By Miryam Swerdlov
Director, Camp YTT
Boruch Hashem, Boruch Hashem.
22 years of Camp, and we were BH able to accomplish our goal, once again: Chassidishe fun and learning and growing.
I would like to thank the incredible staff:
Head Counselors: Moussia Telsner, Shellbelle Schusterman, Chani Motchkin, Chevi Muss and Tzivi Heber.
Camp Rabbi and Assistant Director Rabbi Mordechai and Mrs. Shuffi Telsner.
THEY ADDED SO MUCH TO CAMP, WHAT A DIFFERENCE THEY MADE!!!
Mrs. Shosh Rabinowitz, my partner and itinerary arranger.
Of course every parent that entrusted us with 73 diamonds.
Constantly we thanked Hashem and the Rebbe for this zchus.
There are no words that could describe standing by the Alter Rebbe, doing Seder Nigunim in the Baal Shem Tov’s shul, hearing Tefilas Chana in the place where it was said, where the Mishkan stood for 369 years in Shilo, davening Shabbos Mincha in the Mitteler Rebbe’s shul in Chevron… and literally thousands of other incredible memories.
May we all be zoche to see all we saw, but DOH L’MATO, Immediately NOW.
The following is a speech by Camper Kayla Fogelman at the Banquet:
Before I begin I would like to thank Mrs. Swerdlov and all of our wonderful staff this summer for doing such an incredible job. I feel so privileged to have been one of the 73 girls to have been chosen to go on this program, even with lack of sleep.
I like to start each speech with a little Torah thought that connects to the topic. So, the Rebbe has a Mammar entitled “Tziyon BeMishpat Tipadeh”. The Mammar is very long and discusses many things but I will only focus on a small topic. There is a Posuk in the Zohar that says, “A man must do Torah and Mitzvos as if they are given to him anew each day.” A question arises, how can I view the Mitzvos as new each day if they were given over 2,000 years ago on Har Sinai?
The answer lies in Hashem’s two names and time. Hashem’s name, Elokim, refers to His light within nature, within time. His other name, Havayeh, refers to His light beyond nature, beyond time. Time measures change. Since Hashem is unchanging and beyond nature, He and His Torah, which is a part of him, is beyond time. But the Torah is in this physical world, bound by time and nature. That refers to His name of Elokim. Torah combines both aspects of Hashem’s names. So when one contemplates this, that Torah is both beyond and within time, he can reach an understanding that the Mitzvos and Torah are on one level, beyond time and change, therefore still new and can thus do them “as if they are given anew each day.”
Now to connect. Time equals change. Time has passed since we first came here even if it feels like yesterday that we landed. We’ve done so many incredible things we have changed, but how? How has time passed, how have we changed and grown? To answer, I’d like to share a few places we’ve gone and the practical lessons I’ve learned from it.
From the Bar Kochba caves- sometimes in life a crawl is the fastest you’ll go, and that’s okay.
From Ir David- sometimes, in order to find what you’re looking for, you need to dig deep. But keep going because it’s there and you know it.
From the village of Gamla- Be stubborn. Stick to your beliefs.
From the fortress of Masada- the Jews there were besieged. In middle of a desert. Yet they still held on to their Jewish practices, evidenced by the fact that there was a fully functioning kosher mikevah. If they held onto their Jewish beliefs, under siege, why can’t we in a place where we can live as Jews openly do so as well?
From the hikes we took- Sometimes in life, we must stop, take in the view and appreciate how far we’ve come in order to move forward.
Chizkiayahu’s water tunnels- there is a solution to every problem, the question is how creative will you get, after all like we’ve learned in camp thanks to Chevy, “An optimist doesn’t see obstacles only opportunities.”
Camel riding- Life is a bumpy road. You either complain or deal with it.
Gush Etzion- Keep trying and eventually you will succeed.
From Ukraine- We have strong roots, however in order to grow strong ourselves we must discover them.
From Eretz Yisroel- We have a land. It was, and according to Chassidus, constantly is being given to us. It has a rich and beautiful history, if a bit bloody at times but only because we were holding on to our values. We must learn our history; it will teach us many things. If we are to succeed in the future, we must learn from our past.
From YTT, Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow.
Yesterday, we were there. We saw the ruins of ancient villages, of cisterns and cities, of houses and Beis Medrashim, and we hiked the same trails the Chashmonaim used. Now we are standing here, Today, and after all that and I ask you, how have you changed? What have you learned from Yesterday, Today to help make Tomorrow better? I have told you some things I learned, so I will leave with a parting thought.
The world is constantly looking at us. As Jews, as Israel, so let’s give them something good to look at.
Kayla beautifully said… my daughter gained so much.. definately recomended! you are getting the quality, experiance and care that you pay for!
thank you all or posting.
I am so proud of YTT 5778
You made 73 into ONE
YOU created a family.
We were sooooooooooo worried about how it will work, and YOU made it work.
As we always said in camp, Thank You HASHEM, the REBBE and your parents for this incredibly successful YTT season.
if Moshiach ch”v doesn;t come by Chof Beiz Shvat, SEE U ALL AT REUNION!!!!!!!!
