(Courtesy of Camp Bnos Kanfei) Camp Bnos Kanfei is a uniquely innovative and exciting all-girls summer option that takes yeshiva high school girls to New Zealand, Australia, Hawaii and California to experience the beauty of the world and the exhilaration of skiing and other adventure activities in the context of a growth-oriented Torah environment. Bnos Kanfei is the brainchild of Rabbi Benzion Scheinfeld who has been running (and is still running) a coed version of this same concept for the past 26 years. Rabbi Scheinfeld is a yeshiva high school educator who has innovated a number of educational initiatives, including the Frisch shiriyah. While teaching at Frisch in the 1990s, Rabbi Scheinfeld started Camp Kanfei Nesharim. Kanfei, as it is lovingly called, was founded on the belief that the expanded horizons, travel, amazing beauty and adventure challenges that it offers can positively affect one’s neshama by helping campers get more in touch with the beauty and energy that Hashem instilled in life and in each one of us. In particular, Rabbi Scheinfeld, an accomplished skier and a ski instructor, believes that skiing, with its beauty, connection to nature, and personal challenge, can awaken one’s spirit and touch one’s heart.
Bnos Kanfei is for all high school-age girls and has participants that include girls from Bais Yaakov-type schools as well as from more Tziyoni dati schools. There is daily Torah learning and a strong emphasis on discussions that are focused on helping the girls appreciate and grow from their surroundings, activities and experiences. The camp spends Shabbatot in the South Island of New Zealand where there is no Jewish community at all, as well as in Sydney and Melbourne, Australia, where they connect to Jewish communities down under. The last week is spent in fabulous Hawaii with Shabbat in Honolulu or Los Angeles.
Bnos Kanfei is particularly excited to announce that Rabbi Ariel and Mrs. Shira Auman, noted educators at the Frisch Yeshiva High School, will be the directors of the Bnos Kanfei Program this summer. According to Rabbi Scheinfeld, “Rabbi and Mrs. Auman are inspiring mechanchim who have wonderful, positive energy and a great balance between experiencing and learning. We are lucky to have them as our directors this summer and I am sure they will have a profound effect on each of the girls who attends.”
Camp Bnos Kanfei is still accepting campers for summer 2019. It is competitively priced at about the same cost as an Israel travel program. There will be an “Open House and Meet the Directors” meeting this coming Wednesday at the home of the Rabbi Avi and Navi Schreiber, 41 Campeau Place in Bergenfield, at 8:30 p.m. For more information, please check www.bnoskanfei.com.
In celebration of Bnos Kanfei’s fifth year and in order to promote the beauty of skiing in our community, Rabbi Scheinfeld will be offering free ski lessons at local mountains during Sundays in January and February. The lessons are for kids 11 and up, beginners through intermediates, and are on a first-come, first-served basis and must be reserved in advance.
Kanfei is also expanding this year by starting for the first time an all-boys Kanfei that will travel to New Zealand and Australia and offer the amazing Kanfei experience in an all-male setting. For more information on any of the unique Kanfei programs or to book free ski lessons, please contact Rabbi Scheinfeld at 201 362 0310.
