6

WEEK

26 AV 5773 PARSHAS REEH

AchdusTimes

The James Kethen Report

Philadelphia Day Camp Named Nations 2nd Best
B I N Y O MIN R O S S K A MM, S p e c i al T i me s A n al ys t

ames Kethen, reporter and analyst of the Chicago Post, in his essay on youth summer education and activity, compiled a list of the nations top one hundred summer institutions for children. The evaluation was based on many factors, including: education, amusement, trips, athletics, culinary arts, aquatics, arts and crafts, eco-friendliness, sanitation, level of air pollution, and ruach. The ten highest rated institutions were: 10) Camp Rayim in Parksville, New York 9) Hallsted Summer School in Bangor, Maine 8) Yum-Yum-ABC123 daycare in Ralinn, Kentucky 7) Camp Bonim in Waymart, Pennsylvania 6) Dunwoody Summer Flying School in Dunwoody, Texas 5) Mohammed Youth Group in Kingstown, Louisiana 4) Ring Island Day Camp in Ring Island, Hawaii 3) Spring Lake Juvenile Correctional Center in Spring Lake, Utah 2) Camp Achdus in Elkins Park, Pennsylvania 1) Coalition of Young Men Summer Entertainment in Altuna, New Mexico. Yes, you heard right, your beloved Camp Achdus was named second
(Continued on page 3)

HURRY! YEARBOOK DEADLINE THIS SUNDAY!

1 WEEK IN REVIEW 1 THE KETHEN REPORT 2 STAYING HYDRATED 4 LEARNING LEADERS 5 GIBORIM OF THE WEEK 6 THIS WEEK IN THE ARTS 6 UPCOMING EVENTS

Week in Review
R A B B I A K IV A P O L LA C K

SP E CIAL F E ATU RE S Get Your Achdus Kipa! page 3

VIEW CURRENT AND PAST ISSUES AT CAMPACHDUS.COM.

stein, imported all the way from the other side of the Continent, was served. Yes, oyalty has come Prince William and Printo Camp Achdus! cess Kate, The Duke and The happy couple Duchess of Cambridge, who recently shared very brought their new baby happy news with the world George Alexander Louis for a graced Camp Achdus with visit. Unfortunately, due to their presence! They came the sheva brachos of Zevi from a foreign country and Rivka Carlebach, nowhere English is spoken but body noticed the Prince and with a different accent. They Princess. Oh well, maybe were ushered into the camp next time. with music and dancing. A In other news, Camp gourmet meal of pickled (deli)cacies, prepared by our Achdus continued as usual camp matriarch and chef (Continued on page 2) Rebbetzin Chana GoldMonday

Masmid of the Week: Hillel Friedman page 4 Guest Speaker: Rabbi Y. M. Rowner page 2

Staying Hydrated
R A B B I ZE C H A R Y A MIC H E LS OH N

Week in Review (Continued from Page 1)

with Davening, Learning, Sports and Games. Mr. Somers taught the children how to play the game of Soccer and Mrs. D. Lipsky taught the children how to make Happy Smiley Faces. Each kid made one; now bunk Aleph has double the kids. They Yungere division of Achdus had a regular, exciting day, swimming at the Y or playing at the park. The Older division, in a mature, yet pleasurable, way, prepared for a fun-filled trip to Camelbeach Waterpark! Woohoo! Now, when Camp Achdus goes on a trip, they GO ON A TRIP! A three hour water park visit turned into an overnight adventure. Boys from bunks Vuv and Suf shopped for days buying tents, insect repellent, water shoes, Alligators, and so on and so forth. Brandon Outlaw, our resident driver, commandeered a Maytav bus and captained our ragtag group as we journeyed to the beautiful Pocono Mountains. Rabbi Akiva (thats me) also came along in his Jacket, tie and hat (Play Ball). After a three hour tour (A three hour tour) we finally arrived at Tobyhanna State Park. This was a boys trip, of course, so Toby and Hannah went to a different park for the night. Now it was called TuviaGoldstein State Park. (Hey, not evepromptly went to sleep. It is possible that a few boys stayed up in order to guard the Camp site from bears but absolutely no one told scary stories, sang Kumzitz songs or made Smores and roasted Sweet Potatoes. A spery joke can be funny). Af- cial thank you goes out to ter building the tents, col- Itzik Bass for collecting lecting firewood, and about two tons of Firemaking a massive barbe- wood. Another special cue, we changed into our thanks to Andrew Brenswimsuits and made our ner and Simcha Press way to Camelbeach. Hun- who made a siyum and dreds of other campers provided the Smores for were there from many the Kehilah. other camps but no one Tuesday came close to the great middos of Camp Achdus Well, early the next campers! The water was morning, we made our absolutely freezing but way back to the holy land the warmth of Jewish chil- of Philadelphia and somedren enjoying their Sum- how made it through the mers heated everything day without falling asleep! up! There were massive A.D. actually helped by slides, massive slides and leading a really cool A.D. even a few massive slides. time! Erstwhile, the Junior division of the greatest camp in the world, Camp Achdus, went to Bounce University where they learned all of the rudimentary science behind Newtons 3rd law. Every action has an equal and opposite reaction. Due to the sophistication of the lessons, the boys were actually able to physically demonstrate their ex(Continued on page 3)

