Imagine knowing and waiting the entire year for just three weeks of the summer?
Imagine the struggles of a kid beaten by his dad and left hungry by his mom?
Imagine not knowing where the next hot meal will come from?
Imagine being hit by a war in a country already considered to be 3rd world?
Well for the third year, there is an answer to all that. A place where innocent children are welcomed and love to be.
In a little village on the outskirts of Zhitomir sits a Shtetel; a safe haven, a place of total security for 150 boys.
These boys have it hard. Be they orphans, abused or just plain and simple dirt poor – they know that come the summer, they are free to have fun, meet new friends and most importantly, get a little bit of love. With a warmth of Yiddishkeit readily accessible to them.
Camp Yeka is where 250 kids will come this summer and will have a smashing time.
It’s been two summers since the staff members of camp Yeka have prevented their beloved summer camp from closing its doors due to a lack of funding. Since that time the organization has grown from being much more than just a summer camp.
This year we have expanded due to the war, to accommodate another 30 kids and a girls camp. “Yeka Girlz” is now in action!
A sister camp to Camp Yeka, in its pilot year, Yeka Girlz will boast up to 100 girls.
Last summer the staff successfully raised the necessary $80,000 to fund their camp and made it a great success. This year the camp’s “winter program” was an even greater success than the year before thanks to a virally successful GoFundMe campaign.
This year, it will only happen with you and your generous donation.
Head Staff for Summer 5775:
Director: Chaim Leiter
Head Counselors: Yakov Shmuel Golomb and Yisroel Eichenblatt
Girls Division:
Head Counselors: Hindy Golomb and Leah Groner
We are the only Camp running in Ukraine servicing the entire country, with a no judgment policy on who you are and where you come from.
We need your donation to make it happen. Yes, the children are relying on you for your help in giving them a it of tranquility and peace on the west of Ukraine, away from the horrors of war.
To help in this great cause visit yeka.rallybound.com
Every staff member has committed to raise the funds for camp.
Pick a team that you would like to support. You can then choose which volunteer staff member you would like to support or support the team as whole, and donate!
Or to donate via check. You can make a check out to “FJC of CIS” and mail it to 1481 President St. Please put in the memo towards which camp you would like the donation to go.
For pictures and more information on the great work we do make sure to “like” our facebook pages – Camp Yeka/Camp Yeka Girls and follow the girls division on Instagram @yekagirls
Support Jewish education. Support friendship. Support hope. Support Camp Yeka.
“No Jewish child should be forgotten or given up on” – The Lubavitcher Rebbe
How do these staff speak to the kids?
Do they speak russian or ukrainian?
I am full with excitement and anticipation to see what the YekaGirlz division will add to this growing Shlichus Startup and already proven track record and achievements. Its like they say Mallet Bakodesh only growth when it comes to Kodesh.
I came across this camp as I was reading the Times Of Israel they do amazing work and to see that they added another division for the girls is so inspiring these staff never stop doing the rebbe’s of Shlichus of Ker A Velt Haint! May we be Zoche to Moshiach and Camp Yeka in Jerusalem this summer Amen!
So proud of u! U guys are the ikurr
Keep it up xx
Best camp even gunna be. Well done all staff on fundraising without taking a cent for yourselves. . Hatzlachaaa
Def most dedicated Yeka man i Know
He lives and breeethes yeka all year
Im donating just cos of him!
Well done mate
im jealous of their dedication to yidishkeit and these kids
Trully an inspiration to us all here in the shchunah
these guys are the troops on the front lines
You du man! Keep on rrrrockin away! Keep on giving the Rebbe nachas, From your fan
in da hood
Massive achrayus on the shoulders of these soldiers!
But they’v done it and will do it again
keep it up guys and i hope the girls are just as successfull!
