MeNU
The Greatest Summer Ever!
By Rabbi Eli Teitelbaum
As thousands of Americans traveled elsewhere or stayed home this past summer due to the State Department's travel alert warning people that the situation in Israel was dangerous and volatile, those boys brave and lucky enough to join Camp S'dei Chemed International in Israel, had the greatest and most meaningful summer imaginable. "It was the greatest summer of my life," says Ari Lamm, a youngster from the Five Towns who says that he enjoyed every minute of it and wants to return once again. While there are certain places that tourists should avoid and there are certain roads that they must not use, there are plenty of safe and secure sites that one can visit. Recent events have in fact proven that Jerusalem is far safer than New York City. One must of course use caution and common sense, and never show unwarranted fright or panic. Unfortunately, many living outside of Israel have been found terribly wanting in responding to this moment of great challenge in modern history, and have cancelled their flights. And so while most camps closed up this past summer, Camp S'dei Chemed International was there as it has been for the past thirty-three years.
The S'dei Chemed boys spent two weeks at the Yeshivat Hakotel, which is located in the heart of the Jewish Quarter in the old city of Yerusahalayim, only minutes from the Kotel. The Rovah HaYehudi, as this area is called, has not had a single incident since the beginning of the Intifada and is well protected on all sides. The great kedusha one feels and deep inspiration one gets praying at the Kotel each day is something that lasts a lifetime.
The boys also spent a few weeks at the five star Kinnar Hotel located on the shores of the beautiful Sea of Galilee, the Kinneret, from which most of Israel gets its water. Here they swam in their outdoor pool, played basketball and took a dip in the beautiful blue waters of the Kinneret. From here they traveled to T'veria and visited the many holy sites such as the kevorim of the Rambam, Rebbi Meir Ball HaNess, Rebbi Akiva and others. They also traveled to the Golan Heights, where they went on some magnificent hikes through scenic trails that led to gushing waterfalls, where they swam and splashed around in its cool refreshing waters. They also took an exciting jeep ride that took them to some of the former Syrian bunkers, which were captured by Israel during the Six-day war.
The Golan Heights is perfectly safe and not a single incident has been reported there since the beginning of the Intifada. They enjoyed tubing down the Hatzbani River and kayaking down the Yarden. They took the chair lift up to the top of the Chermon, and even spent some time picking grapes in an orchard that had been left hefker because of Shmitta. They also took the cable car up the Menara Cliff and had lots of fun propelling down its steep side. They also spent three days at a beautiful five-star Hotel in Eilat where they went snorkeling and scuba diving among the magnificent corals. There they also went banana boating, parasailing and took an exciting boat ride around the Red Sea. The boys also spent a beautiful and inspiring Shabbat in the ancient city of Tzfat visiting the holy kevorim of the Ari, the Bais Yosef and many other great Torah giants of times gone by.
One of the highlights of the summer was when the boys went to visit some of those injured in the terrible Sobbaro terrorist attack that lay recuperating in the Bikur Cholim Hospital in Yerushalayim. They sang for them, helped cheer them up, offering them words of encouragement, and most of all, showed their solidarity for their pain and suffering during these trying times.
They explored the ancient fortress of Masada and then bathed in the nearby Yam Ha 'melech - the Dead Sea. From there they hiked up to the oasis called Ein Gedi and refreshed themselves in its fresh waters and falls gushing down the mountainside.
The ruach and kedusha of a summer in Israel beats anything in the Catskills by a long shot. It's a perfect blend of learning, playing, touring and leisure. It's something that one must experience for oneself and no words can adequately describe it. There is absolutely no comparison between a summer at S'dei Chemed in Israel to any other place in the world. No wonder every camper who was lucky enough to ever be there will tell you that it was the most magnificent and meaningful summer of their life. As for those who stayed home or went to the Catskills, perhaps next summer they will join Camp S'dei Chemed International in Yerushalayim Ir Hakodesh with Moshiach, may he come soon in our days.
