For one hundred years, our NJY camps have been creating lasting friendships, positive Jewish experiences and summers of fun. Caren Ford, Elyssa Wright. NJY Camps attorneys entered into good faith conversations with that individuals counsel and ultimately reached a settlement to address her allegations, Horowitz wrote. Leah Mesches,Girls Camp Director Camp Champions . Anne Carvahlo, chairman of the board, also awarded . Incorrect password. I am excited to share with you that after a nationwide search, the NJY Camps Board of Directors named Michael Schlank to the newly created position of chief executive officer. Founded in 1921. click the link in that email to complete your registration. To implement these changes, the organization will appoint a transitional board for roughly one year with the intent of handing off responsibility to a durable governing board as early as January of 2020, according to the organizations Feb. 7 statement. Iam pretty sure that I wrote a column about self-care at some point during the pandemic. Round Lake. Our nonprofit newsroom depends on readers like you. click the link in that email to complete your registration. According to the . They include the first victim to claim she was a minor when she was allegedly sexually abused by the networks former executive director, Len Robinson. Our Lake Como campus hosts Camp Nesher, a co-ed camp for Orthodox boys and girls in grades 3 through 10 and the Kislak Adult Program. Ben-Shimon also writes that the investigation clearly points to the fact that many in the senior board and past president leadership knew of [Robinsons] behavior and did nothing to prevent it.. . Since NJJN published the original story in April, other women have come forward to the newspaper alleging that Robinson sexually harassed them during his tenure at NJY Camps. Working with our staff, Michael will provide leadership and creativity to get us there. For photo archives, select the camp from the dropdown below. Sign in to stop seeing this, Sara Netanyahu accosted by protesters at Tel Aviv hair salon, extricated by police, Brides joy turns to sorrow after Elan Ganeles killed driving to her wedding, Hiker discovers 2,500-year-old ancient receipt from reign of Purim kings father, Netanyahu compares Tel Aviv protesters to settlers who set fire to Huwara. Are you a bitter person? He also serves as an Assistant Executive Director of Camp Nesher's parent organization, the New Jersey YM-YWHA (NJY) Camps. Family Camps. The womans attorney, Richard S. Swartz of the Cherry Hill law firm Swartz Swidler, LLC, declined to comment about the settlement. According to a police report filed in 2000, Joanna said Robinson sexually assaulted her eight times over the course of the summer. NJJN has also learned that the NJY board reached a settlement with at least one woman who was repeatedly sexually harassed by Robinson while she was employed by NJY Camps. With this team we are confident we can continue our tradition of excellence. Summer camp in the middle of a pandemic has been a tech-free, joyous balm for some. Hylton Wener, NJY Camps Say hello 1 High Ridge Park, Stamford, CT 06905 Phone: 203-399-5414 Phone . His experience overseeing multiple camps and activities provides the expertise needed as he takes on the role of CEO of NJY Camps. A grandparent? "We are very excited to welcome chief Levi to our board," said Alan Himelfarb, executive director of Starting Hearts, in a news release. THE NJY CAMPS board of directors has named Michael Schlank to the newly created position of chief executive officer. President of NJY Camps board resigns, calls for rest of the board to follow suit, Following a report that the NJY Camps board was aware of allegations against its former director for years but took no action, board president Peter Horowitz announced that he will resign in February. Robinsons career in Jewish communal spaces spanned five decades, during which he worked at JCCs across the country before assuming the position of executive director of NJY Camps in 1993. . L'Dor V'Dor Society. Have A Question? Actually, come to think Read The Latest Issue of The New Jersey Jewish News, Pennsylvania governor bested by Jewish media mogul, The Lonely Child headed to Carnegie Hall, An IRS Twitter post you might have missed, Shul sues for being buffeted by Margaritaville, Joseph Tenenbaum celebrates his 98th birthday, YUs Holocaust in Lithuania speaker series begins this week on Zoom, Arden Courts grants resident her Hearts Desire, Israeli tour guide talks about Israeli food on Zoom, JCC MetroWest exhibit marks Tree of Life tragedy, 25th annual Holocausteducation conference, Union County shuls to markJewish Disability Awareness Month, Community development block grant program for JFS and JVS, JESPY House celebrates 45 years of service to adults with disabilities, Local Jewish agencies win Essex County community awards. According to the story, top board leadership was made aware of Robinsons inappropriate behavior during his tenure, but failed