is the actual means we seek to attain it. If there’s anything I’ve learned this summer, it’s that the first step to happiness is gratitude. And it’s simple why—gratitude focuses on the blessings we do have in our life, automatically sidelining that which we don’t. If it’s as simple as that—and it literally is—why wouldn’t we want to make gratitude an integral part of a child’s chinuch?

JGR is currently running a three-day campaign to establish the GROW Connection Network, reaching and teaching this GROW method to mothers, educators and leaders around the world. They are raising $360,000. Any amount you can contribute will fuel this extremely worthy and important cause to expand their horizons to reach more women and girls, imbuing them with the tools to connect to their core, Creator and community.

Every child wants to feel loved and accepted. And in an atmosphere where every staff member strived not only to love unconditionally, but empower the campers to cultivate their own gratitude, it’s no wonder this summer has left an indelible mark on the JGR girls who were fortunate enough to experience it. And the empowerment doesn’t end at camp. The JGU online platform at JewishGirlsUnite.com is offering continued reunions, weekly workshops for Bat Mitzvah & Beyond and Teens, as well as Sunday Creative Online Clubs, which start this Sunday.

JGU invites everyone to partner in establishing the GROW Connection Network, by donating or sharing the campaign at https://raisethon.com/growconnection.

For updates or to learn more and stay connected, visit @growconnectionnetwork and their developing new website at GROWConnectionNetwork.com. For girls’ programs, visit @jewishgirlsunite on Instagram and JewishGirlsUnite.com.

Audio: FOR WOMEN ONLY