This summer, Project Mesorah, the organization responsible for furthering Holocaust education in Yeshivos and Bais Yaakov schools, is expanding its repertoire of educational activities by introducing the “Mesorah Trip to Poland”, led by world renowned lecturer and author Rabbi Paysach J. Krohn.
The inaugural trip will be joined by Yerushalayim based camp, Camp Emes. Camp Emes is a 6 week summer program for Yeshiva Bocherim ages 13-18.
The tour aims to give today’s American Yeshiva Bocher an appreciation of the richness and vibrancy of Jewish life in pre-war Europe, and to confront the difficult issue of the Holocaust from a Torah-true and age appropriate perspective.
“A real focus of the tour, is education”, says Camp Emes director Rabbi Elly Merenstein. “We want to educate today’s Frum teenager about the world that was, to really illustrate to them what we lost in the Holocaust. Our hope is that this will teach them in furthering their appreciation of Jewish identity, and make them feel that they have a mission: to continue the work of the Sh’earis H’apleita to rebuild that lost world”.
“Rabbi Krohn, affectionately known as “the American Maggid”, will use his treasure house of Divrei Torah, Chizuk and stories to bring the remnants of European Jewish life alive in the minds of the Bocherim”.
After the trip, the group will continue onward, prepared to maximize the potential that Eretz Yisrael has to offer.
The tour itinerary includes Auschwitz-Birkenau, Schindler’s factory and the original Sarah Schneirer Bais Yaakov building. The boys will visit and have a Seder Limud at Yeshivas Chachmei Lublin. There will be powerful Teffilos at the grave-sites of significant Torah personalities, among them the Rema, Rav Elimelech of Lizhensk, the Netziv and Rav Chaim Brisker. Participants will also spend a Shabbos in the city of Krakow.
The trip will be free of charge for the first twenty-five campers who will be joining Camp Emes this summer. The trip will be made available at low rates to the ensuing campers as well. There will be room made available to boys not continuing on to the program in Eretz Yisrael. Fathers and Grandfathers are welcome to join.
The Poland tour will be followed by Camp Emes’s sixth summer in Eretz Yisrael. R’ Elly will be traveling from Eretz Yisrael to Lakewood to meet with parents and campers who are interested in learning more about the opportunity. For more information, you can call the camp office at 718.713.8453 or email: [email protected].
what is the cost for the camp?
What is the cost for this tour if I am not looking for a freebe
Will the yeshivishe type bachurim feel comfortable in the camp?
I am assuming that the trip to the Concentration camps might make the yeshivishe bochurim uncomfortable too. Would that be ok?
TLS can you take that picture off? Its sickening.
@4
Not all history is pretty, but forgetting it is dangerous. Better that the picture should upset you than it be removed. The fact that it upsets you shows your sensitivity, and will, I hope, motivate you to “Never Forget”, and to teach the same to all of those that you know.
@2
Your comment is confusing. If your point is about bachurim being comfortable in a concentration camp, then it matters not whether they are yeshivish – the human reaction of discomfort should be the same. If, however, you question whether any yeshivish individual should go to a concentration camp, then my comment above applies to you as well. We must educate all segments of our community to “Never Forget.” Perhaps its best that all of us really get a sense of the root of the concepts of both “shtetl” and “ghetto” mentality.
IY”H, my oldest daughter, who is at seminary in E”Y right now, will be in Poland this year. I hope that she really learns about our community’s history in Europe, and I hope she remembers the lessons for the rest of her life.
To # 3, 5
My question was not regarding the comfort level at the “concentration” camps, but rather if the yeshivish-type of bachur would in general feel “at home” in the camp emes environment?
#5
Losing my whole family in the camps? How can I forget. I remember those towers like I’ve only seen them yesterday even though 67 years have passed.
@7
I am deeply sorry about your tragedy, however, I stand by my assertion.
I hope that you regularly share your story with others rather than hiding from it, and hiding the images of the tragedy from the world.
It is not sick to show the images. Those who are sickened should seek out support, and if necessary, avoid the images, not remove them from the view of all others.
the cost for camp emes is $4850. they have a website http://www.campemes.com with more information
I think its a Wonderful thing this camp is doing I’ve heard only great things of them may they continue to show our children priorities and the right path in life
This sounds amazing I wish u had the opportunity when I was a bachur to go to Europe to see what my grandparents went through and then spend the rest of the summer in Eretz Yisroel with camp emes.
Can someone please answer my question @ numbers 2 and 6 above?
@question says
I had the privilege of being involved with camp emes for the past couple of years and the answer to your question is yes a yeshivish kid would feel “at home” in camp emes because all the kids are from main stream yeshivas in America
Is the camp really for yeshivish type no. But it is for regular normal good yeshiva bocherim. My nephew from torah Vodaas who is a wonderful Ben Torah went there last summer as did a neighbor of mine who was in Bais Pinchas. Together they went with a group of boys who previously spent summers at Camp Agudah and Rayim. It definately a Toradika and Yeshivish Oriented program which both the boys and parents were very happy with. I also heard that every year the group he takes in get more and more Yeshivish. I hope i have helped you out.
@ 9 (anon) do u know if the price includes airfare? because if it does including the trip to Poland that seems like a very good price for a full 7 week proogram….i guess if it does not include the price that is also decent though not as much…Since you seem to be in the know let me know and i will let my friend know who i think is interested in learning more
My kids went to Camp Emes as well as many of their friends. These are Yeshiva families from YTT, Beis Pinchas, Cheder. etc. as well as Torah V’Daas, Chafetz Chaim etc. It is not a “learning” camp but it offers at least as much learning as any camp in the mountains if not more. The kids get a great experience in Eretz Yisrael and the camp provides outstanding Hashgacha and knows the whereabouts of all the campers at all times.
camp emes is a awsome camp great staff, campers, trips, food, diras….. keep up the good work elly
Camp Emes is the greatest camp in Eretz Yisrael! I went there this past summer and had the experience of my life! Elly Merenstein is the warmest, most caring individual i have ever known running a camp. I strongly recommend this camp for a typical yeshiva bochur.