to act. Fairfield, PA, USA, Milford, PA, USA. Free Sign Up. Some have already complied. Robinson was forced to resign from his position as executive director last April, a day before NJJNs initial story was published. Neither Krakow, who took up his post as president and CEO of JCCA in 2017, nor his immediate predecessor, Stephen Arnoff, said they received any complaints about Robinson. Her story was corroborated by two contemporaneous NJY colleagues, including Ellen Goldner, the former president of Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ. Why didnt his obituaries say so? . An old parent? Doron Krakow, president and CEO of JCC Association of North America, said in a statement that he is honored to help assist NJY Camps through what has been a difficult period. Child victims can carry guilt for their whole lives for going back, and perpetrators encourage that kind of thinking. Her claims were corroborated by her college roommate, who recalled Robinson picking up Joanna from her dorm room in college. Phone: (570) 798-2373 | Will Bibis legacy be a new constitution for Israel or civil war? Last year, Robinson was forced to resign from his position as executive director last April, a day before The Jewish Weeks initial story was published. Responding to these new allegations, an NJY Camps spokesperson said: Amy was a valued member of the NJY Camps staff for many years. In that role, Schlank will lead the professional staff and oversee all of NJY Camps Specifically, I mean the demographic. In the summer of 1995, I met a young college junior named Ilene at camp and nearly four years later we married. NJY Camps Jun 2015 - Sep 2016 1 year 4 months. Phone: (973) 575-3333 Grades 1-6ArtsAstronomyBaseballBasketballBiologyCeramicsChemistryChessHockeyHorseback RidingLacrosseOutdoor AdventurePainting & DrawingPhysicsPhysiology & KinesiologyRoboticsScienceSoccerSportsSTEMSwimmingTennisTheaterFeaturedGluten FreeTraditional, Grades 7-9ArtsAstronomyBaseballBasketballBiologyCeramicsChemistryChessFilm-makingHockeyHorseback RidingJet-SkiJewelryLacrosseOutdoor AdventurePainting & DrawingPhysicsPhysiology & KinesiologyRoboticsScienceSoccerSportsSTEMSwimmingTennisTheaterFeaturedGluten FreeTraditional, Grade 10Grade 11+ArtsAstronomyBaseballBasketballBiologyCeramicsChemistryChessFilm-makingHockeyHorseback RidingJet-SkiJewelryLacrosseOutdoor AdventurePainting & DrawingPhysicsPhysiology & KinesiologyRoboticsScienceSoccerSportsSTEMSwimmingTennisTheaterFeaturedGluten FreeIsrael TravelTraditional, Grade 10Grade 11+Grades 1-6Grades 7-9ArtsAstronomyBaseballBasketballBiologyCeramicsChemistryChessFilm-makingHockeyHorseback RidingJet-SkiJewelryLacrosseOutdoor AdventurePainting & DrawingPhysicsPhysiology & KinesiologyRoboticsScienceSoccerSportsSTEMSwimmingTennisTheaterFeaturedGluten FreeSpecial Needs, Age/GradeGrade 10Grades 1-6Grades 7-9InterestArtsBaseballBasketballCeramicsFilm-makingHockeyJet-SkiLacrosseOutdoor AdventurePainting & DrawingScienceSoccerSwimmingTennisTheaterType of CampFeaturedIsrael TravelOrthodoxTry-it Program, Grades 1-6FeaturedGluten FreeTry-it Program. Courtesy photo. Ihave no idea who reads this column. As we begin this new chapter in NJY Camps, we look to the future and being back together at camp for the summer of 2021. Phone: (570) 296-8596 Joanna who requested that her full name not be used to protect her privacy was 17 and working at the library of Camp Nah-Jee-Wah during the summer of 1994 when Robinson first sexually assaulted her, she claimed. For others, though, it's a pit of anxiety. While a publicist for NJY Camps said that "almost all board members had no knowledge" of the. JCC Association is honored to have been asked to assist NJY Camps through what has been a difficult period., Added Jeremy Fingerman, CEO of the Foundation for Jewish Camp, We look forward to working with JCC Association to help assemble a transitional board which will put NJY Camps on a strong footing for generations to come. Rebecca currently sits on the executive board of Camp Ramah in the Berkshires, is the immediate past president of the alumni association and is the 2018 recipient of the Alumni Leadership Award. are informed and ready to be placed making working with Camp America a breeze. We are all committed to the future of NJY and believe that this move will be of great benefit to our community, our camp, and our campers.. Thats why we started the Times of Israel ten years ago - to provide discerning readers like you with must-read coverage of Israel and the Jewish world. Thank you, David Horovitz, Founding Editor of The Times of Israel, BONUS - What Matters Now to Haviv Rettig Gur: Taking advantage of this moment of decisions. An opportunity for your camper to meet potential bunkmates for future summers! The camp network is trying to pick up the pieces after abuse allegations. Cedar Lake Camp 21 Plymouth Street Fairfield, NJ 07004. Even as NJY Camps, the embattled New Jersey network of JCC Association of North America-affiliated summer camps, focuses on moving