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Gan Yisroel? Or Gan Chayos?
Why should I spend my summer in Gan Yisroel , when I can have a much stronger effect in ‘C-Kids’?
At this time of year, Bachurim often find themselves sitting around in Zal, in the dorms or anywhere for that matter, discussing ‘Summer Camp’.
its a hot topic, understandably so, after all… a full 2 month summer can either go amazing, or terribly wrong.
One point through these ‘camp bullshoves’ that really hurts is the fact that Bachurim don’t understand the value of their Shlichus - wherever you end up.
Some say “If it was C-Kids, or Yeka, or L’maan Achai, I would actually have an affect”.
They are wrong.
As wrong as a goldfish trying to explain its understanding in המשך תרס״ו.
The positive affect a counselor or learning teacher can have a regular Oholei Torahnik brat (to put it bluntly), is as strong and real as anyone would in any of the other camps mentioned above.
Some say: we like to see the ‘Peiros’ of our work, which is more explicitly seen in a camp like L’maan Achai.
Ok, that’s valid. Just don’t undermine the Shlichus of the Bochurim who chose to work with the mainstream. They are both needed as much as each other.
Your Shlichus when working in a ‘mainstream’ Lubavitch camp, is as much of a Shlichus as is working in a camp for Non-Frum kids.
When the Rebbe instituted Gan Yisroel, he knew what it was going to be years down the line. And understood the importance of it for every Jewish Child, Frum or not.
“The kids in camp nowadays learn more bad than good” - what a load of [word-eradicated].
Kids might not even understand how much they gain through the summer. Even a kid who thinks he only learned bad things, and never showed up to class, doesn’t understand that the point of Gan Yisroel is the all around-Torah environment, not necessarily the Farbrengen’s and stories. Just the fact that a kid is in camp is effecting his Neshama tremendously.
The Chassidishe Lachluchis every child soaks up throughout his time in camp, without even realizing it, is tremendous.
Obviously, the more stories and Farbrengens you get in there, the better, but that's not the main point.
Obviously, the Shlichus of a camp for non-Frum kids is a tremendous thing too, but who will be the counselors of L'maan Achai in a few years time?
Yup, It's the former campers of Gan Yisroel, and they wouldn't be able to do it without the time they spend in the environment of a Chassisher camp.
You can hear any Shliach nowadays speak about their time spent in Gan Yisroel and the effect it had on them as young children.
No doubt whatsoever, that children that go through Gan Yisroel nowadays, are effected as much, if not more.
Every single one of them, each in their own way.
So Tayere Bachur:
Working in a mainstream Gan Yisroel is an incredible experience, yet a tremendous responsibility and Shlichus.
Put yourself to it, get involved, show that you care and your effect will be greater than you can imagine.
Gan Yisroel Chai.
(I missed a few points, pls help me out in the comments.)