Camp Achoteinu, the Israel Travel Program directed by Chanie Marinovsky, just completed its 12th successful summer.
Chabad girls entering grades 10 and11 – many of them children of Shluchim – from New York, Pittsburgh, Denver, Paris and Florida, enjoyed an inspiring, educational and fun month in Israel.
A luxurious private bus whisked them daily to holy sites and destinations throughout Israel. Based in Kfar Daniel where the Marinovskys serve as Shluchim, the girls toured Central and Southern Israel, focusing on discovering the rich history and holiness of Jerusalem and the surrounding area. Extended visits to the northern part of Israel brought the girls to the cities of Tzfat, Meron, T’verya, and Chaifa, and allowed them to experience the beauty and nature of the Golan and the Galil.
Famous educators including Rabbis Choni Goldberg, Asi Speigel and Mordechai Weiss served as tour guides for each excursion in the Holy Land.
Some of the active highlights of the trip included swimming at beaches in Akko and Caesarea, beautiful hikes through wadis and rivers, exploring caves, ATVing in the northern hills of Naftali and “Jeeping”, rappeling, and survival lessons with wilderness experts in the desert.
Shabbosim were spent in Kfar Chabad, Tzfat and Yerushalayim.
Bi-weekly Farbrengens with inspiring Shluchim and educators, shiurim in parsha and chassidus with camp rabbi Chayim B. Alevsky, deep explorations into the history and relevance of the holy sites with Camp rebbetzin and chaperone Sarah Alevsky, daily Chitas Chumash and Tanya classes with counselor Chaviva Katz and nightly Rebbe videos permeated every day with Chassidus and Torah.
“There were so many wonderful parts of our trip, it’s hard to single out one or two experiences. Each day taught us new things. We saw first-hand where Rabbi Akiva lived, where he taught Torah, and even where he died Al Kiddush Hashem,” said Chana K. “Tzadikiim we hear about in school became real to us in a whole new way.”
“One of the highlights for me was the spontaneous “Bar Mitzvah” we celebrated at the tip of Masada, where a 13 year old Russian boy put on Teffilin for the first time in his life. Rabbi Alevsky danced with the boy and his family singing ‘Siman Tov, Umazal Tov’. It was a very emotional moment.” said Mushkie A., “and this was just one of the four people who put on teffilin for the first time in their lives during our trip.”
“The girls really enjoyed the hands-on activities focused on helping others and Israel,” said Mrs. Sarah Alevsky, who chaperoned the trip with her husband Rabbi Chayim B. Alevsky, shluchim at Chabad of the West Side. “We picked vegetables for soup kitchens in the farm fields for Leket Israel, and we sifted through rubble from Har Habayis, looking for archeological discoveries for the Temple Mount Recovery project. I actually found a rock with an inscription from the time of Bayis Sheini!”
A suitcase full of toiletries, soaps, deodorants etc. donated by Chabad of the West Side Kids Club was distributed amongst Israeli soldiers throughout the trip.
Whilst at the Kfar Daniel base, Achoteinu girls enjoyed action-packed and thought provoking activities and discussions, arranged by the creative team of Chaviva Katz and Sarah Alevsky.
Camp Achoteinu offers an exciting month-long Israel program for girls entering grades 10 – 11, and is a UJA-NY approved program. The UJA offers significant scholarships to eligible campers who live in New York to enable them to travel to Israel for a summer program.
GO KORFY!
now im really jelos!
looooooooooooooooooookin greeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaat shaaaaaaaaaaaaaaina 🙂
Wow!! Wish I was young enough to have that expierence!
Lots of Kazen cousins…Way to go… and other nice girls who weren’t related. After a trip like this…we’re all related!
Have a great year…A kazen family relative
ur in evry pic
U ROCK MY WORLD!!!!!!!!!
love saraluu
looks like u guys had a blast!!!
WOW u look Gr8, so happy that u got to go!!! TORONTO really misses you, can’t wait to see u
wow! you guys really got around! go alevskys! great job!!!
you look like you’re having a great time!!!
ur close friend from toronto 🙂
I LOVE U KORFY!!!!!!
<3 ur twin
I MISS YA SHAINA!!!!!!!!!!!!!! IM STUCKK IN TORONTO WHILE U GET TO GO TO ISRAEL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!111
LOOKS LIKE YOU HAD ABLAST!
i love achoteinu!!!!i wanna go back to israel!!!i miss all you guys:(
woww chonie stiil has that hat?!?!?!?!
oooooooooooooh i see baila b. have fun!
go alevskys!!!!
looks like you guys had major fun!!! where did you stay??
Alevskys R-O-C-K!
Niiice shots!
heaven pics of Maryashe E!!
seriously… it was the bestest experience of my life! the alevskys are the wackiest people on the planet … so spontaneous and fun loving! Chavivah made the experience one of learning and growth and Chani made sure to take care of our every need with love and devotion! THANKS FOR THE MOST AMAZING EXPERIENCE EVER!
yehuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuudiiiiiiiiii
THAT WAS THE BEST CAMP EXPERIENCE EVER!!!!! thanx a ton Rabbi Chaim, Sara, Chavivah and Chanie. we love u and miss u tons 🙂
Chaviva Rocks!
WE MISSED U GUYS!!! <3
Rabbi Alevsky you were a great teacher back in U.L.Y. and now u’ve done it again!!!! wish our class would have done such a trip. All the best!
gooooooooo riki!!!!!
I MISS this camp like crazyyyyy!!!! My best experience ever!
THIS IS THE BEST CAMP EVERRR! AMAZING DIRECTORS AND COUNSELORS! Totally going back! THIS WAS MY BEST SUMMER!!!
GO CHAVIVA! LOve YOU
u are the best!
– BEE
Hi Hudi!!
ALEVSKY’s WE LOVE YOU!!
cool
go Chaim Boruch!!!! youre the best
YOU ROCK GIRL!!! HOPE UR HAVING A BLAST! NICE TO SEE YA!
-your biggest toronto fan!
Thank you so much Chaya S. for all your help in enabling me to come! You really went out of your way, phone calls, emails etc.
riki, looks like ur having a blast!!!!!
cant believe u made it to the Holy Land!
wow achoteinu!! it was an amazing experience, great chaperones Always plenty food great counsler great atmosphere… It was a once in a life time experience! thanks so much chanie, sara, rabbi chaim, and chaviva.
FROM UR FAVE TEXANS
The best camp experiance ever!~