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On page 65 in this past weeks Yated there was an advertisement about some new camp called Ruach Chaim which is located on the Bei Kyta (which closed down) grounds. The Head Counselor is R’ Tzvi Lichtman who retired from Camp Agudah, after 20 years of being a division head there. If anyone can fill us in with more info, about this new camp, I’d be very appreciative.
I wish I had something concrete to offer, but I’ve only seen the ad once, and don’t know anyone who is going (not as staff, not as a camper)
But you’ll have a hard time beating the price they are charging, and the grounds (its in Livingston Manor) are really nice.
The only thing I can suggest is if you know any Chofetz Chaim people, try asking them, If Bei Kyta closed (which had a huge CC following), the new place may be aiming for the old BK staff / campers.
Lakewood crowd and Lakewood pricing?
There are 2 camps I know of that have a huge influx of Lakewood kids (I had kids at each) and believe me, there is no such thing as Lakewood pricing.
If anything, this new place may offer a very scaled back version of camp (no major trips, no outrageous color war breakouts, no concerts, ect) to keep costs under control.
Still, I think the camp will need to fill 250-300 spots, so the easiest customer to pick up is the one who just found out his 2010 place is no more.
I’d look into it for myself if I was in the market, but my kids are mostly phased out of camp, so to switch for 1-2 seasons, its not worth the upheaval.
Why don’t you call the camp and ask them who their core element is? They must have someone as a backbone, maybe a yeshiva’s summer program? Another thing to keep in mind is, they probably will conduct interviews for campers as well as staff memebers, so they can tell you who is applying.
You should also ask who the learning director is, who the rebbeim are (and what yeshiva they are in now). That will tell you the tone they expect to set
I don’t think this camp is looking to get the old Bei Kyta campers/staff. Right now I heard that they want a more yeshiva type of camp and only junior high school boys. My thought is that they’ll probably look to keep those kids next year for their Mesivta program which they’ll probably start next year.
“for their Mesivta program”
Are you saying this is camp is tied to Ruach Chayim in Bklyn?
Wow! Way to go Rabbi Lichtman! I had no clue, as I don’t get the yaated, but this is wonderful news!! He has learned for so many years from the best Head Counselor, Rabbi Simcha Kaufman, how to run a camp but he will never be able to duplicate that special ‘Ruach’ that exists in Camp Agudah Ruach Country. I guess this camp will have lots of gaga ball and four-way dodgeball for night activity. I am sure that his classic “Hinei” havdalah will be sorely missed as well as his announcement to come pick up Shoprite bagths from the head counselors office. His running of Neigborhood Day, what he called ‘One long night activity,’ was legendary, as well as his memory of exactly what the skits were in 1973. Good luck, and remember one thing: Camp Agudah is the best camp in the world!
if anyone can post their number, it will be appreciated.
The person that is opening the camp is my cousin so I have the inside scoop! No, the camp is not at all for the former beit kaita guys, it is for the yeshivishe crowd like achim and kol torah type. Note the times are exactly the 4 weeks of bein hazmanim for that reason. And no, he is not cutting back on anything from what the regular camps have, he is charging 1300$ and is not making a profit (getting subsidized), he’s doing this leshem shamayim (leiluy nishmas his father a”h whom was just nifter)to lower the standards of the prices in camps. The learning director and rabbeim are rabbi hershkowitz and rabbi stein, (I think from the cheder in lakewood). The phone # for applications and info is 732-905-5353
Also it is not connected to ruach chaim from brooklyn, and is for 6,7, and 8th graders. (this week it is on page 31 in the yated, blue page backround)
Is this camp gonna be a real yeshivish place or like camp agudah where r- Lichtman was b4?? Cuz I was thinking of applying for a job there
I got to know Rabbi Lichtman when he was my div. head in Camp Agudah, and i know that a tremendous part of the ruach and geshmak that exists in Agudah was due to Rabbi Lichtman’s hard work, both in camp and behind the scenes. This must be a huge blow to camp Agudah.
