Michael Kay -  Leffell School

In the summer of 1983, a few months shy of my fourth birthday, I boarded a yellow school bus for the very first time for the ride from Temple Israel to East Berne. Each morning, when we passed the Toll Gate on New Scotland Rd., we began singing Hebrew songs—I remember that they sounded very loud to my three-year-old ears. That summer provided my first exposure to the lesson that Jewish education can be serious, impactful, fully immersive—and entirely enveloped in joy and passion.
This lesson was reinforced again and again—through seven years as a Givah camper and seven more as a member of the staff, including three as director (2001-2003). I often recall formative memories of our daily walks to the beit knesset in the woods, gathering for Birkat Hamazon under the old Etz Hada’at, hanging the new group signs in the Bet Am each summer (until we ran out of space), epic overnights, gaga tournaments, and the Zimriyah/Rikudiyah. Perhaps most importantly, I think of the extraordinary sense of community that was nurtured in this special place—a sense of community that replicated itself through generations by launching careers in Jewish education for so many Givah alumni.
 
I, of course, feel grateful and proud to be among this group. I am now in my thirteenth year as head of school at The Leffell School, a Jewish independent school serving 840 students in grades K-12 on two campuses in Westchester County. As I reflect on my career, I am grateful for the ways in which I was shaped as an educator not only by my three years as camp director, but really by all the extraordinary role models who have cultivated that unique Givah environment for so many decades.

Rob Kovach - jFEDNY

I didn’t grow up regularly attending synagogue on Shabbat. That changed when I was a counselor at Camp Givah. I started going every week just to see another counselor I liked who went with her family. We’ve now been married 32 years, and have five children and four grandchildren, and we still go to shul together every Shabbat. What began as a simple gesture became a lifelong Jewish journey filled with love, tradition, and community.

Ruthie Strosberg Simon- YCT

I know that I speak for my siblings when I say that Camp Givah is forever cemented in my memory as a place of creativity, resourcefulness, growth, Jewish pride, and opportunity. My Jewish journey was without a doubt shaped by my experiences as a camper,  counselor, and Rosh Gan. The skills I learned, the values I embraced, and the relationships I made have been sustaining forces in my life, even to this day. 

Here are some examples:

The positive side of having a shoe string budget is the need for creativity and resourcefulness, two critical attributes for working in a non-profit. We had so much fun when brainstorming and planning onegs, overnights, rainy day programming and the like. We were energized by dreaming. We leaned into and developed our natural talents to enhance the camp atmosphere.  

The camp leadership believed in our potential as future leaders and allowed us the freedom to practice leading, and the safe space to also make mistakes. We were just 16-17 years old then but they gave us so much ownership over the schedule and activities. This growth minded culture has been something I have tried to cultivate in each space I lead. 

Another aspect of our experience was leading groups of children from different religious backgrounds. We learned how to reach different audiences. 

Finally, the camp attracted Jewish kids from across the capital district. We might not necessarily have encountered them if not for Givah. We learned how to teach and connect with different audiences. We felt a great responsibility to transmit our Jewish traditions in a very authentic way. 

Finally, being in nature, we were reminded daily of God and God’s beautiful creatures. And we expressed our gratitude through joyful ruach at Etz HaDaat.