I am so happy and thankful Baruch HaShem that I was able to have this experience. You know there are good camps out there. But then there are those camps that are full on amazing. That when you leave you wish you were back there. Ytt is an A-M-A-Z-I-N-G experience. It is worth every penny. The friendships, the growth. The chassidishkeit, the fun and the whole experience is life changing. I was able to learn so much and I’ve come to appreciate who I am as a Yid and how much achrayus I have to help and bring Moshiach. I… Read more »
what a trip. wish there had been one like that when i was a teenager. the camel shot is worth hanging in a museum. mrs swerd keep it up til 120
I have to say I came to this summer not really knowing much about the trip, the program, and really everything. This experience was more than I could have EVER dreamed of!! Everyday was packed with tons of fun exciting new amazing trips thanks to Shosh Rabinowitz. Evey day got better and better. For me , the best part of the trip was the amazing girls!! From crown heights to cape cod to Florida to California to Manhattan, the girls were so inspirational and friendly and really just great!! Ty everyone!!!!! I also loved how much learning was PACKED into… Read more »
Kayla your words are so true❤It was the best summer ever! – filled with growth and good times.
Shelbelle, Chevy, Chani, Moussia, Tzivi – there are no better counselors than you, we were so so lucky
Whoever went on this trip no doubt you had the best time. Mrs.
SWERDLOV IS Beyond amazing. May as me keep doing this iyh
Until 120 iyh with lots of health, wealth and happiness.
A special and very big thank you to shuffi and mordche Telsner. They really went out of their way to help all of us when needed and made us feel so comfortable. Thank you! I really appreciate it!!
And thank you mrs Swerd. For creating this incredible once in a lifetime experience for us. It was truly an outstanding summer that will stay with me forever. This is a spirtuallly uplifting experience I recommend to all of you!!!
We had the best group and best staff. Thank you Bubs for directing such an incredible staff! From the moment Camp ended I haven’t stopped to think about how much I miss Israel and all the friends I have made on this program! It was an incredible experience!!! For sure one that I will never forget! Thank you to everyone that was part of this magnificent trip!
From the very moment camp started to the end to say I enjoyed it is an understatment. I have never spent 6 weeks as happy as I just did. It was such an INCREDIBLE experience. Thank you to Bubs who allowed me to come and for directing such an AMAZING program. To Shosh who helped make this camp so incredible. To the Telsners who added so much and helped so so much. To moussanya, shelbelle, chani, Chevy, and tzivi who happily and willingly helped every camper to their own personal needs and just made camp into what it was. To… Read more »
I would like to say thanks to Chani munch who made me feel special and loved above everyone else.
Best summer ever!!!!!! Thank you everyone for making it amazing. Totally recommend everyone to come
Please send photos:))))).
Thanks to camp YTT for giving me a chance to start over, a chance to begin again, a chance to find who I am and who I want to be. My life was changed beyond by my experience as a camper. I now know what it’s like to belong to the right people and to truly truly understand mah rabu asecha hashem
Thank you moussia, tzivi, and chevy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks to Moussia telsner!!! You really showed me what a true nice, kind, sweet, bas chabad is!!! I love you so much. Have a great year in Colorado
Kayla hit it spot on!!!! Yea!!!! It was perfect and more!!
Hands down EXPERIENCE OF A LIFETIME!!! Cannot express enough gratitude toward everyone that made this trip a possibility. It had the perfect balance of inspiration and FUN! It was so amazing meeting so many new people and really getting to know everyone. THANK YOU THANK YOU!! Camp ytt is a summer I will remember forever.
We love camp YTT
we were fed well and taken care of all the time.
MRS SWIRLY IS QUEEN
CHANI CHEVY MOUSSIA SHELBELLE AND TZVI ARE THE BEST
DO YOU KNOW SHARONN NANNANANANANA
YAYY
I MISS CAMP
Kayla ur the best!!! Keep up the amazing work , and being the amazing girl you are!! 😊
This summer was truly one for the books. it was so amazing and incredible and just a life changing expierience. To everyone that made this summer so so so amazing specifically the telsners who were practically my second parents , shosh, bubs, shelby, Chevy, moussanya, tzivi my queen, and chani. Also to my friends that actually put up with me and spoke to me when they felt like being nice. Thank you again to you all for everything.
The counselors in camp were so warm and special. They lived every camper so much and made the best environment ever. Camp YTT is the best program and the land is so beautiful. We really experienced the land in a true way. And we luckily had the best counselors.
First of all I thank Hashem and the Rebbe for allowing this summer to become a part of me. Next I would like to thank the counselors For making this trip a blast. They worked so hard and cared for each girl and everything to every detail. You guys are amazing!!!! Thank you to Rabbi Mordechai and Shuffi Telsner. Rabbi T. Was with us from beginning until the end!! He added so much to our trip! Shuffi is our 2nd mom we love you! Thank you Mrs.Swerdlov and Shosh for everything. THANK YOU TO EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THE 72… Read more »
Thank you bubs and everyone for such an incredible summer!!
Way to go Kayla!!! You made us proud. #iloveyou
amazing summer
Amazing speech Kayla Fogelman!!