Btw does anyone know why R’ Lichtman decided to retire? I really imagined him a staple there forever.
Geshmockster: Big Bad Wolf? Don’t get me started…
i heard its a camp for developmentally delayed kids. it used to be located in kochavim but it is moving for this summer
and a superb head counselor, who really cares and available, and makes a hugh difference for campers experience, placing them in the right bunk, etc.
No mr chayav it is not connected to that ruach chaim, it is a new regualar geshmake normal yeshivishe camp!
dogo- I think we may be related! The one who’s opening the camp is also my cousin!!! His father niftar recently and he’s opening this camp leilui nashmasoh!! I know the owner very well!! 🙂
R u related from fathers side or mothers
Cutie pie I think I figured out who u r from looking at your old posts, yup I think we r related, but I didn’t know u r close with the director
And mazal tov on the engagment of ur close friend (does that confirm my identity, and now think about my screen name)
In all honesty, as an alumnus of Camp Agudah, yes, Rabbi Lichtman did put in a lot of hard work both in camp and behind the scenes. However, the tremendous Ruach and geshmak that exists in Ruach Country is due to its Head Counselor, Rabbi Kaufman, who is the lev vnefesh of the entire program. The big blow to Camp Agudah will be when Rabbi K decides to retire. May he be gezunt and continue to inspire the hundreds of campers of Ruach Country for many more years.
I learned from Rabbi Kaufman the proper way to be mechanech children, principles which I boruch hashem have inculcated into the chinuch of my own children. Although they are still too young, they cannot wait to one day be a part of a camp that their father always talks about. Yasher Koach Rabbi Kaufman.
I currently have a nephew in Camp Agudah, and that has provided a way for me to receive the memories dvd of each year. It really gives me goosebumps as I see Rabbi Kaufman welcoming everyone the first day with the annual Bruchim Habahim speech or announcing the scores of color war with his classic ‘And the winner was…’ with the same energy as when I was a camper. There are just so many good memories and feelings towards this Machaneh Kadosh, that I firmly believe that this is where a child should be spending his summer. It is an opportunity, if i may dare say, where a child can gain more in these two months than the entire school year; a place where young talmidim not just learn Torah, but LIVE and SEE Torah 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.
Hey all you fellow Camp Agudah campers from the 70’s:
Do you remember the geshmakeh dancing by Shaloshudos?
How about Mrs. Lankry’s Shabbos morning Kokosh cake?
What about R’ Ephraim Israelowitz’s cocoa club?
Ah, this is the stuff that memories are made of!
Hie, u asked if it is attracting agudah type. It is more or less going to be like camps kol torah and achim which are more yeshivish then camp agudah, however not “too” yeshivish, just normal yeshivish (sounds like shidduchim).
And geshmackster I am not sure what’s gona be there 1st half, I think I heard that it will be rented out but u can call the # I posted earlier.
Cutie pie did u place who I am yet??
DOGO- I know who you are!!!!! Mazel Tov on your good friend’s engagement, too!!!!!!!!! 🙂
Iy”H by you bekarov mamash! 🙂
Dogo- IY”H by u 2!!!! And now that u discovered who I am, please keep it quiet and don’t tell anyone….. 🙂
“Anyone….” Do u mean just in the CR or also …. Anyone…?:)
I mean in the CR and everyone else (family…) Thanx!! 🙂
🙂 what ever happened to the delicious kugals on thurs or maybe a shabbos seudah? Just kidding really don’t mention it, ill never hear the end of it!
