As parents know, children grow in the summer. They may well be growing in small increments all year long, but somehow, under the summer sun, they tend to shoot up noticeably, in tandem with the grass and flowers.

At Oorah’s GirlZone and BoyZone summer camps, the kind of growth children experienced was measurable not just in inches, but in important, meaningful spiritual strides. Taking each child “as is” and nurturing his or her growth was the entire agenda of this summer program, although that agenda was well embedded in a non-stop schedule of sports, outings and activities.

This was GirlZone’s third season and BoyZone’s premier. For both camps, this summer was the first at a beautiful new facility in Gilboa, New York, high in the Catskills on a former family resort. Away from the city, amid rolling hills and lush farmland, the children and counselors had the perfect environment in which to climb together toward higher heights.

Camp, of course, doesn’t exist in a vacuum. The changes it wrought were in many cases quietly developing for Oorah’s children during the school year, during which they were sponsored and guided by Oorah every step of the way, But when these children are given a totally kosher environment, a real Shabbos, meaningful davening, close mentoring and constant inspiration, consistently for an entire month, the dormant seeds of love for Torah and mitzvos finally have their chance to blossom fully.

We feel privileged to have succeeded in creating an environment that influenced so many children in a positive direction. We are pleased to share these stories with you, our supporters, for our success is your success, and our nachas is yours.

One Boy Keeps One Shabbos

If there’s a newspaper in Shomayim, this was the big, bold headline of the day as the last BoyZone Shabbos came to its conclusion. Like many Oorah campers, this boy came from a non-Shomer Shabbos home, even though he attends yeshiva and knows the basics of what Shabbos observance requires. It just always seemed beyond him. It was too difficult, too confining, and certainly out of step with the Saturday activities of his family and friends.

At BoyZone, the atmosphere was saturated with Shabbos spirit. The schedule was a Shabbos schedule, with davening, meals, singing and relaxation – plus a little one-on-one Torah learning geared to the campers’ individual levels. This boy enjoyed the experience, but he would not give into it entirely. He would not relinquish his last hold on his secular idea of “the weekend.” In his small ways, even at camp, he violated the laws that preserve the integrity of Shabbos.

But on that last Shabbos, this boy came to his counselor, Elimelech Kleinman, and revealed his fabulous accomplishment. That day, he said, for the first time in his life, he was keeping Shabbos completely. And he loved it, and he didn’t find it difficult, and he wanted to continue keeping Shabbos when he got home.

His counselor realized that in this boy’s life, this was a momentous achievement. He quickly informed Rav Chaim Mintz, who was present for this last BoyZone Shabbos, of the situation. A short while later, the camp gathered for Havdalah. But before the blessings were recited, Rav Chaim pounded the table for attention and made an announcement: One boy had kept one Shabbos, this one time, and he has announced his intention to continue keeping Shabbos.

The room erupted into applause. The campers broke out singing and dancing. As the noise of celebration shook the room, the boy himself could have had no doubt that his one carefully observed Shabbos was shaking the Heavens, as well.

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