None of this is in any way exaggerated. The children in camp all cry the last day, this camp leaves a massive impact on them and a sixeable percentage end up going to yeshiva. Many of them turn out to be chasidishe bochurim that you wouldn’t be able to point out as “different” walking down kingston. This yr we have no $ plz plz plz help anything counts go to the link on top. Please help us and join I the zchus of helping and being mekarev these kids
I have had the honor of hosting for Sukkos a few former campers – some that grew up in orphanages and some from broken homes. When the boys walked into my house, with their bochurim “peers” it was impossible to know the difference between the two groups. The “campers” were completely frum, hat and jacket, and so happy to be zoche to have come to the Rebbe’s shchuna. They spoke (in Russian – counselors translated) about the camp experiences that changed their lives!
best bjj hc!!!
the truest yeka soldier out there
Best girl in lubavitch!! Go hindy!!!!
a powerhouse, thanks to you camp yeka girls will happen!!
i love yeka! so inspiring!
yeka u guy are rockstars! keep it up!
Go Hindy and Leah!!! Best hcs ever!
GO GUYS
go yeka!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
go yeka! best camp ever! thank you councelors for et!
The counselors are amazing – they raised money to pay the expenses to run the camp, to cover their own travel expenses, so that these kids could have a quality summer camp experience. This is definitely a Nachas Ruach for the Rebbe. Yoshar Koach
Those glavnys – they are giving their lives away for this!
COL Live for being such a support!
Thank you for your constant good pr!
Dear Yeka staff, keep up your great spirit in continuing this very important despite overwhelming shlichus!! Kol hakavod to each of you for giving so much of your time and effort to fundraise (beg), plan, and make camp happen this summer for these kids who are hoping it will. With the kochus from the Rebbe behind you and the $$ of Anash and kind-hearted others iy”H you will succeed – hopefully in yerushalaim!!
I am very emotional reading this beautiful article.
This is what I call real beauty.
i’m definetally going to help out
Noch in the midst of war…..
U guys are beast!
Because Hashem wanted you to have the opportunity to do a mitzvah. It would be easy for them, but its not as glamorous as building a huge multi million $$ campus, etc. This is the kind of tzedaka that effects people’s lives and the future of these children. The Rebbe often spoke about the importance of Jewish camps for the non-affiliated (see current N’shei Chabad Newsletter). This camp is financed by people like me and you – with all the small donations adding up.
Thank you COL for posting this article and helping these boys do their shlichus.
Wow! What I like most about this camp is that I know all my money is going straight to the cause. The staff take no salary even though they are offered big bucks by the American camps.
Thats the ikur!
Without him – it all would never happen
I’m going to make sure to support the cause
We are honored to be a part of this amazing cause. You boys are so devoted to doing the Rebbe’s shlichus – with nothing in it for you. It is so impressive that you give up months of your spare time before camp to plan, fundraise, and organize in order to give these needy children the time of their life while infusing them with Yiddishkeit. Unlike many Chabad houses (that also do great work) you aren’t left with the real-estate of your building, mosod, etc, and don’t have continuing balabatim that support you and honor you. Kol Hakovod! Keep up… Read more »
KUDOS to Shneur Chein
A shtarke Chossid!
Love you bro!
SHE’S GONNA BE THE BEST COUNSELOR!!!
DONATE TO HER CAMPAIGN HERE yeka,rallybound.com/mirel
i just donated to this wonderful cause and i think its the responsibility of every lubavitcher to donate to this cause
#pikuachnefesh
Go Leah Groner best dorm counselor in the world and head counselor!!!!!!!!!!
BEST PERSON EVER!!
Hey Menachem, totally devoted to Yeka! Always bringing a smile to the Yeka children.
Best HC out there
You keep this Yeka place going like no one else
Hatzlacha
Year after year…
A real inspiration
I’m going to make sure to support the cause
My son was there for a few years. The stories he told me about these boys were heartbreaking, but the success they had in giving them a life was amazing. We even had some of them stay for Yomim Noraim. I will be happy to send a donation & I urge EVERYONE to donate – even $18. You have no idea the impact this camp makes on these kids’ lives. Kol Hakovod, Hatzlacha to both divisions.
The Golombs!
Keep it up chaimel The work you do is unbelievable.
Hatzlacha rabba.
Much love from Alpharetta :)!!
By donating it’ll be the best summer ever!!!!!!!!
Best HC in the world!
Waiting for u @ Camp Emuna
Literally saving Lubavitch!!
Rock on!
Go yekagirls!!!!!!!!!!!!