Camp is “One Long Farbrengen”

By COLlive Staff

Good morning in Greek, good afternoon in Hungarian, and good night in Dutch.

Gan Yisroel for European Tzeirei Hashluchos in Sweden is in full swing. With 43 campers attending from 21 different cities around Europe, the combined campers speak 15 different languages.

But despite living in vastly different locations, they all share one common denominator – fulfilling the Rebbe’s shlichus with pride and joy, no matter where they are sent.

“There are so many different languages, and everyone finds a way to communicate- it’s amazing!” smiles Elke Z., a counselor from Chicago.

“I like the family-like atmosphere and oneness- like everyone is just one happy family!” exclaims Esther Miriam Golomb, 13 from Sheffield, England, who is attending the Teen Leadership Training Program (also known as Pioneers) at camp for the first time.

The pioneer program includes exciting trips, farbrengens, CPR training and other skill building activities.

“I really enjoy seeing the sincerity of all these little shluchos and the way they are brought up,” says a counselor from NY. “It’s really special, seeing kids from all these different countries and the way they are. It’s inspiring.”

Surprising new arrivals at camp this year include Getzel and Pretzel, 2 frisky baby pygmy goats. (Pygmy goats are a special breed of tiny goats that never grow larger than a newborn kid.) Rest hour finds happy campers outside in the camp gardens, feeding the new pets.

“I love seeing all the different shluchos, growing up with mesiras nefesh, living in faraway places for the sake of even one Jew,” says Esther Goodman, the skilled chef, who cheerfully cooks up a storm of delicious food for the campers. “I’m happy to be able to take part in such a camp.”

“Our goal is to give these children the best possible camp experience, beruchnius ubegashmius, so they can return to their places of shlichus all around the world with new chayus and simcha,” says Rabbi Alexander Namdar, head Shliach of Sweden, who directs the camp with his wife, Leah.

Gan Yisroel for European Tzeirei Hashluchos Sweden was started in 5769 by Chabad of Sweden with the continued support of Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky of Merkos Leinyanei Chinuch, responding to an urgent need for a camp for yaldei Hashluchim in Europe and Asia.

In 5771, after numerous parents asked: “What about the boys?”, another camp was opened for Tzeirei Hashluchim, that runs for 3 weeks in August. In 5771 alone, over 100 children of shluchim attended the summer and winter camps.

The camps are run in both English and Hebrew. Staff members speak both languages.

“Many of the campers know each other from Online school, or from emails or phone. Now they are coming together live. It’s amazing to see!” says Mushka M., a counselor.

“They daven like…heaven!” says Mussie B., from NY. “And I’ve never seen 8 year olds saying chitas on their own before!”

Most of the campers are children of Shluchim who live in remote locations around Europe.

“It’s a joy to see the kids laughing, singing, playing, davening and learning together,” says Leah Namdar. “To meet friends who are living lives just like their own gives them tremendous support and chayus in their shlichus.
The staff are dedicated, caring and fun, and provide the campers with chassidishe role models.”

“I love the calendar album that we got with the Rebbe pictures. We get them when we daven and bentch, and for prizes,” explains Mussie Teichtel, 12, from Berlin, Germany. “I never saw some of these pictures before. I feel it gives me a stronger connection to the Rebbe, and it helps me daven with more kavanna. I stick them in the calendar and now I know all the chassidishe yomim tovim. I knew them before, but now they are more clear. I also like the trips, especially canoeing!”

“I love the learning class,” says Shevi Myers, 12 from Bratislava, Slovakia.
“It’s interesting to hear everyone’s thoughts. You could learn a lot of things from different people that you never thought you would. Today we learned about making a cheshbon hanefesh. Writing down our thoughts helps us see what we have to fix in life so that we can have good middos and be a good example of a Shlucha.”

“Camp is one long farbrengen,” adds Mushky Namdar.

The boy’s camp begins on Monday, 11 Menachem Av, 30 July.

For info go to www.tzeireihashluchim.com or call +46707711770 (Rabbi Alexander Namdar) or +46707408709 (Leah Namdar)
To sponsor a camper, contact info@chabad.se
or to donate by card: http://www.chabad.se/1574309/