Over 100 marchers representing HASC and the office of Alumni Affairs embarked upon Fifth Avenue this past Sunday to participate for the first time in the annual Salute to Israel Parade which celebrated the 100th birthday of Tel-Aviv.

During our college summers, we worked as counselors at HASC.  Though our experience at camp is hard to capture in just a few sentences, even all these years later, the many pictures of camp that fill the pages of our photo albums remind us of the best summers of our lives. 
 
Some of our fond memories of camp include YAP lemonade stands on sweltering Fridays, camp fires and guitar singalongs, itchy hayrides down girls' campus' bumpy pavement, facepainting and water fights at academics, dress up days (on 60's day, our YAPS dressed as 60 year old bubbes and zeidis!), and delicious cold pizza on Saturday night of color war.  We can't forget the running through the muddy grass to keep up with a camper who followed Uncle Moishy back to his car.  And what would an afternoon at camp be without having to demand that the campers share the lounge computers with the counselors? These are just some of the memories that bring smiles to our faces and even though our summers at camp have come to an end, we're glad that others can continue to enjoy their time there year after year.
 
Anyway, it wasn't until our third summer, when we were division heads, that we finally met.  Thank you, Camp HASC, for the memories that will last a lifetime and, of course, for introducing us.  Please reserve a waitress spot for our daughter, Rebecca, in 2025.

Take a walk down memory lane, and join fellow alumni for a day of fun in the sun, moonwalks for children and a sumptuous Alumni BBQ at camp.

*Alumni Day will be preceded by the dedication ceremony of the Steve Newman A"H Music & Sensory Program at 10:30a.m. All are welcome.

For more information, please contact Grant at (718) 686-5920 or by e-mail at grant.silverstein@hasc.net

Summer Positions @ Camp HASC For Summer 2009

(The below positions do not include housing)

*1 Special Ed. Teacher
**1 Female Teachers Assistant
***1 Male Teachers Assistant

If you are interested or can reccommend someone, please contact Chaya Miller, chaya.miller@hasc.net

Full- Time teacher assistants (Starting in July-following school year)

Off-site service providers - NYS licensed PTs, OT, Speech pathologists, teachers (initial or professional certification birth through 2nd grade or permanent NYS certification special education) - must be DOH approved, certified bilingual Yiddish, Russian, Spanish a plus.

If you are interested  or can recommend someone for these positions, please contact Julie Ben-Zvi, Julie.Ben-zvi@hasc.net

WANTED

Madrichim for a small, English-speaking, special-needs program in Israel (for American boys). Yeshivat Darkaynu, located in Yeshivat Har Etzion (Gush) is looking to hire motivated and mature Madrichim for the 2009-2010 school year. Madrichim live on campus and play an integral role in developing the individualized learning and living experience that we provide for our students with special needs. Room, board, and a stipend are provided. If you are interested in finding out more, please call or e-mail Avi Ganz, (570)-647-4625 or aviganz@yahoo.com.

Mazel-Tov to the Graduate!

Parshas Naso- No Swimming When Lifeguard Is Not On Duty!

     This week's Parsha discusses the laws of becoming a Nazir. Rashi points out that why was the passage of the Nazir put adjacent to the passage of the Sotah? To tell you that anyone who sees a Sotah in her state of disgrace should take upon himself to abstain from wine by becoming a Nazir, for wine (drunkenness) leads to adultery. My Rebbe pointed out to me that if you think about it, this is a very interesting thing to say that if you see the Sotah, go become a Nazir, especially if you understand who is being spoken about in context. The people that saw the Sotah were none other than the Kohen and Beis Din! It goes without saying that these were very holy Tzadikim. Surely, people of such stature would never even come remotely close anything that resembles adultery. Yet, they are instructed that becoming a Nazir is highly recommended. Why?
 
