Teen campers from Camp Nageela visited the Woodbourne shul and met the Nikolsburg rebbe.

By Rabbi David Shenker, Director, JEP-LI and Camp Nageela

Going “up” to the mountains has taken on new meaning in the Fallsburg/Woodbourne region these days. Many people have an “aliyah” in their ruchniyus during the summer. The open spaces and fresh air opens people’s minds to get closer to Hashem.

This past Thursday night, two shining examples of this phenomenon came together in Woodbourne. The teen campers of JEP’s Camp Nageela, a camp in Fallsburg for boys from non-observant backgrounds, staffed by bnei yeshiva, went into Woodbourne and visited the Woodbourne shul. The shul is a place where all types of Jews are welcomed warmly by the Nikolsburg rebbe. The rebbe welcomed the boys and danced with them outside the shul.

The boys were amazed at the hundreds of people coming to daven and by the hospitality of the rebbe. One boy was debating whether to enter the shul or not. He wanted to get some of the refreshments given out in the shul, but was hesitant about going into the crowd of daveners. Finally, the food won out and he quickly entered to get some food. As he snatched the food and turned to run out, he bumped right into the rebbe, who gave him a warm embrace. The boy was beaming, and planted in his heart was the knowledge that Jews of all types love each other.

The Camp Nageela boys went back to camp that night knowing that their struggles to discover Judaism are respected by those to whom Jewish observance is second nature.

For more information and to support JEP/Nageela’s efforts, contact Jennifer S. Zwiebel at 516-374-1528, ext. 240, or jenz@jepli.org. Visit jepli.org, campnageela.org, and jepli.org/donate

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