By a concerned mother
Many a parent knows the emotions experienced each year prior to the onset of the summer; excited by the prospects of how much their child will learn, gain and grow from camp, yet nervous and apprehensive, hoping that there will not be any issues or incidents throughout the summer.
There is a huge trust placed in the staff, head staff and directors of camp. We trust that our children will be physically safe. We trust that their emotional well-being will be protected and further developed. And we trust that their yiddishkeit and chassidishkeit will be nurtured, strengthened and solidified.
Imagine then, that the camp to which we have entrusted our precious, impressionable children decides to make a ‘promo video’, promoting their new camp yarmulke with the camp logo proudly displayed on it. A video that possibly does more damage than good.
The video first displays a number of video clips in which campers are going about regular everyday camp activities, wearing their regular, non-camp yarmulkes. These clips show how in the course of these activities the campers’ yarmulkes seeming naturally ‘fall’ off the campers heads. This one during his basketball game. That one while he is biking through camp, etc.
These clips are then replayed with the one difference that the campers are now wearing the new camp yarmulke which stays firmly affixed to the campers’ heads even through the activities.
While to the staff it may have seemed like a cute idea, this video shocked and disgusted myself and many other parents.
For this we sent our children to camp? With this the camp will educate our children with the Yiras Shomayim befitting Lubavitcher Chassidim?
Is this one of the messages that we want camp to imbue in our children? For the staff to take the campers and to tell them to make their yarmulkes ‘fall’ off their heads just so the camp can produce a nice promotional video promoting camp?
Besides the fact that in order to produce a good video it can very well take a few shots until the video clip is just right; how many times did the campers stand in front of the camera trying to perfect the ‘art’ of making the yarmulke fall off ‘just right’?? Did we send our kids to camp for them to be told to take off their yarmulkes, if even ‘only’ for show?
In no way should this letter be misunderstood as to be accusing camp of only doing damage. I am extremely grateful of all the good my kids have gained over the years in camp.
I’ll say that again; I am indebted to camp for all that my children have gained and grown from camp.
Nevertheless, there are also issues that must be dealt with and corrected. This video, which has since gone viral, highlights the need for there to be some sort of hashgocho and accountability as to what values and ideas camp gives over to our children. Who knows what else happens in camp that is not displayed on a video, yet is not up to standard.
The question begs to be asked; should there not be an official mechanech that oversees and takes responsibility for the values and principles that camp gives over? Or should it be solely up to the individual staff member to decide, based on where he is or isn’t holding in his own personal level of yiddishkeit and chassidishkeit.
At the end of the day, camp has a lasting impression, both for the good and unfortunately, also, for the opposite. I ask the question, should camp not have an official mechanech that oversees what goes on behind the closed doors of camp?
Throughout our history, there were times the we have given up our lives not to take off our yarmulka even for a second, and here just for a video, we plan for yarmulka’s to “fall off”.. Extremely sad!! I would never want to send my kids to a camp that does such things and that encourages their staff to write such comments, – which just goes to show how the staff are so not in touch with how chinuch is really supposed to be..
I watched it twice to see if there is a message of throwing off a yarmulka in order to put on another one. Saw the opposite. Saw kids being super careful to not step a tiny step without wearing a yearmulka. The message seemed to be, “If you want to make sure it stays on, wear the camp yarmulka. It will not fall off.” It was like: there are possible situations that could cause your yarmulka to fall off (don’t tell me you have never seen it happen!) and here is a solution: wear the camp yarmulka. Super positive.
Your words are so meaningful and to the point, I could have not put it better myself, if you can please help with the Yiddish words it would be helpful.
If you have a problem with what the staff do you can home school/camp them. This is not promoting kids to throw off their kippahs, it’s saying the exact opposite. Get a better hobby other then complaining about dumb things.
Hello, As the most senior vice mechanch on the Eastern seaboard, I would like to share with the readers my thoughts in this controversy. There are times when we have to act, there are times when we must not stay silent! Every man woman and child must know and care about the issues facing us and how to combat it. Knowing and recognizing the issue is half the solution, we must first learn how to recognize the issues, we must delve into them so that we can be fully aware and cognizant of the myriad of troubles and tribulations facing… Read more »
As a counselor I’m not telling you how to do your job, please don’t tell me how to do mine!!! Yes I know I’m going to give a lasting impressions on your kids but most if not all camps do background checks before accepting us so if you trust the camp with you children then also trust them with who they pick to represent their camp. And the video is such a good idea, I should of made one for the camp I’m working in.
