Monsey Kids Go Camping

On Thursday Cheder Chabad of Monsey’s 8th grade class journeyed north to camp out and explore the Minnewaska State Park and Mohonk Preserve.

The class, along with their Rebbi, Rabbi Yossi Sobel and Cheder Administrator and Trip Guide Gershon Sandler, arrived at the camp site and set up their tents.

They then set out on a thrilling hike which included a very challenging rock scramble. M.M. Simon of Teaneck, NJ, remarked “I always wanted to do something like this but never thought that I would.”

M.M. Krasnjanski of Monsey, NY, commented, “I liked how everyone worked together to climb the rocks.”

In addition to the physical challenge, Rabbi Sobel, in good shlichus fashion, asked every hiker they approached on the trail if they were Jewish in hopes to give a fellow hiker the opportunity to put on Teffilin.

Unfortunately they did not find any takers on that trail, but after the hike, while preparing their barbeque dinner just as the sun was setting, a man approached on a mountain bike, joking: “Sorry I’m late!”

Chef Sandler, who was at the grill replied, “You’re not late, you’re just in time – we’re just about to start eating!”

The man replied in a joking voice, “only if it’s Kosher!”

That’s when Rabbi Sobel jumped up from the picnic table and asked, “How about Teffilin?” The man agreed willingly, saying he had not done so in “a long time.” He then joined for Mincha and a tasty and inspiring dinner.

After dinner the class returned back to the camp site for a fireside Farbrengen complete with stories, singing and dancing.

The next morning the group davened in the Chabad House of New Paltz and then picked local apples to bring back to Monsey.