hat a busy week this has been! Right off the bat, we had a fantastic Sheva Brachos for Rabbi & Mrs. Zevi Carlebach. Without a moment to spare, the older bunks left for their Grand Trip in the Poconos, and, by the time they came back on Tuesday, the rest of camp had already left for their exciting trip at Bounce-U. Wedneday, Thursday, and Friday were jam-packed with activities because of an unexpected[?] S&S breakout on Wednesday. Now, about to go into Shabbos, we can finally catch our collective breath, for at least enough time to thank our devoted head staff for all the work they have invested into producing a great program! There is a critical question that must be asked. What, after so much fun and excitement, do we have to show for all our time? Are we to depart from such a week emptyhanded? Did we experience no growth for a week? Baruch Hashem, here, in Camp Achdus, the answer is a loud and resounding, no! Our magnificent Bais Medrash was as vibrant as always. Even on Monday, when many were giddy with anticipation for the big trip, the Kol Torah was strong and full of life! You have doubts, do you not? Thanks to our GPS point system, we have the numbers to back us up. This week alone, campers in Vuv and Suf accumulated 1,947 points for four days of learning (we missed Tuesday because of the trip), compared with last weeks 2,035 points in five days! (For those of you who are keeping track, that is, on average, 79 more points per day!) Kol hakavod to the outstanding campers, counselors, and rebbeim for their beautiful hasmada. This weeks Friday speaker was the renowned orator Rabbi Yisroel Meir Rowner, son-in-law of our beloved Rabbi Nulman. His highly captivating shmuez emphasized that the Torah does not take an all-ornothing attitude, and how we must make small changes in our lives by setting small goals, and seeing ourselves succeed in attaining them, step by step.

Oh, and a wave pool. It was really great. At 11:45 pm we finally made our ways back to TuviaGoldstein State Park and

Week in Review (Continued from Page 2)

theres smoke theres fire. Mordechai Phelps is actually telling people NOT to come into the kitchen for once. Rabbi Akiva starts yelling! Who went into the kitchen without permission?! Everyone to field number 2! Far from the fire and close to safety! Whats this? Eitan Goldman is admitting to starting the fire. Cars are honking and playing loud music. What songs are they playing? Songs and Skits! Matanos Yichyeh. This day is S&S! Wow, what a breakout!! about to take on a life of its Everyone was fooled, espeown. cially Yaakov Horwitz. Off to lunch, except for Rabbi Akiva The camp lines up for Canwho is taped to the wall by teen but something is wrong. Binyomin Rosskamm (yes, Smoke is billowing out of the that Binyomin Rosskamm). kitchen door. And you know (Continued on page 4) what they say where