I agree with comment number 19. This is the main nekuda, and I think the author of the article has a good point. She is being sensitive to the nuances and speaking up about unsatisfactory standards in camp. This type of sensitivity is something to appreciate. Thank you to the author!
To all those commenting that xyz has chassidish staff- what makes staff chassidish? Is farbrenging the whole Friday night and not showing up to davening chassidish? Is counselors “Learning “ before davening (waking up with the camp but “learning instead of davening ) instead of davening with their bunk called chassidish? Is using nivel peh during a farbrengin a whole shabbos afternoon (and obviously not being there for your bunk ) is that considered chassidish? IMHO the content of this article is making an big issue out of something innocent. The true issue in some camps is what young immature… Read more »
To# 96 you have a point the Rebbe Would not approve. But just because One or two people didn’t use her thinking cap right does it mean you have to get carried away by saying where have we fallen. When you make a mistake is that what you tell yourself every time Where have I fallen
I can say with full certainty that if the Rebbe was shown this video,the Rebbe would not approve.
Removing one’s yarmulka even for a second isn’t chinuch no matter what size -shape or color yarmulka.
Where have we fallen?
I’m sure that if they were wearing the chayolei Yarmulke it would have stayed on the kids head
I am a counselor in this camp and I just watched how in the sports championshipe the referee (a counselor) stopped the game because a Yarmulke fell off one of the players heads
How about we bring teachers to camp, have the children learn all day with a 15 min. Recess!!!! It would be like school, except that after a long day at school your principal would put you to bed!! I’m sure all the children would love this and they would be educated the whole summer long!!!!
What a beautiful, positive, gracious way to solve a problem. Yarmulkes do fall off and they can be too small.
Based just on this article, I’d say this mother needs to calm down. Is this all you have to worry about? A bit of fun which maybe wasn’t thought out properly & you get so upset? Be careful that your uptightness doesn’t result in your kids rebelling. It sounds like it was poor judgment and silly, not a deliberate attempt to push kids OTD. Relax and concentrate on addressing real problems with kids today.
We love chayolei! They always hire the best staff! My kids have grown and learned so much there, year after year.
Thank you chayolei for everything! Without you my kids would have no overnight camp!
And thank you COL for posting something positive about chayolei!
Those who dont go to chayolei are missing out!
I could speak for my days there, there was no authority above the head staff, no educational authority, managerial authority or any other directorship, the camp sails every year wherever the inexperienced 21 year olds head staff take it. That should be a cause for concern even when there are dedicated innocent staff, and how much more so when it’s not at all the case. This video is one example of issues that just got public attention, but unfortunately there are many more and much more serious issues that entail from having a camp with no directorship. That should be… Read more »
Chyolei is a great place and people have just been out to sabotage the place for years
Go get a life
I was in other mainstream camps and chyolei and you can’t compare
The staff the trips the chassidishkiet in chyolei is just a lot better that’s the plain truth and other people with no interest in chinuch or camp are just attempting to stop what is finally a really good camp with people who work really hard to make it happen all you haters get a life
i agree %100 with 49, detroit gets the most chassidishe staff that really live with the rebbe and care about the rebbes message,
and try to impart that to the children,
kol hakovod!
This whole yarmulke situation isnt as bad as parksville go green poster and Montreal cursing and shooting raccoons in front of campers.
I cant stop laughing thank u for the amazing morning laughter go chayolie hamelech p.s. gm to the best and most dedicated head counclers tht the camp has not seen in a while and thank u for everything!!!! T0 #44: IDK WHO U ARE OR WHERE UR FROM AND WHERE U WENT FOR CAMP I MYSELF WENT TO ALL 3 CAMP PARKSVILLE MONTREAL AND CHAYOLIE AND OUT OF ALL 3 CHAYOLIE HAD THE MOST DEDICATED STAFF AND THAT WERE THERE FOR EVERYONE AND ANYONE THE MOST OUT OF THE OTHER 2 WHETHER IF SOMEONE NEEDED TO TALK OR NEEDED HELP… Read more »
between showing video of yarmulkes that happen to fall off versus intentionally ‘making’ it happen in order to produce the video.