            The answer is simple: We, as mortal beings, must accept that no matter how holy or spiritual we may be, we are always susceptible to giving in to our Yetzer Hara. We must always be on guard and always take extra precautions. However, it should not be looked at as something negative on our part. Chas V'Shalom! It is just that the Yetzer Hara is really that strong! The Gemara tells us in numerous places that if not for the help of HaKadosh Baruch Hu, even Avraham Avinu could not withstand the tests of the Evil Inclination. The Yetzer Hara never quits and never sleeps. Therefore, as a warning, Hashem instructs even the holiest of people to be careful.
 
            Although the restriction upon the Nazir is from drinking wine, the Torah forbids him/her from even drinking grape juice or eating grapes as well. What, your gonna tell me what drinking some delicious Kedem Sparkling Peach Grape Juice will lead to adultery?! No. But in Hashem's infinite mercy, He knew that it is not enough to keep people away from just the sin itself. It is too tempting for people. They get too close, and then they get burned. So Hashem made gedarim- fences, for us, to keep us as far from sin as possible. Technically, there is nothing wrong with eating grapes for the Nazir. But it's a tease. It's a taste of what has been forbidden to him. Hashem cares about his children, so it is not enough just to tell them stay away from the pool when no one is around to supervise you. Hashem puts a locked fence around the pool.
 
            HaRav Mordechai Gifter, Zt"l, the Rosh Yeshiva of Telz, once gave over the following parable: There was once a boy who had a weakness for good food. Much to his parent's dismay, a non-kosher five-star restaurant opened up right in the middle of their neighborhood. The father knew that his son would be sorely tempted by these culinary delights, so he firmly warned him never to eat in the new restaurant, lest he be severely punished. The mother knew her son better. She realized that if he walked by the display window filled with succulent treif delicacies or smelled the odors wafting from the kitchen it would be too much for him to resist, and he could easily succumb to his desires. So the mother issued a stern warning to her son, which was much harsher than her husband's. "My son, don't you dare go within one block of that restaurant! If I catch you anywhere near that place you'll get the whipping of your lifetime!" Is the mother cruel and heartless? To the contrary. She is more sensitive to her son's weakness and more acutely y pained by his potential suffering- it is love and concern that compel her to be stricter. The compassionate Sages were painfully aware of the shortcomings and weaknesses of their own and future generations. In order to protect their beloved people from sin and its punishment, the Rabbis introduced safeguards that were custom-tailored to the needs of the weaker generations.
 
            For this reason, Hashem protects His people, such as the Nazir, by making boundaries. As the Mishnah in Avos says- "Make a fence for your Torah." Protect your Torah, which is the very essence of your existence. Protect yourself from harm. Don't play with fire.
 
            By the Revelation at Har Sinai, there is a famous Rashi that tells us that Hashem forced Bnei Yisrael to accept the Torah by lifting the mountain over their heads and saying "If you accept the Torah, good. And if not, over there will be your grave." Most Meforshim explain this to mean that if Bnei Yisrael would not have accepted the Torah, they would have been crushed under the mountain. However, I like to understand it a little differently. Hashem did not say "you will die HERE, under the mountain." He said "Sham"- "Over there." What is "over there" referring to? I believe it is referring to everything outside of Har Sinai, which represented the Torah environment. If Bnei Yisrael accepted the Torah, they would be able to stay alive spiritually. But if they did not, they would not be able to survive OVER THERE in the desert void of Ruchnius. If they wanted to live, they had to stay within the fence of Har Sinai- the Torah.
 
            We should strive to live within the confines and guidelines of the Torah. Anything else, we would be like a fish out of water. We cannot trust ourselves too much- we need to impose restrictions and boundaries for ourselves. And when the going gets really tough, and controlling ourselves becomes a challenge, we must turn to the guidance of our Sages and our Rabbanim, who have established sturdy fences for our own protection. My best friend and role model once told me, "Rebbeim act as our mothers when they give us Gedarim. It is an extra form or protection. They're not being strict, they do it because they care." I certainly do not say this often enough, but I am going to say it now- Thank you Hashem for caring about me and protecting me. I love you!