Shocking Rebbe Dollar Discovery at Camp Yeka Girls Banquet

In an unbelievable move, Camp Yeka girls has opened double summer camps for their Ukrainian campers in two locations, Hungary and Israel.

Summer-time, the season to recharge and enjoy, brought a new challenge to Ukrainian refugees. Although physically safe from harm; home, and all that is familiar is extremely far away. For our Yeka campers this is indeed the case. Many of them are safe in Israel or scattered around Europe but as summer was approaching the question grew big in their minds, what are we doing?

Throughout these difficult times Camp Yeka Girls has taken a strong stance of support for their girls wherever they find themselves, including facilitating escape from Ukraine, financially supporting families and girls in need, organizing flights, sending large shipments of supplies; and more. Two dedicated staff members spent three months in Berlin, giving their entire selves to the children stranded there. Their trademark slogan; “Yeka is family”. Wherever and whatever is needed, we are there for our girls.

Over Pesach, Camp Yeka Girls pioneered their very first Pesach camp in Israel for the girls who had fled there. In partnership with Chabad B’Aliyah, the extraordinary took place.

The goal of Yeka Girls Pesach Camp was to create a safe haven of familiar faces and songs, to bring a taste of home to our girls and, surrounded by their favorite staff to truly experience the joy of Yom Tov. The sense of familiarity that camp had was a calming support to the disruption and trauma they are presently experiencing. The love, warmth and fun of Camp Yeka is irreplaceable and during these turbulent times, more necessary than ever.

The day Pesach camp started, the staff were struck by their dejected and low moods. “You could see on their faces that they were going through some sort of trauma, the atmosphere was so heavy. And then a day or two later it was like they had come alive again”, said Fraidy Theler, dedicated staff member.

One camper, Eva, shared how she was struggling because of the language. She didn’t speak Ivrit and amongst the chaos of escape and a new life, she was left grappling with a major language barrier. “I feel so free to be here with my friends and I know what is happening around me all the time because we all sound the same”, she told her counselor.

On the heels of a successful pesach camp and with the upcoming summer, Mrs. Menucha Hanoka and Mrs. Hindy Levy and all the volunteer head-staff of Yeka Girls made the decision to reach even more of their campers during the summer by opening both a European location as well as an Israel location.

For the last two weeks over 90 Ukrainian girls gathered at a Hungarian camp site on the waters of the Lake Balaton. Girls arrived by bus or train from Germany, Vienna, England, Georgia, Austria, Poland and even from within Ukraine itself.

Staff flew in from all over the world having fundraised to be a part of this tremendous shlichus, loaded down with clothing, treats, activities, games and so much love. The camp exploded with happiness as classmates, cousins, neighbours and friends were reunited after having fled to different countries. They had trips to a water park and petting zoo. The usual Yeka “master class” activities were run by professional art and dance teachers. This year we added a therapist to our staff in both camps to talk to the girls and help them with their trauma. Lake Balatons beach was closed for the girls in specific places as they swam and enjoyed the rich outdoors. With trademark Yeka enthusiasm the days were filled with song and dance, Rebbe time and Tzivos Hashem and mainly, the feeling of one united family.

A new program was started for girls who were above the age of being a camper so Yeka Girls hired Rabbi and Mrs. Brodkin from Dnepr to give this group a summer experience as well. Including JLI classes, trips to boating, biking, water parks, caving and more. They had specialized late night farbrengens and were left with the deep feeling of belonging.

The last night of camp ended with a shocking discovery. When Esther Miriam Golomb and Raizy Leitner flew to Berlin they asked Mrs. Sternberg to donate a Rebbe dollar to be awarded to one of the girls. For whatever reason that never happened in Berlin and at the camp banquet it was the main prize of raffle for the girls who had kept their hachlata taken on the first night of camp. At the banquet, they were shocked to notice – the date written on the dollar was the very same night of the banquet, Yud Gimmel Tammuz. The winner of the raffle was in tears as she collected her prize, fully understanding the momentous moment and the prize she received.

The Yeka staff have now packed up in Hungary and made their way to Israel to Kfar Chassidim to receive 143 campers. With the difficult economical situation and the expense of two camps in countries way more expensive than Ukraine, Yeka girls has heavy bills to pay and are asking, please support this precious shlichus.

If you can donate even a small amount to ensure that the camp in Israel can come to its full fruition, you will make a tremendous impact. Making three camps in the space of four months has drained Yeka girls more than ever before and yet the need is greater and the time is now. Please donate today and be a true partner in illuminating the lives of these precious neshamos.
Yekagirls.com/summer

It costs $1800 per child to have the full camp experience. Be a part of that with $18, $50, $180, $500. Every dollar counts.
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