Over a thousand people gathered at the Hilton New York in Midtown Manhattan on Sunday June 5th for Agudath Israel of America's 94th annual dinner, in tribute to Camp Agudah in honor of the camp's 75th anniversary.
Former campers and staff members reminisced freely about their camp experiences as well as the profound influence that Camp Agudah has had, and continues to have, on their lives. A major focus of the program was the historic role Camp Agudah has played in the development of the Torah community in the United States.
Camp Agudah itself was the recipient of Agudath Israel's Rabbi Moshe Sherer Memorial Award, with long time camp director Meir Frischman, who will be retiring after 40 years in his post, accepting the award on behalf of the camp.
Agudah executive vice president Rabbi Chaim Dovid Zwiebel, who presented the awards for the evening, noted that Rabbi Moshe Sherer had a special place in his heart for Meir Frischman, knowing that he could trust him to run all of the Agudah camps with precision and perfection. Clearly moved, Reb Meir noted that Rabbi Sherer had taught him to give his all in every endeavor. Reb Meir also gave special recognition to the camp's long time head counselor Rabbi Simcha Kaufman.
The Reb Elimelech Tress Memorial Award was presented to the Tress family. Rabbi Zwiebel noted that while Mr. Tress was instrumental in saving European Jews from the horrors of the Nazi era, he was also simultaneously laying the groundwork for a Torah community in the United States, which included the creation of the Agudah camps.
The Rav Aharon Kotler Memorial Award was presented to the family of Rabbi Syshe Heschel z'l, who spent many years as camp's head counselor and program director. Rabbi Heschel was remembered by Rabbi Zwiebel as a "Chasidishe Rebbe without portfolio," recalling his "radiant smile and bren" that inspired generations of Camp Agudah campers.
The Moreinu Yaakov Rosenheim Memorial Award was presented to the family of Rabbi Boruch B. Borchardt z'l, another much loved figure who was part of Camp Agudah from the early years.
Thirteen outstanding individuals were honored as representatives of the many decades of Camp Agudah, going as far back as its debut year, 1942, including the Young family in memory of Charlie Young z'l, Charlie Grandovsky, Joseph Helmreich, Yanky Adler in memory of Emil Adler z'l, Chaim Wielgus, Benny Wielgus, Yaakov Bojman, Eli Neiman, Yitzy Bald, Yoily Edelstein, Shimie Lax, Shloime Leshkowitz, Alty Pearl and Zevy Seidenfeld. Each of the decade representatives was honored with a unique glass trophy, presented by current Camp Agudah campers, Meir and Yitzy Richman.
Additionally, Rabbi Yonah Feinstein, retiring as director of special projects, was honored for over 20 years of dedicated service to the Agudah.
Among those in attendance for the evening were respected rabbonim, Agudah members, askonim, elected officials, former campers and other Agudah supporters. The magnificent harmonies of the Mezamrim choir drew guests into the ballroom where they eagerly sat down to peruse the dinner journal as well as a short excerpt from the book They Called Him Mike, detailing Mike Tress's involvement with Camp Agudah.
The Novominsker Rebbe, Reb Yaakov Perlow shlita, Rosh Agudas Yisroel, shared his own memories of Camp Agudah, noting that the camp experience is life changing and that he still sings the zemiros that he learned in camp decades ago. Rabbi Perlow lauded Rabbi Sherer as a visionary and praised Rabbi Yisroel Belsky z'l for his role in strengthening Camp Agudah as a true mokom Torah. Describing "geshmak" as the foundation of Yiddishkeit, the Rebbe warned of the dangers that lurk, both from technology and those who seek to undermine the very essence of a Torah lifestyle, saying that only by incorporating simcha into our everyday lives and our limud Torah will we be able to counter the many negative influences that threaten our homes and our families.
Rabbi A.D. Motzen, national director of state relations for Agudath Israel, spoke briefly. A short video, "Agudath Israel Across America," showed Agudah representatives lobbying government officials at all levels.
Rabbi Abba Cohen, Agudath Israel's vice president for federal government affairs in Washington D.C., introduced Senator Charles Schumer who spoke briefly but passionately about the anti-Israel BDS movement, stressing the importance of recognizing the movement as an expression of anti-Semitism. On a similar note, Rabbi Chaim Dovid Zwiebel praised New York Governor Andrew Cuomo for having issued an executive order earlier in the day stating that New York will not do any business with any company that boycotts Israel.
Dinner chairman Shrage Goldschmidt gave a heartwarming overview of the 75 years of Camp Agudah, singling out Rabbi Belsky for the many roles he played in camp and expressing profound gratitude to both Meir Frischman and Rabbi Simcha Kaufman for their endless contributions to camp.
The special video about Camp Agudah may be seen here .
"It is very important that all the elected officials, city and state-wide, get to see that we really have a constituency," observed Leon Goldenberg, a member of the Agudah's board of trustees. "When we call on them and we meet with them, they think we are just a small group, but coming to the dinner they realize that we represent thousands and thousands of people."
"The challenges and the obstacles that we have today living in America as Jews are deeply disturbing," added Chaskel Bennett, a member of the Agudah's board of trustees. "Many things that we take for granted have come under attack and Klal Yisroel needs a strong Agudas Yisroel more than ever to counteract those attacks and to present an articulate vision and voice of who we are and what the Orthodox Jewish community stands for."