sorry, dunno abt the kugels, but my parents would luv to have u 4 a shbs meal, just call whenever u wanna come! Seriously!!! And don’t worry, I will not mention it to anyone!!! 🙂
Really no need to be sorry I said it as a joke, I thought u knew about the kugal… What happened was one week when i called ur parents for a seudah it wasn’t a good week, I heard from my parents about how bad they felt, then on a dif week again it didn’t work out (u had friends over) so they started making me a kugel every thurs night (I was thinking of saying no thanx, but I realized that it will make them feel better if I take it, oh and yea, it was good) then after some time I wasn’t available to get it when he passed by it stopped, its good bec now I’m on a diet and go to gym nightly (and kugal would be like carbon dioxide and oxygen -not good chemistry for my stomach). Since then I feel bad asking bec I’m afraid it wouldn’t be a good week and then they will start sending me a full seuda on thurs nights. Don’t worry I have plenty of places to eat besides yeshiva (I hate eating in yeshiva I like a fam. matzav). Also I usually bring friends along but that probably wouldn’t work by ur house (?), and might wait for more boyish company to come back from out of town, but maybe not. So please don’t feel bad cause these things don’t mean anything to me (I make seudas last minute, not like in sem, for ex. I have no clue what I’m doing this week and I always have those last min back ups)
OK- got it! Don’t have to be afraid it won’t be a good week, my parents r not the intimidating type…… 🙂
I’m not at all intimidated from them, what I mean to say is that I see how bad they feel to say no and its a whole big thing (they tell … And then I hear about it from…) So I don’t want them to feel bad. Its also my laziness that I think about (the walk…) So it doesn’t work out but eventually……. Anyways its all good !
Maybe ill c u motz”sh. Have a good one! Send regards (just kidding)! 🙂
k fine! Have a gr8 shbs! yea, maybe I’ll c u motzei shbs! 🙂
Sorry missed u!
any more inside scoop on the camp, i wanna apply for job so i wanna know about it
Its goal is to be more yeshivish like from lkwd and all other places, I don’t know yet what he excepted, but I do know that a lot of people asked for applications, the best thing for u would be to call the # listed above.
I called 2 weeks ago he said call back in 2 weeks so I’m gonna call back tomorrow evening
Good luck! What type of setting r u looking for
dogo- I was there, saw u dancing but guess u didn’t c me…… 🙂
Once we are on the topic. Does anyone know info about Rabbi Merenstein’s camp in Eretz Yisrael.(this is part of the topic because Rabbi Merenstein is non other then the famous elmer of Camp Agudah amazing counselor actor song writer and most geshmaka counselor. I was never there when he was there but my nephew had him twice.In fact who do you think made all of Rabbi Lichtmans night activities fun? Just another example of a Ruach Country boy who learnt all his leadership qualities in his formative years in Camp Agudah. He led and rocked the dining room like no other. His signature baddda da da dum was almost as loud as the great Shuie Brick! either way i hear his program is phenomonal!! I am interested in getting ahold of his contact details. This summer his camp will be taking the boys on a pre camp trip to poland. I have heard that the program will be led by Rabbi Payach Krohn!!!
I think all camps are great but its time our boys have an apropriate educational summer as well. I think it is great that they will learn about the holocaust and then continue on to a summer in Eretz Yisrael! If anyone can help me find information i would like to send my 13 year old son…
With all due respect Elya Ber and i am sure this Rabbi Merenstein is a wonderful guy. The camping system has been a vital part of our childrens chinuch for years. When i say camping i mean good old camping. I spent many summers at camp kol rina and few way back when in the good old highmount days in Camp Agudah. That was camp. Today everyone kids and to my great disapointment parenst as well are looking to destroy this by always looking for new and exciting programs. I have heard that there even is a surfing camp. Why must we follow the mentality to always find quick new fun and now? Why cant we just appreciate the simpler things in life? We will never find true joy unless we do! Lets just stick with the classics and appreciate them for what they have to offer. Is there anyone out there that agrees with me?
Attention Geshmockster
do you know more about his camp? about this trip to poland? I dont see it advertised anywhere?
Btw i was not going to answer “camp guy” because i felt it was inapropriate that i all i was doing was trying to find some info for a summer program for my wonderful son who is a great NORMAL yeshiva bocher who works hard the entire year and deserves to go to an uplifting ,inspiring and fun summer! instead i get some angry response from someone who obviously is living in the past! With all due respect what does a surfing camp have to do with a summer in Eretz Yisrael and a trip to Poland led by Rabbi Paysach Krohnn??????
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