Yarmulka
This super-cool yarmulka was designed by Rabbi Yaakov Abraham. All the head staff, and many others, are already wearing them! To order yours, email yca1112@gmail.com. Camp Achdus Yarmulka: $10 With name: $11

panded knowledge of the science and bounced their way to the moon. They used an instrument called a moonbounce in order to perform this scientific experiment. Yishai Yemini climbed up one of the biggest air slides in the world and Chaim Leib Miller bounced a massive basket ball! Yaakov Moshe Goldstein took a spin in the hurricane machine and ended up in Kansas. Dave Lubell and Binyomin Rosskamm (Yes, that Binyomin Rosskamm,) had a boxing match with the biggest boxing gloves you have ever seen! Wow, that must hurt. It was a really exciting trip. Lets just hope the kids dont continue their experiments on the walls of Kol Ami. That would be an experiment in anger management. Wednesday The day seems to start off pretty normally but as Aesop said, Dont count your chickens before they hatch. Especially Yeshivishe chickens. Or as Eusebius Jerome said, Dont look a gift horse in the mouth. Soineh

James Kethen Report (continued from sidebar on Page 1)

best, of the nations summer institutions! Immediately following the release of Kethens essay, an investigation was launched to determine Achduss secret for near perfection, as well as to uncovering their preventative from possessing first place. In a press report following a lengthy investigation, Albert Hannly, spokesman for the investigation team explained: Among its numerous advantages, Camp Achdus boasts the healthiest canteen in the continent, offering calorie free water, in addition to a strictly enforced prohibition on any substance containing even the minutest amount of food coloring. Additionally, in response to the international fear of the imminent global warming, and climate change crisis, Camp Achdus joined the worlds united effort to reduce the emission of greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere with their persistence in under booking the necessary buses for efficient transportation. With regard to the failure from achieving first been reported, a regulation sized grave was discovered right in front of the buildings main entrance.

A dinner was held in honor of the camps accomplishments at the Ritz-Carlton in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Rabbi Tuvia Goldstein, executive director, and sporadic visitor at camp Achdus, affirmed the dinners audience that the camps board of directors have already commenced the necessary procedures to rectify the camps deficiencies. In an interview Goldstien proclaimed that this is just a baby step in the camps battle for international fame. Goldsteins closed the place, Hannly concluded, The interview by declaring, Today, camps facility lacked efficient the Chicago Post, tomorrow, the functioning facilities, furtherworld. more a safety hazard recently has 3

Yearbook
The deadline for this years Camp Achdus yearbook is Sunday! Campers, counselors, and all others are welcome to submit. Please send articles to zecharya@campachdus.com.
GEMARA POINTS SYSTEM

Week in Review (Continued from Page 3)

His crime? Hogging the mike from Binyomin Rosskamm (yes, that one). Lunch is short so that the bunks can learn their bunk songs. And so they do! Each bunk performs their songs against the backdrop of the Kfiratorium doors. One is funnier than the next. The raw talent of our precious staff and campers is overflowing like a shaken up Coke can. Which are actually not allowed in Camp, but thats another story for another time. Swim and Park follow. Yada yada yada. Who cares? Lets see those skits and dances already! Thursday Shalom Aleichem Malachei Hashareis! Welcome Angelic children of Camp Achdus for another funfilled day of beautiful sunny skies! Just because it is pouring does not mean that the sun is not shining above the clouds. If all the raindrops were lemondrops and gumdrops, oh the dances, songs and skits their counselors prepared for them last night. I, as head counselor, personally witnessed Andrew Brenner and Zach Greenberg dancing their hearts out the night before. With a little encouragement from Mordechai and Ariel Beniflah they didnt stop practicing! What Mesiras Nefesh for the Klal! what a day this would be. Swimming worked out Id stand outside with my great (It was the bussing mouth open wide Ah Ah ah that was the issue.) Oh, we ah aha aha ah aha cant wait until tomorrow ah. (Barney the Purple when we finally perform! Dinosaur). Friday Rabbi Akiva is not here Summers with Somagain! Hes fired! Yehuda, mers, Skits, Dance, Songs, take over! Hey wheres Zecharya working on this Yehuda? Oh hes also taking off? Pink eye my foot, I very newsletter. Oh, who shall be the winner? Stay mean my eye! Oh well, I guess the new head coun- tuned for next weeks issue selor is Benjy! Yeah!!! Free even though we never talk about last weeks Friday in meatballs for everyone in camp! The campers imme- next weeks issue. diately begin to slave over Have a great Shabbos!

