6/13/08

- Our Canteen now features 2 new flat panel, Sony 32” HD TV's for news and sports updates
- Much of the camp has been repainted and we now have a nice picket fence to welcome all our guests "home"
- 20 new picnic tables (Color War project anyone?)
- The tennis and basketball courts on Girl's campus have been repaved
- We have 8 new paddle boats
- We have 8 new John Deere “gators” (better then golf carts!)

All in all we have had a busy off season! Oh, and did we mention that we have over 500 campers and counting.

We are getting pumped for the summer. We can't wait!

The Mesorah Staff

6/4/08

Camp Mesorah's special needs program has been operating for the past ten years as a viable sleep-away camp experience for young men and women. These individuals exhibit developmental delays, Down syndrome and various deficits. Initially opened in collaboration with Yachad and Camp Mesorah, it presently is administered solely by Camp Mesorah and its staff.


The Program caters to a maximum of 16 young adults usually ranging in age from 20 – 33. The focus of the program is vocational in nature where all participants are employed for specific and necessary jobs such as day camp counselors, kitchen staff, waiters and office workers etc. These exact placements are made appropriate to prerequisite skills and wishes. Mrs. Eliza Skoczylas, who has a masters in special education and significant experience in the field, serves as the coordinator of the program. Her four counselors will serve as nighttime supervisors, day-to-day liaison personnel and job coaches.


Integration is the key word in describing the program. Obviously a greater sense of job responsibility, expanded skill performance and increased duties are a direct result of the program. However this inclusion with all the other campers and staff leads to a more normative life in the general Jewish community. These staff members eat in our regular dining room, participate in Jewish practices such as being the "Shliach Tzibur", and get involved in the camp programming. Shlomo Brazil, a well known special educator for over 30 years and the principal of Bonim La Mokom stated emphatically "These staff members do more for our kids and staff than we do for them". They do truly Mischazik the entire camp environment. Consequently we are happy to announce that the new name for the program will be


CHAZAK!!!!

5/30/08

Camp Mesorah is most proud of its Chinuch Program. Founded and led for 18 seasons by Rabbi Ya'akov and Peshi Neuberger, the Chinuch program in our camp is taken very seriously.

This year the program will be directed by Rabbi Shalom Rosner. As many of you may know, Rabbi Rosner is leaving his post as a popular Woodemere Rabbi and Rosh Yeshiva at RIETS. Rabbi Rosner, his wife and children are living out their dream of making aliyah. Rabbi Rosner will be serving as the Rav of a new community in Bet Shemesh, Israel. We wish them well and look forward to them joining the camp for many years to come.

The entire camp also receives daily inspiration from our Rosh Kollel Rabbi Meir Goldwicht. Rav Goldwicht provides chizuk to campers, staff, and guests alike. His Shabbat Morning Shiurim are attended by almost every guest in camp. His Shabbat Tishin, which every week feature a siyum, provide a bright spot in an already moving Shabbat (it has never rained on this "parade").

Rabbi Rosner has lined up an impressive program and a top notch staff. The staff is led by veteran Mesorahites Rabbi Alan and Aliza Schwartz (Rav, Ohab Zedek New York City), Rabbi Reuven and Sheera Boshnack of Brooklyn, New York and Rabbi Adam Englander a yeshiva day shool principal in Boca Raton, FL.

We are excited to also welcome newcomers to our chinuch staff: Jonathan and Dena Dubkowsky and Michael and Debra Bashist.

Our commitment to Torat Eretz Yisroel is alive as we bring in resources from the holy land. This summer we welcome Rabbi Ori (Rabbi O) and Tobi Einhorn, along with Josh and Liz Frolich.

Our programming rivals many yeshiva days schools. This summer we will be focusing on Pirkei Avos as our theme of the summer. And we will have a midot campaign, as well as contests on yediot klaliyot (general knowledge) as well as brachot. Our early morning blue goo shmoooze has been a favorite for years.

Of course this summer we will have a special focus on the 60th year of medinat yisrael. Mesorah is very proud that our chinuch staff not only teaches in formal classes (ok, it's the summer so they are not so formal) but they lead the Shabbat Zemirot and Ruach as well as give Shabbat Sichot (informal learning classes). Honorary Learning Staff members also participate in these sichot. They include Rabbi Mark Landsman (Principal of Yeshiva of Central Queens) and popular hockey "rebbe" Mo Fuchs.

Without a doubt our commitment to the spiritual growth of our campers is unmatched.

