Introducing...Mazkirut 2013!

 Last month you met Rosh Galil 2013 Mikey Silbermann.  Now, get to know the rest of his youth leadership team: Mazkirut 2013!

Carla Golden, Technical Director
Years at Camp: This will be my 13th summer.

How Did You Learn about Galil: My parents met on Workshop (Habonim Dror North America's year-long program in Israel). My Dad went to Tavor (in Michigan) and my Mom went to Moshava (in Maryland) so it was inevitable that I'd go to a Habonim camp as well!

Favorite Camp Memory:Winning a camp-wide game of knockout.

Favorite Part of the Camp Schedule: Afternoon electives.

What You're Most Excited About for Galil 2013: The mysterious Kupa (out-of-camp) trips!

Fun Fact: I once held a human brain in my hands!

Favorite Jewish Thinker: Sigmund Freud.

Favorite Elective: Make your own clothing.

Favorite Sport at Camp: Richard Simmons' Sweating to the Oldies!

Favorite Camp Song: 16 Tons.

Max Weisman, Education Director

Years at Camp: Every summer since Tzofim 2004.

How Did You Learn about Galil: I went to Saligman Jewish Middle School. When I decided I wanted to go to Overnight Camp and my mom encouraged me to choose somewhere Jewish, a lot of my friends recommended Galil. I tried it for the summer, halfway through I extended to seven weeks.

Favorite Camp Memory: I remember my first Havdallah, lying in the grass listening to music. Then we ran down to the bonfire! To this day it is my favorite part of the week and I love that I still spend it with some of those same people from 2004.

What You're Most Excited About for Galil 2013: I always like the special days.  As a camper it was fun to have a different day and as a counselor it's cool to plan an entirely different, creative day for the campers.
Fun Fact: In the past 6 months, I have visited 6 countries.
Favorite Zionist: Yitzhak Rabin.  I think he was a great man who did great work for Israel.
Favorite Sport: Kickball.
Favorite Elective: Rom Kol Radio.  It was fun to create playlists and record funny skits.
Favorite Camp Song: Everybody Loves Saturday Night!

Talia Gottsman, Liaison to the Associate Director
Years at Camp: This will be my 11th summer at Galil.
How Did You Learn about Galil: My parents grew up going to a very similar camp in New York.  When it was time for me to go to camp, they chose Galil because they wanted me to have a similarly meaningful and fun experience...just much closer to home!
Favorite Camp Memory: I loved the element of surprise that came along with anticipating special days and out-of-camp trips.
Favorite Elective: Chug Duct Tape.
Favorite Special Day: Revolution Evolution.
Favorite Sport: Soccer is my favorite sport at camp because everyone can play together no matter his or her skill level.  When it gets very hot out we all put on sunscreen and play water soccer with sprinklers and hoses.  It's one of the best ways to cool off while still having fun outside!
Favorite Part of the Day: Working time in the morning and free time outside because those are fun times for everyone to work and hang out together outdoors.  Galil really feels like an amazing community with everyone outside having fun together.
What Are You Most Excited about for Galil 2013: Although everything about this summer excites me, I am most looking forward to the first day.  After so much planning and hard work it is amazing to see the camp filled with kids running around, singing, and being excited for an awesome summer.

Shalom from Karmi'el!

The day came to move to Karmi'el.  We packed our things and soon arrived at our new home.  We settled in, made lunch, and began learning about Kaveret (the second half of Workshop where we live in cities doing social justice work) and our role in the community here.  We met our guides and the British participants from Habonim Dror UK who we'll be working with.  The British kvutzah lives in Akko, about twenty minutes away from our house in Karmi'el.  We interact with the British group a lot through seminars like our Rabin Seminar in November.  However, we also do other activities like the Habonim History Seminars separately.
I am teaching at the Deshanim School, a vocational school for high school students who dropped out or were expelled from their previous schools.  We will be teaching values and other useful topics while simultaneously tutoring the students in English.  Other Workshoppers are working with at-risk youth at a boarding school and at youth movement-run schools.

I will work there three days per work plus one day with my kvutzah (group) and one day of learning organized by our counselors and program leaders.  Soon, we will be beginning our Poland prep seminars.  We leave in just over a month on February 10th!

Have a great month,
Ari Tzvi Carroll 

Madatz 2013

Last summer's Madatz group serving
ice cream on Saturday night.