My son is in this camp, and he told me there is a niggunim only policy!!
No need to assume problems.
If you have a son in this camp and there is a problem,
THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE YOU CAN TALK TO, AS THAT IS WHAT ALL THE STAFF ARE HERE FOR, TO GIVE OVER THE MOST POSSIBLE B’Gashmiyus AND B’RUCHNIYUS!!!!
SO PLEASE GO AHEAD AND CONTACT THE HEAD STAFF OR COUNSLERS OF YOU SON!!!
ENJOY YOUR SUMMER!!!
Don’t any of you have better things to do then bash a camp that does a grate job?
Talk about mountains out of mole hills.
Boy take off their yarmulkas every day for thinks like shower, mikvah and swimming, scratching their head, getting a hair cut, switching yarmulkas etc etc. There is no issue with the mere act of taking a yarmulka off for a second and not going for amos (as was the case in the video and pointed out by other commenters) therefore the issues raised here are null and seem rather cultish.
Camp chayolei has the best and most chasidishe staff out of all camp’s
Absolutely nothing wrong according to halacha. Also, the kids learn out from there that they need they right type/size yarmulka to avoid it falling off in general.
Time to grow up and stop being a hater, this camp is wonderful and my children are doing so well there bgashmiyus and beruchniyus,so it’s time to stop trying to find negative in such a positive place,and time to get a life
I did not watch the video. I feel it would have been more appropriate to speak to the camp themselves than to publicly call them out. My kids have gotten so much from sleep away camp, I am grateful for all they put in to giving them amazing summers beruchnius ubegashmius.
Your point is well taken, and as you probably are aware that now more than ever there is much closer supervision of what goes on in camp both physically as well as spiritually. Having said that I must take this opportunity to bring to light something that I have admired for years about CGI Detroit. Rabbi Gourarie the camp mashpia reviews everything the campers see, including but not limited to staff plays color war themes etc, and as a camper in camp I vividly recall the impact it had on me when the staff went put of line and we… Read more »
Before you wrote this?
You write very good points, but I hope you called the camp first and if it was settled with them then maybe this could focusing on the general, very valid idea, that camp staff/videos/pics should be aligned with appropriate Yiddishkeit And Chabad Chassidishkeit values
71 comments and no one had an issue with the fact the boys riding the bicycles are not wearing helmets? That would trouble me a lot more than this petty discussion about swapping yarmulkas.
Sinas Chinom at its best ! When my children had no where to go due to budget issues this camp took my kids and worked with me . The camp saved my children else they would spend shabbos I the sweltering building staircase looking for friends to play with. The counselors are fine bachurim . So one incident us to go and write public? Pick your battles my friend
you are correct
it’s just a bad idea that wasn’t properly vetted
despite all the noise in the peanut gallery, your op-ed is highly likely to inspire some camps to be more careful
yasher koiach
In the video, four yarmulkahs “fall” off. Two of the boys remain perfectly stationary after their yarmulkah comes off their head, and presumably, the period during which their yarmulkahs were off their heads was less than the period it takes to walk four amos (the video does not show how long). Two of the boys are travelling, one on a bike and one on a golf cart. Those boys immediately cover their head with their arm, and a moment later with a new Yarmulkah. It is difficult, however, to tell exactly how far the bike and cart travelled while their… Read more »
the best system here in the UK , school till after Tisha b’av camp for 2 weeks 2 weeks home , the whole summer holidays for 41/2 weeks but mini breaks throughout the year.
That’s why we have less problems with our kids here then anywhere else in the lubavitch world .
I want for one moment for the parents to realize how the staff work so hard and literally nonstop for the campers from 7 till 2 in the morning we are up being there for the campers 24 7
And if parents would see and understand this they wouldn’t even think of writing a letter like that
Lady get a life yenta.and if You’re so comfortable and agree so much with what you’re saying why don’t you put your name on top of the letter. People have to get a life get over the stupid nit picking .The little mosquito buzzing by your ear at night could drive you more crazy than the roar of the lion. Stop dissecting every little thing you will drive your kids insane.