Most Points Week 6

Hillel Friedman (492)

Current High Scores

1) Shloimy Ribiat
889 POINTS

2) Hillel Friedman
657 POINTS

3) Eliyahu Bucholtz
460 POINTS

4) Aharon Nulman
427 POINTS

5) Yisrael Arbiv
216 POINTS

Kashrus Policy
By following the link below, please find collections of kosher supervision organizations accepted in camp. http://www.crcweb.org/agency_list.php Please note that foods with kosher supervision provided by the Triangle-K may not be brought to camp. 4

The Completed Chart!

Simcha Kaplun helped to set up shul kiddush on shabbos and made telephone bikur cholim visits to his grandfather!

Mrs. Raizy Kaplun

Boruch Bass went inside to A&C immediately upon being asked to. Yaakov Glatt went inside to A&C immediately upon being asked to. Yosef Chaim Goldstein stayed inside the crosswalk the entire time while crossing the street. Mordechai Mosheyev followed all the rules at the creek.

Levi Goldman
Chezky Levitt gave his own dollar to a man who came to the house asking for tzedaka!

Chezkys Abba
The following boys davened extra beautifully on Wednesday: Simcha Kaplan, Chaim Leib Miller, Gershy Schwartz, Emanuel Gola, Benny Bell, Meir Ellman, Moshe Jacobs, Nosson Kay.

cho before eating his sandwich. But, when he was reminded, he stopped eating right away, washed, and made a brocho! Yossi Rosner bentched very, very well, nicely, beautifully, quite superbly indeed, wow, and Im getting carried away now... Chaim Shvartz got paper towels to wipe up the spill in the bunk room! After many strenuous minutes of trying to pick a song for the dance for Bunk Ches, the Bunk Ches Counselors had kimat decided to use Mendy Music. But, after a head staff member referred to this choice as a cop-out, kindly asked the counselors to work a little harder, and falsely accused a certain staff member of tzidkus (righteousness) and anivus (humility), all the Bunk Ches counselors rallied together and constructed a dance which, beezras Hashem, will give pleasure to and excite the aforementioned head staff member! Chaim Leib played a game and included others who he preferred not to include!

RABBI GEDALIA GOLDSTEIN Reprinted from the July 26 edition of the Achdus Times.

A. Logue
Daniel Itzhakov volunteered to switch seats in order to avoid dispute.

Yehuda Tenenbaum
Bunk Ches Kuttun davened marvelously on Wednesday!

B Rosskamm
Yaakov Glatt and Boruch Bass went inside to A&C immediately upon being asked to! Mordechai Mosheyev followed all the rules at the creek! Yosef Chaim Goldstein stayed inside the crosswalk the entire time while crossing the street!

Binyomin Rosskamm
Chaim Leib was responsible with mommys keys and remembered to lock all the doors that he opened! Chaim Leib was extra kind and patient with his younger brothers! Yona Tzvi did not share a very special secret surprise with his siblings even though he is so excited about it!

L. Goldman
Yaakov Horwitz heard Rabbi Goldstein asking, Who wants to do a mitzvah? and ran to offer his help! Yaakov Horwitz saw Rabbi Goldstein picking trash up off the floor and ran to help! Chanoch Ganz saw Rabbi Goldstein carrying siddurim and helped by taking the siddurim! Tzvi Ganz listened to counselor when told to listen to hockey rules! Yaakov Moshe Goldstein Went to check on another boy who fell while roller skating! Reuven Rudin chose the non-caffeinated soda so that he wouldnt get too jumpy! Aaron Badush cleaned the bus after a trip! Yehuda Tenenbaum heard that one of the toilets had been stuffed with toilet paper and immediately rolled up his sleeves and went to save the day! Josh Gordon returned a pen that he borrowed from me!

Mrs. Miller
Yaakov listened to his counselor when he was told to go back inside! Efraim ate his breakfast so well even though he didnt really want to!