Applications for Madatz 2013 are now open!

This summer, Galil will be hosting its 22nd group of Madatz.  Madatz is the Hebrew acronym for madrichim tzi'irim or junior counselors.  We are proud to offer this leadership training program to our campers who have finished the 11th grade.  Madatz participants will learn how to be counselors at Galil while having a fun, challenging, and exciting summer with their kvutzah (age group).

Applications are available online here.  They must be completed and returned with one reference form by Friday, February 1st.

If you have any questions, please contact Ilana Goldfus, Assistant Director at registrar@campgalil.org or (609) 558-1395.

Wrapping Up Boneh: A Workshop Update

Hello from Israel!  Living on Kibbutz Ein Dor forBoneh (portion of Workshop living and working on a kibbutz) has been really fun.  My work (avodah) is to help out in the kindergarten with the 4-5 year old children.  I found out that one of the kids' father is from Habonim Dror Mexico and worked at Galil in 1994 and 1995!  Wow!  He and I spent a night reminiscing about old Galil, the cabins, the counselors, and more.

We are currently in the middle of our Habonim History Seminar where we are talking to and hearing the stories of Habonim Dror immigrants (olim) to Israel.  
In just over a week, Boneh will sadly be over and we will be moving to our Kaveret (literally a bee hive, a portion of Workshop living in a city and performing community work) houses.  My group (kvutzah) will be in Karmi'el, while the other team will live in Rishon L'Tzion.

Even though we are only three months into Workshop, I can easily say that I have grown in so many ways.  I can't wait to see what comes from the remainder of the year!


Arise and actualize (aleh v'hagshem),
Ari Tzvi Carroll 

Rosh Galil 2013

Camp Galil is proud to announce our Rosh Galil (Youth Director) for Summer 2013!  Drum roll please....

Introducing: Mikey Silbermann!

Mikey may be a familiar face for many Galilnikim, new and old alike.  He is a second generation Galil camper who also followed in the footsteps of his older sisters, Jacki (Madatz 2002) and Dara (Madatz 2004).  Mikey began at Galil in Amelim 1999.  He was in Madatz 2008, went to Israel on Workshop 59, and has worked at Galil for the past three summers, including as our Technical Director in 2012.  He also served as the a co-leader for Galil's year-round programming in 2011-2012.  Mikey is a student at Temple University and an avid fan of The West Wing.

Questions?  Want to get to know Mikey better?  E-mail him at rosh@campgalil.org.

#GivingTuesday

It's that time of year again...

Time to buy the turkey (or tofurkey).
Time to stock up on presents.
Time to pull your menorah off the dusty shelf.
Time to give.

Enhance your holiday experience by joining the first-ever Giving Tuesday on November 27, 2012.  First, give thanks on Thursday, get great deals on Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday, then give back to your community on Tuesday.  What a week!

Camp Galil is proud to be partnering with this innovative, philanthropic cause.  We hope that you will join us and support Camp Galil's Scholarship Fund on Giving Tuesday, November 27th.  

The values lived and learned each and every summer at Camp Galil are critical. It is a place where young people learn to use their voices, to become leaders, to feel connected to Judaism and to make lifelong friendships. Every child deserves that opportunity. 

Camp Galil has remained committed to providing an unforgettable overnight summer camp experience for Jewish youth. Part of how we are able to do that is through the generosity of our camping family! 


We are counting on you to support our 2012-2013 Annual Appeal so that no one misses out on the magic of camp for lack of funds. 

Every $75 donated to our Scholarship Fund will help us subsidize one day of Camp Galil for a deserving child. 

Together we know that our community of friends, family, alumni, and supporters will once again ensure a life-changing Camp Galil experience for many children.

Tax-deductible donations can be made here.  More information and updates will be posted on our Facebook page and Twitter page.  To learn more about Giving Tuesday, please visit their website.

Food for Thought

Our Camp Galil ropes and tiyul specialist Karmi Oxman is teaching a program once per month for  Jewish Community High School of Gratz College starting Monday October 15th at Adath Jeshurun synagogue in Elkins Park!  It is a Service Learning Program where they cook meals for people that cannot prepare their own.  To join Karmi for this wonderful opportunity check out Gratz's website: http://gratz.edu/jchs