Don’t know what your talking about! The video is up and running thank you @shamai chein for the amazing video!! Yarmulke Promo – Chayolei Hamelech 5778 – YouTube
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=SpCFGPs_gb8
My son is in Chayolei this year and I can assure you that the patience understanding frumkeit and chassidishkeit are AMAZING!!!! hes having one of his best years!!!!
I’m sorry that you are sooo misinformed!!! my boys have gone to Chayolei for years. although the staff are chassidish and very dedicated, they DON’T have a director that has any ideas of chinuch, standards, sensitivity to a child, rejection, etc. Too many things have gone on behind scenes, bgu”r, which are totally unacceptable, and there is NOONE to whom to talk to! one can understand that the counselors and head staff, who are dedicated and devoted, are still inexperienced. and when BIGGER issues come up, camp chayolei does NOT have anyone who knows or understands chinuch who they can… Read more »
I’m actually a staff member in the camp and I highly doubt that you work there
Chayolei now has the most chassidishe staff and the best head counselors that had in years!! I personally know the head staff and all I can say is that my kids are having a blast!
A special thank you to head counselors chaim levilev and Menachem Amar!
You guys take the cake running everything from oholri Torah to the mitzvah tank parades !! May the rebbe have a ton of nachas from you!!!
This camp brings the best of the kids. I know lots of kids that were saved there. Stop it!
This is a bias article btw
I woul assume that the author of this article is probably a mishechist. I say this based on the extreme views in this article alone.
Many camp do have a mashpia on site
Gan yisrael parksville has had a amazing year so far and it’s extremely chasidish maybe send your kid there allot of mivtzas… It’s very impressive
I think you have got it totally wrong. The whole point of the video seems to say that normaly yarmulkes tend to fall off… And they want to prevent that… So u should have the camp one in order that it should stay on.
It’s always easy to be negative and find fault in things that we see. It takes a wise person to look at something with a positive eye and see the good that will come out of it.
Instead of being so concerned about this video and writing whole article against it, spend that same time DAILY thinking about your kids Chinuch as it says in the Hayom Yom that you should think about your childrens chinuch for 30 minutes every day. Have you done that already today?
I have seen plenty of boys who take off their yarmulkas for starters when they are playing sports because they know that it will fall off anyway. Did you notice that the boys yarmulkas these days are getting smaller and smaller? This is a great way to encourage boys to get a proper fit of a yarmulke that stays on their head and no need for it to come off when playing sports.
I agree with the premise. However this is painting all camps with the same brush. There are camps that have a full time , on the books, mashpia. That does oversee every aspect of camp. Including color war plays and the like.
What a load of…..
I promise you now not one boy in the history of ever has ever fried out because he took his yarmulka off for a valid purpose, whatever that purpose is. I take off my yarmulka sometimes if I need to scratch my head. It’s not a lack of Yiras Shomayim
Where can I see the video?
It goes a long way
-an experienced staff member
Solid video really nice production
i sent my children to detroit camp and they came back with so much chayus in chassidishkeit and yiddishkeit!
they were much more enthusiastic in their shluchus,
and i was able to see the positive impact throughout the whole year at home and in school!
amazing!
send them there!
There’s a lot of beautiful things that happen in camp but unfortunately many kids wound up being exposed to a lot of garbage
Personally, I think you’re overreacting!
Has your son(s) returned from Camp Chas V’Sholem being mentally & physically damaged both B’Ruchnius & B’Gashmius?
A little enlightenment sometimes creates more Achdus, Learning, & Positivity.
For goodness sake…we’re ALL HASHEM’S BEINGS, & only Hashem can keep His Blinkers on us permanently.
why do you think they teach to throw off their kipa its the parents who needs to teach them to keep it on there heads its not like these kids come from non frum backrounds
Bh, this is the issues that camp has. Positivity. Always strive to do better and be better and learn from our mistakes.
Thanks for having the courage to say something, before more harm is done.