Mrs. Glatt
When Bunk Ches Kuttun returned from Bounce U, they cleaned their bunk room until it was spotless even though they were thoroughly tired! Yossi Rosner bentched very, very well, nicely, beautifully, quite superbly indeed, wow, and Im getting carried away now... Yona Tzvi Miller apologized even though it was very difficult for him! Yona Tzvi told a teammate, Good job! when he got out! Daniel, at first, forgot to wash and make a bro-

Rabbi Goldstein

unch had just ended and we were about to bentch. All proceeded customarily until, suddenly, Rabbi Goldstein walked purposefully into the room, Dovi Goldman following excitedly at his side. Rabbi Goldstein whispered something into Rabbi Pollacks ear and, in a moment, Rabbi Pollack understood exactly what to do. After many weeks of hard work, Rabbi Pollack announced, a boy has completed his Gevurah Chart! Cheers erupted from all corners of the room and, without delay, little Dovi Goldman, seated on a chair, was lifted into the air, high above his friends. Jubilant song spread throughout the room as Dovis proud counselors and friends sang Yamim al yimei Melech tosif, a song whose lyrics beckon Hashem to grant extended life and vibrancy to those who fulfill His will so dutifully. Since that day, Achdus campers of all ages walk the hallways and strut the fields with an ideal on their minds: to use our gevurah to vanquish the evil inclination that seeks to destroy us. To remain calm and confident in the face of adversity, to be more kind, compassionate, and caring for our friends, to show greater respect and, thereby, to be more worthy of respect - all of these are our goals, all of these are our achievements. All of these are the life of a devoted Camp Achdus Gibor!

Giborim of the Week (Continued from Page 5)

Itzik Bass collected tons of wood for the bonfire on the Camelbeach trip! Shloimy and Yehoshua have been great helping out around the house and getting ready for the new baby. They came to the hospital to visit and were so quiet and polite that all the nurses were talking about them. What a kiddush Hashem!

Upcoming Events
MONDAY Sports, A&C, Swimming. Vuv and Suf are going camping and boating at French Creek State Park! Leaving camp: at 2 pm (Monday) Returning to camp at about 2 pm (Tuesday) Camp will provide: BBQ Supper (Monday) and Breakfast and Lunch (Tuesday) You will need: Sleeping bag, pillow, pajamas, change of clothing, toothbrush/toothpaste/floss, siddur/tefillin, flash light, large water bottle, extra snack, swimsuit, towel, water shoes, bug repellant, sun block (for boating on Tuesday morning). Campers may not bring electronic devices on this trip or they will be confiscated. Cell phones can be deposited with a counselor. TUESDAY A&C, Swimming WEDNESDAY Sports, A&C, Swimming, Bunk Alef and Ches "Camping" Trip - wear pajamas; eat smores! THURSDAY A&C, Swimming FRIDAY Extreme Nature Hike with Mr. Pechter! You will need a t-shirt, baseball hat, old sneakers (that can get very wet) and shorts.

Rabbi Pollack
Moshe Badush was very helpful when his little brother needed his help!

Morah Chani Goldstein

Yaakov Horwitz offered to take responsibility for another boy who could only come on the Camelbeach trip with a helper.

A Proud New Mommy

Reuven Rudin and Noam Gold cleaned up the bunks mess in the bunkroom!

Yoisef Kahn
Yoni Galen was eating a chocolate graham cracker in front of another boy, the other boy wanted one, so he brought one in for that boy the next day!

Y. Tenenbaum
Eli Bell gave his balloon to his brother, Yaakov! Yaakov Bell hugged his little sister when she was crying!

Rabbi Goldstein

Mrs. Bell
MR S . D OR IS L IP S K Y

This Week in the Arts

Bunks Alef & Ches Kattan

here are so many ways to paint a picture, you can use a brush, a sponge, your fingers and even a straw. A straw???? How do you paint with a straw? You mean you use the straw like a brush? NO, we use the straw to blow the paint on the paper. We started with just 4 colors. blue, red, yellow and green. We placed drops of color

on our papers and blew the paint so that the colors all mixed. It was fun watching the paint move on the paper. What beautiful abstract paintings! Bunk Ches Gadol This week the boys made a fun project with Perler beads (did you know that perler is the Danish word for beads?). There were stars, flowers, circles, and even some animals. Some of the boys took their time to really make an intricate pattern. In fact there were a few boys that did not want to leave Arts & Crafts! After designing their projects they had to carefully walk over to the ironing board to get them fused. Unfortunately, some of the beads did fall off and they had to be reset. The end result was worth it!