By COLlive reporter
12 year-old Ben Forti is enjoying his summer at the Bar Mitzvah Division (BMD) of the overnight Camp Gan Israel in Parksville, New York, with learning, hiskashrus wars and trips.
His mother, on the other hand, is already thinking about next 2 summers.
Ben will be entering 7th grade at the Chabad-run Southern Connecticut Hebrew Academy in Orange, CT this coming year. But his tiger mom Jennifer Sachs-Forti is worried about the their 2014 Class trip to Israel.
“This is a wonderful class of 14 amazing children. We have been unsuccessful in securing any funds from our local Jewish Federations, but we are determined to raise all of the $40,000 that we need,” explained Forti who works as a bank teller.
“There are many funds that help end-of-year school trips to Israel, but non in our area. We are not finding any help and decided to raise money on our own,” she said, speaking from her summer home in White Lake, NY.
“During their 6th grade year we started a fundraising campaign so they can travel to Israel for their 8th grade graduation trip. Some of our boys helped a family carry up their Pesach dishes to earn money toward this trip and we also had a beautiful flower bouquet sale for Shavuos.”
Hanging out in the Catskills, she heard from her friends that “the men are dying to get of of the bungalows on Motzoei Shabbos” and so, she came up with a plan with the help of her brother Monty Sachas, a horse veterinarian.
Monty agreed to make available his Catskill Distilling Company in Bethel, a town nestled in the foothills of the Catskills, once known as the Borscht Belt popular vacation spot in the 50’s and 60’s, for a fundraiser.
“Vodka, Sushi & Cigars” on Motzoei Shabbos, August 11 at 9:30pm will be a men’s night out offering hand crafted spirits, delicious tastings from Simply Sushi, cigars and strolling musicians.
Rabbi Sheya Hecht, Shliach and headmaster of the school, will be on hand to greet the guests and say a Dvar Torah. Principal Rabbi Enan Francis is planning to be there as well.
“It is sure to be an amazing night,” Forti promises.
For more information call 203-996-4453. The Catskill Distilling Company is located at 2037 State Rt 17B, Bethel, New York 12720
Not too many mothers would take it upon themselves to try to ensure the class a few years in the future would be able to reach their goal of traveling to Israel. Kudos to Jen for doing this… I only hope to help!
Thank you for doing this great event, it will be a smashing success. If we can find a way to make it after shabbos from New Haven we sure will be there.
Would love to have a group from Long Island 🙂
This is “way outside the box” as far as fundraisers are concerned…so far so, it has to be successful. Best of luck, and if anyone is traveling from Long Island, I would love to attend. Aharon
This sounds fun but possibly dangerous. I hope there will arrangements for designated drivers or a bus