Dear Concerned Mother, Every Lubavitch overnight camp in the USA has a camp director responsible for executive decision making. The camp director will have rabbinic authorities and mashpiim who are consulted when questions of halacha or chinuch arise. If yiras shomayim is a concern, you are encouraged to ask about the policies and the authorities in place in the specific camp you are considering enrolling your child. Of course, in spite of every camp having policies and people in place for ensuring nothing “inappropriate” takes place in this area, sometimes mistakes happen. At this point, you are encouraged to discuss… Read more »
You are just being fanatic.
When playing sports it’s very hard to play with kippa .
It keeps falling off .
Most times us when we were kids ,and even today’s generation we usually hold our kippa in our hands when playing basketball and other sports.
And about the video and yamuka is off get over it .
It’s only video doing an act .
Look at the positive part in this picture .
Your son had amazing time ,and enjoyed himself .
Don’t be negative
there is no problem of yiras shomayim to make believe your yarlmulka falls off for a video
As a women you don’t know what it’s like wearing a yarmulke and I can tell this from this very article, yarmulkes DO fall off of heads and that’s a fact! Now this that counselors took this idea to promote the camp what’s the issue? On the contrary! They are showing the campers that look we have a solution use our yarmulkes that stay on the head because it’s important that the yarmulkes stay on heads and if you have an issue with your sons yarmulkes falling off heads then get him a bigger yarmulke! I don’t understand why you… Read more »
That’s why camps need a camp rabbi and a camp Mashpia. For example in Parksville. The amazing director, Rabbi Futerfas makes sure that begashmiyus things are up to par from an emotional and legal perspective (Agav, never seen a camp that cares so much and is so accommodating to the children’s emotional and physical health needs, as well as sticks to the highest legal standards as required by the law) and then there is the camp mashpia at the caliber of Reb Nochum Bukiet who overseas the ruchniyos! Great Camp!
This op-ed is ridiculous.
Among other obvious factors, the well-intended radicalization of the Chabad system, for the past 20-something years (Eg: no English, Mesivta being like Zal, white-shirt dress code, etc) has contributed to the opposite effect. Look around…
They’re burnt out, and many just want out. Let kids just live a little, and be kids. Nitpicking ain’t working…
But why is it posted here? Why don’t you approach the camp (s) and bring up all your valid concerns. A public outcry doesn’t accomplish much
I don’t know how you could say that about this camps staff members I was just there on visiting day and I met a lot of them and they are all such nice chassidishe warm people That sincerely care about our children and their ruchnius of course
You might have a true point but putting it up online won’t help the situation!!
No one oversees anything. There are Shluchim who are bandits and teachers who are abusers. No one gives a ****. Wha you wrote about is a problem, but it’s only a symptom of a bigger malady of no guidance or authority.
I think your being a bit to extreme here, if we don’t know what’s going on in the camp other then this video how can you write an article bashing the camp? Especially now during the 9 days!
Yes. indeed. Camp should have that “official mechanech”. Guess what, BH many camps DO have that! I can personally say for camp GY of Montreal that although it isn’t perfect, Rabbi Yisroel Mochkin does oversee a lot of what goes on and is careful that it should fit the standards of what the Rebbe would want of a camp. The same applies to other camps, e.g. Camp Ohr Menachem in the Poconos and others. Camps that don’t have this yet, should learn from this mistake, and may this only be a stepping stool from which we can grow, advance and… Read more »
Btw most camps do have a camp mashpia or rabbi that overseas the ruchnius of the camp and the staff.
If i may ask which camp are you talking about?
So shocking! I hope my kids are not in that camp.
I would be horrified!
Someone should definitely be accountable for this… Call the camp and demand what’s going on…
we have supervision and accountability hopefully for what we put into our mouths, should we not also care about what goes into our hearts and minds?! we should demand higher standards from our camps, schools and other organizations for are children and young adults.
How about girls? “I didn’t send my girls to camp to .. “
If this post would get no responses that might be better, but I doubt it, so…. One can find positive and negative in most things. One can see the positive message of the video which is that it is best that a yarmulke stay on as much as possible. I see the positive in your post being – it shows care and a concern of a mother, has ideas I agree are good (which might actually be in place already) like a camp having a rav/mashpia whose opinion governs things in halchahic or hashkafa offerings and environment. I do wonder… Read more »
A kippah is a minhag anyways, not an actual Halacha. No need to worry.
