Ever since Zev “aged-out” of day camp, he has been a part of Yachad’s summer program. Located in several different camps throughout the New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania area, Yachad opens its doors to its members to have all the enjoyment of a Shabbaton but for an entire camp season instead.
Our daughter, Devorah, was (and still is) in Kesher, a Yachad program for girls located in Camp Sternberg. She loved it (and continues to do so every summer!) and we very much wanted the same for Zev.
At first, Zev attended Chaveirim which is the Yachad program in Maaminim (formerly in Mogen Avraham). We loved this choice for Zev since the campus brought back wonderful memories for me as I spent seven summers on the same campus.
However, what made Chaveirim so wonderful for Zev was how well he was understood by not only his counselors but by the head staff as well. When we would speak about Zev with them, it was very clear they were familiar with his likes and dislikes and so were able to tailor the camp experience to his specific liking.
After a number of years of Chaveirim, we then found out that Yachad runs a program specifically for boys who enjoy taking care of animals. This program is known as Yachad Bachutz. This sounded right up Zev’s alley as he indeed feels very comfortable around animals. When we went to visit him on visiting day at the farm where he and the other campers took care of the animals, we were once again impressed as to how an organization could put together a summer program which could empower its members to take care of another set of Hashem’s creations.
However, since Yachad understood that many others would enjoy this program, Zev could only go for half of the summer. As a result, he decided to go where some of his schoolmates went and that was Yachad at Morasha.
We had heard wonderful things about the program from others but didn’t have any first hand information. We decided to take a chance and send Zev to a program which would be significantly different from those he had attended in the past.
Although we did not get to visit last summer, we took it as an excellent sign that Zev was willing to go back again and this time try it for the entire summer season. As the summer progressed, we got to speak with Zev on the phone each Erev Shabbos and it sounded like he was enjoying himself. Nevertheless, “seeing is believing” as they say, so we looked forward to visiting day with a mixture of excitement and apprehension.
From the moment Zev literally ran from his bunk to hug us until it was time for us to go, we couldn’t have been more impressed with everything about the program.
Many people can attest to the wonderful campus of Morasha. Though extremely spacious, well run and organized, what really was reassuring as parents was how much Zev was accepted and appreciated for who he is.
It was clear from the “get go” that they understood him very well and truly enjoyed spending time getting to know him. They knew his preferred activities, foods, drinks and even books and movies. They spoke of him as a parent (or grandparent) would speak about their child (or grandchild!). That is, with a warm and knowing smile as if to say, “You know exactly what I’m talking about but I’m going to say it anyway because it’s the truth and he’s such a pleasure!”
For all this and so much more, we say thank you to Yachad and to ALL those who create lasting memories for Zev specifically and all of the campers in all of the programs. Hashem should shower brachot upon you.
Rabbi Yehuda Minchenberg is a fifth-grade rebbe during the school year and teaches Torah at Camp Regesh during the summer. At home, he (together with his wife, Laurie), is the parent of six children, four of whom have varying special needs.