5/22/08

Camp Mesorah is excited to announce that Rabbi Moshe & Alisa Weinberg will be joining us this summer. The Weinbergs will be teaming up to fill our heads and our stomachs.

Many of you may know Rabbi Moshe (Matt) Weinberg. He is currently a popular Rebbe and the Assistant Student Activities Director at the Torah Academy of Bergen County. Rabbi Weinberg will be joining us in a dual role. He will serve on our Chinuch staff and he also will be overseeing and supervising the "after hours" activities of our specialty staff.

Alysa Weinberg, currently a homemaker, is joining our staff as the Director of Culinary Education. s will be spending some time in the kitchen with our campers helping them navigate the world of Jewish cooking.The Weinbergs are not strangers to Mesorah. Alysa and Moshe actually met in our camp- which makes them a true Mesorah couple.

We welcome them back to the family.

5/20/08

This summer Camp Mesorah is happy to welcome Rabbi Ari Katz as our new Director of Programming. Rabbi Katz is the Assistant Principal at the Yeshiva of Central Queens. He has been working the entire year in planning this summer's programs so that our campers are busy and happy.

This summer our campers will be looking forward to:

• Inter-camp hockey and basketball tournaments for all ages
• Special trips to the Binghamton Mets, Hershey Park etc.
• In-camp carnival and laser tag
• Special concerts and a visit from the Nachum Segal Show
•  Horseback riding and bowling trips
•  Professional tennis instruction
•  And of course…
  • Instructional and recreational sports activities
  • Mesorah Outback
  • Trips to Hoppie's
  • BBQs
  • Marathons
  • Mesorah Football League
  • Zimriah/Rekudia
  • Cookouts and overnights
  • All led by our wonderful and caring staff

Please contact our office if you have any questions.

5/14/08

This year Mesorah is significantly improving its already stellar sports programming:

•  Ushie Seleven is joining the staff as Director of Boys Sports. Ushie joins veteran Shira Englander as the leaders of our sports programming. Ushie is a well known and popular coach in the Jewish community. He coaches basketball at the Torah Academy of Bergen County as well as little league baseball in the Teaneck Baseball Organization. Ushie and Shira have been working hard to better organize and execute a program that has always been one of Mesorah's jewels.
•  Each summer our boys campers get to experience a real football training camp during our two-day MFL. The Mesorah Football League is a time when the boys can get a feeling what it is to train to be a pro-football player.
• The Mesorah Outback, led by Atara Weisberger, is a popular program where campers get to experience trails in the woods surrounding the camp. They are exposed to parts of nature they never get to see in 'the city'.
• Sabrina Landau leads our equestrian program. During the summer a group of campers is taken to a professional riding academy to learn the ins and outs of riding horses.
•  We are excited to announce that Dr. Brian Kalb will be joining our staff this summer (July 20th – July 27th), bringing to Camp Mesorah a new Tennis Program for both campuses, and campers of all divisions. Dr. Kalb has an extensive background in Tennis Instruction. He was the Tennis Pro at Camp Lavi for 5 Years, Coached Wayne County Tennis Teams for years throughout Pennsylvania, the Captain of his College Tennis Team, as well as HAFTR High School's Tennis Coach. He was certified as USTA drill instructor. He is planning a week of clinics, instructional drills, match play strategy, as well as tournaments for each division. He will be available for Private Lessons for those campers who are interested.
•  Mo Fuchs is continuing in his role as senior hockey coach. Mo has been the Varsity Hockey coach at TABC for the last 14 years. He is the founder of the TABC Junior Hockey League for boys and the Maayanot Junior Hockey League for girls. He is well known for his coaching and mentoring abilities. Mo runs the hockey program at Camp Mesorah.

These are some of the amazing professionals that help enhance Mesorah's sports program which continues to be on the cutting edge.

5/13/08

We have posted pictures of our new bunks. Click here.

5/09/08

Camp Mesorah is excited to announce the re-launch of our website: www.campmesorah.com. Our new and improved user friendly site includes:

• Schedule of major events and activities this summer - All the forms you need for camp registration and preparation
• Bios of senior staff - Pictures of on-going camp renovations - And of course during the summer
• Weekly Videos
• Camp Newsletters
• Camper email
• Pictures, Pictures, Pictures

Please check it out and bookmark the page. Check in often and follow as we add content in an effort to bring our home in Guilford, New York into your homes- wherever it is you live. Camp Mesorah Camp the way you remember it