One would think that we, of all people, would not become as emotionally involved when we see a video of the campers arriving to spend their summer at Camp HASC. Yet, we are totally mesmerized by watching this wonder of wonders. It is early in the season and camp has hardly begun. Glued to the screen, we watched as the campers emerged from the buses, greeted by their counselors. Some are in costume, signs are everywhere, making this experience similar to arriving in the most safe, happy place they could possibly be. Hugs and kisses are extended to old campers, joyful faces are everywhere. Those arriving for the first time, obviously with some trepidation, cannot help but be swept up in the euphoria of the moment.
Counselors, your children, your neighbors, my grandchildren, in some cases not really aware of what will be ahead, throw themselves into the moment. Rarely will they have a quiet moment for the next six weeks. The experience will change them for life. The parents of the campers have entrusted these young people with caring for their children with the same amount of love and caring they received at home and they will, indeed, receive triple times over.
We are parents who have benefited from this miracle. To this day we have never lost the amount of gratitude and awe that we feel for anyone and everyone involved in Camp HASC.
Young people who have been unaccustomed throughout their short lives to doing menial tasks around the home; those whose every whim has been acknowledged and met by their parents are now changing diapers of young and older campers. They are feeding, wiping the drool from their campers’ faces and putting up with tantrums and strange behavior. A better lesson in life they will never have. By the end of the summer no one will want the camp season to end. Their “kids” literally have become their very own. Returning on the buses there are tears and hugs. In many cases the end of the camping season means little in terms of the continuation of relationships. Phone calls, home visits, bringing campers home to visit with the counselor’s family continue on throughout the year.
We are a family that to this day, many years after our daughter Naama has been to HASC, which she attended for 30 summers, will never forget and honor every single person who is affiliated with camp. Let the summer continue with the same amazing excitement that was displayed as everyone walked or was carried off the bus. The HASC miracle continues.
By Rabbi Mordechai and Nina Glick
Rabbi Mordechai and Nina Glick are living in Bergenfield after many years of service to the Montreal Jewish community. Rabbi Glick was the rav of Congregation Ahavat Yisroel as well as a practicing clinical psychologist in private practice. He also taught at Champlain Regional College. The Glicks were frequent speakers at the OU marriage retreats. Nina coordinated all Yachad activities in Montreal and was a co/founder of Maison Shalom, a group home for young adults with special needs. They can be reached at [email protected].