This writer is not just attacking, but is making a sensible argument which deserves to be addressed. We all know that there issues with the education in camps, since how can you expect a young teachers to know all there is to know about education. Furthermore, the short timespan of camp, and the expectation to make it a “smashing summer”, causes staff to make things “wacky and wild” which is not quite my idea of good education. I hope that camps will take this call seriously and instate responsible educators to oversee the staff and guide them to give our… Read more »
Do we realise that our kids are in camp with staff that are only 20 years old and zero experience in Chinuch !!!! It’s very scary maybe we should have regular teacher going to camp with our kids
You’re right, the video has since been taken down, and we apologize for making such a mistake, we’ll try our best to make sure something like this will not happen again in the future.
My kids are passed the camp age now and many have gone on to become counselors, learning teachers etc.. In my experience the camps have done an excellent job of training bochurim and setting standards. For many years before a yomtov or just out of the blue my sons would receive a call from their old counselours. They were great role models and showed a genuine care and concern. I wish that all of their rebbes over the years would show the same care in concern.
Beautiful yarmulkas
Although there is no issue with this video as it is promoting children to wear Yarmulkes when they play sports there is a need for a Ruchniusdike Mashgiach or Mashpia to oversee what music is being played, themes are being portrayed in plays, language being used and so many more issues..
Many camps are run by kids who need staff overseeing it themselves.
I think your yarmulka example is poor compared to the choices of safety and other areas of oversight needed.
Directors at times sit in cozy offices, while kids run the lives of other kids, and its totally and utterly unacceptable. educators , teachers and adults should be involved at every juncture. im not tossing out teens and counselors, I am saying much more oversight is needed.
Loved the video great job also thank you for all the weekly videos they are really nice great job💪
Stop making a deal if nothing 🙄🙄
Stop being ridiculous. Thanks!!!
Those kids probably didn’t make their kippas fall off it happend to be that camps videographer caught those moments so they for those to redo that scene with the camp kippa
I’ve been a counselor in Chayolei in the past and I can say that from what I’ve seen first hand this entire article is garbage from beginning to end the head staff the staff are all dedicated chaisidihe pepole who work 24/7 to make sure the kids have the most chasidish and fun experience
I understand your concerns about this video, but if you don’t agree with something you should speak to the people in charge not try to cause a whole uproar. It’s like WhatsApp if you have a issue with someone you should private message them. But you definitely don’t start your arguements on a public chat.
Instead of looking for problems with other people, why don’t you focus on the problems which you can actually do something about. I think it’s disgusting that someone can write an article like this. If you actually saw the video and weren’t looking for problems you would see that the video is promoting the wearing of the yarmulka. So stop looking for problems and focus on what you could do to change the world instead of putting down camps which you don’t agree with.
I am not sure if it was necessary to publish this letter in public. if you have an issue with something going on in canp, you discuss it with the people in charge. and if you feel a need, maybe with some parents or other people who might help you with the issue. why publish in public a letter publicising negetive things going on in camp? especially as you write that there are so many good things going on there.
They giving good yarmulkes that stay on kids heads
It was the right intentions the whole video was about how yarmulkes are good and stay on their head
Camp is for boys that can’t stay in yeshiva 12 months a year. The Rebbe said everything could be used for good except the 3 . But yeshiva is for the regular kids and camp for those exceptional ones.
this is over reacting to the video. No kids took it the wrong way don’t just assume things
https://youtu.be/SpCFGPs_gb8
Here is a link of the promo
I think the message the video is trying to bring out is that with the right yarmulke it can’t fall off.. to me that sounds like a good way to show the importance of keeping a yarmulke on by wearing the right one
I think the message the video is trying to bring out is that with the right yarmulke it can’t fall off.. to me that sounds like a good way to show the importance of keeping a yarmulke on by wearing the right one
I just watched it – The whole plot is that the chayolei yarmulka does’nt fall off.
watch the video again. Camps should definitly have and most do have mechanchim but that has zero to do with the video.
camps do have a lasting impression and thats why i send my kids to camp. and bh the are very happy!
Beautiful video that’s all I can say
I don’t seem to see the problem with the video