When June rolls around in Israel, teachers, school counselors
and newspaper editorialists in the religious community begin
lamenting that the upcoming ten week summer vacation is a
recipe for trouble. They warn parents to guard their children
from the "street" and that a few weeks of boredom in the
summer can undo the educational impact of an entire year.
This concern is not exaggerated. Lev L'achim which runs the
Lev Shomea trouble hotline reports that about 50 girls leave
the derech every year, with dozens more suffering
scars on their soul deriving from detrimental summer
influences. The direct cause of this is the two-month summer
vacation which is long on boredom and short on supervised and
enjoyable activities. The problem is especially acute in the
sensitive early teen years when students are in the 9th-10th
grades.
For many years, yeshivas arranged week-long overnight camps
for their students during their much shorter (three-week)
bein hazmanim, to provide them with a supervised,
interesting program of study, sports, lectures and
activities.
In contrast, girls' high schools only offered a 4-day
overnight camp sometime during the month of July, leaving the
remaining 9 weeks open. Principals were aware that the lack
of activity left their students exposed to negative
influences, but they had no solution.
Some girls keep themselves busy in the summer by helping
their mother with the younger children and visiting
relatives. Today, however, the temptations are overpowering
and too easily accessible. Parents are often unaware of the
ease with which their daughters can surf on a friend's
computer or just take a bus downtown. Educators say that all
girls are in danger, including the best.
The problematic situation is compounded because people have
no money to spend on extras. Even a simple summer course of
six lessons costs hundreds of shekels which many parents
simply cannot afford.
Mr. Yaakov Melohn from New York was shocked when he heard
about the situation in Israel. "I asked friends in Israel why
they didn't send their children to camps for summer vacation
as we do in the U.S. I couldn't believe that they didn't even
exist," he explained. Mr. Melohn discovered that the reason
was primarily money: most parents could not afford to pay
thousands of shekels for summer fun for their children.
Mr. Melohn contacted askonim in Israel and immediately
traveled to Israel to promote a summer camp program. He met
with HaRav Michel Yehuda Lefkowitz, and received his approval
for the program and a letter of recommendation.
After intense deliberations with askonim and school
principals, Mr. Melohn offered to subsidize a trial six-week
camp program for three leading religious girls high schools:
Darkei Rochel (Rav Mendelson's "Snif") and Merkaz Bais Yaakov
(Rav Leiberman's "Chodosh") in Jerusalem, and Rav Wolf's high
school in Bnei Brak. It was assumed that 300 girls from each
high school's 1,000 girl student body would want to join the
program. To everyone's amazement, instead of the expected 900
girls, almost the entire 3,000 wanted to join.
The full program features water parks, trips to the north of
the country, swimming with aerobic exercises, workshops,
famous guest lecturers, historical tours and video
presentations. The program is generally held in the afternoon
and includes days off after long trips, Fridays and fast
days.
With the first part of the program behind them, the camp
organizers feel it was a resounding success.
Mrs. Tamar Bornstein, the coordinator for the Merkaz Bais
Yaakov summer camp program, says that the response of the
girls to the camp was overwhelming.
"We planned the program for 300 girls, expecting that they
would drop in and out at their convenience. Instead, everyone
came full time. No one wanted to miss a single day of the
program," she says. "We scheduled only one event for the
morning and received a barrage of protests from both girls
and mothers. `Why should we have to miss this program?'
everyone complained. I hear from parents that their daughters
come home and tell them they never had such fun. Girls have
told me themselves, `This year we hit the jackpot!'"
The first 2 weeks included 6 classes of sewing lessons
(Beginners, Intermediate and Advanced), making petit fours,
setting up a buffet, first aid, computers, computerized
graphics, exercise and nutrition and photography.
The roster of popular guests speakers included Rav Menachem
Stein, Rav Immanuel Tehillah, Rav Moshe Einhorn, and Rav
Boruch Greineman. One woman lecturer spoke about keeping
mitzvos with mesirus nefesh in Holland during WWII.
Other popular women lecturers who are difficult to get during
the year also featured in the program. The lectures were as
popular as the workshops and trips.
Other exciting activities included a panel discussion, video
screenings, a satire, a drama on Hilchos Shemiras
Haloshon, a video show on Kibbud Av Vo'eim, and a
historical hike on Mt. Zion.
"The girls received this incredible program for a minimal
participation fee of 100 NIS. There is no way we could have
done it without Mr. Melohn's help," says Mrs. Bornstein. "I
constantly heard positive feedback from mothers. They all
feel that their daughters received something very special
from the summer program. We didn't even dream it would be
that successful."
A vital ingredient in the program's success is the fact that
it was organized by the girls' own schools. Parents are
understandably reluctant to entrust their daughters to a
summer program organized by anonymous individuals, but had
full trust in the school's staff. Because of that, all the
parents were eager for their daughters to join.
A significant benefit of the program was that the school was
able to give the girls enrichment on subjects rarely touched
during the school year, such as an in-depth understanding of
the Three Weeks. This period is usually bypassed because
school is out in the summer. The camp featured a special four-
hour program which included a lecture on the Churban, a video
on the Holocaust, and a related activity. The school rented
the large Aperion hall so that graduates could attend this
special program in addition to the campers.
The summer camp's program has generated unexpected problems.
Other girls' schools who heard about the program in the
Merkaz Bais Yaakov and Darkei Rochel and made a flurry of
phone calls to ask why their schools were not included.
An unexpected spin-off of this year's summer program is a
decision by participating principals to give more vacation
time to the girls throughout the year while reducing the long
break in the summer.
Unfortunately, thousands of religious girls throughout Israel
still have no camp to go to and are at risk of spiritual
decline. It's extremely necessary to provide camp for these
girls.
Mr. Melohn's representatives are already working to expand
the summer camp program to more religious girls high schools
in Israel, contingent on the public's support. While the
format of the future summer camp may vary according to need,
the goal remains the same as this year -- quality and
enjoyable time spent in a kosher environment.
The camp's organizers say that the real cost of the 6 week
summer camp per girl is $300 (a small fraction of what camp
costs in the U.S.). $300 is all it takes to ensure that a
girl has a healthy, positive experience in the summer.
The U.S. organizers of the camp are seeking sponsors to fund
the costs of the camp next year. When you pay for your own
child in camp, ensure that a deserving Israeli girl can also
enjoy this wonderful experience. Those interested in taking
part in this heralded project should contact: Rabbi D.
Weinberger of Cong. Shaaray Tefila, Tel: 516-239-2444 Ext
103, Fax: 516-239-2199, or write: rabbi@shaaray-
tefilah.org