forward with a new board, two alleged victims have come forward. Hours after NJJN published a report in which New Jersey federation executives called for the entire board of NJY Camps to resign for not taking action after learning of allegations of predatory behavior by its former executive director (After damning probe, NJ fed exec urges board purge at NJY Camps, Dec. 20), the president of the NJY board announced his intention to resign, and advised the rest of the board to follow suit. 2 Day Intro to Overnight Camp. On Friday, Athletic Director Michael Alford made the first public case for the Seminoles to find a new conference during a General Board Meeting with the FSU Board of Trustees, which included . So now we have a request. After seeing the report which detailed at least 11 cases in which Robinson sexually harassed, assaulted, or bribed female staff members in exchange for their silence federation leadership called upon the NJY board to resign, among other recommendations. When she was 19, Robinson introduced her to cocaine, Joanna alleged. NJY s mission focuses on supporting the growth and development of every individual member of its community so that they can learn new skills . Description. NJY HOME; PIX HOME; E-MAIL A CAMPER; FAMILY WEEKENDS; ARCHIVES; Archives. The current president of the New Jersey NJY Camps association is demanding that all 60 members of the board resign after an investigation revealed that despite knowing the former director, Leonard Robinson, was an active pedophile and sexual predator who preyed on at least 11 children over a 25 year period, they did nothing to stop him:. Horowitz confirmed to The Jewish Week that such a settlement had been reached. Bruce Tucker, GPS . Fairfield, NJ. Free Sign Up, In his letter, Seiden cited the cancellation of in-person camps for the 2020 season due to the realities of the pandemic. Looking to the future, he called Schlank a passionate believer in camping and said his background gives us confidence that he will lead us through the challenges ahead.. Please use the following structure: example@domain.com, Send me The Times of Israel Daily Edition. According to the camps most recent tax filings, his 2016 salary was just short of $500,000. Among camp directors, 54.0% of them are women, while 46.0% are men. Try-it Program. Theketubah(marriage contract) that hangs on our living room wall is a painting of camps waterfront. Ten months after the executive director of the largest camping organization in North America was forced to resign due to allegations of sexual harassment that stretched back years, the organizations entire board has voted to disband. Email: campinfo@njycamps.org, Milford Campus: 570 Sawkill Road, Milford, PA 18337 Its up to thee! Camp Director. F: 908-889-4070. where she most recently worked as the Assistant Director of NJY Teen Camp. Goldner previously told NJJN that she reported the incident to the former president of NJY Camps, who dismissed the allegation and declined to investigate the matter further. Some have already complied. She said she struggled with self-esteem and had difficulty navigating relationships throughout her young adulthood because of the experience. Fairfield, New Jersey, United States. Loving memory of David Lenusky. Summer camp is truly embedded in my DNA and an integral part of my own family history. Robinson, 73, served as executive director of NJY Camps, the largest Jewish camp complex in North America, for 25 years, and he was celebrated and received many communal honors. Please try again or choose an option below. NJY Camps attorneys entered into good faith conversations with that individuals counsel and ultimately reached a settlement to address her allegations, Horowitz wrote. That's why we carefully select our staff from the USA and abroad including Israel, United Kingdom, South America, Russia, Australia and New Zealand. Regarding the NJY boards decision to disband, Ben-Shimon told NJJN, We are deeply grateful to the leadership of NJY in its new formulation and have faith in their abilities to lead the camp forward to greater success. An independent investigative report, commissioned by NJYs board in April and completed in September, found that board leadership had known of Robinsons behavior NJJN reported that members of the board were informed three years ago that Robinson had pressured at least one female staff member to engage in sexual activity but failed to act. NJY Camps (NJY) is one of North America's premier Jewish summer camp networks. The entire board of a Jewish camps association in New Jersey voted to suspend itself, in the wake of an investigation finding that it had failed to address the predatory behavior of its former executive director. We believe that teenagers at high school level are looking for summer experiences that will challenge them, provide them with a sense of ownership and an opportunity to make incredible connections. Phone: (973) 575-3333 There was a whole movement on the importance of taking care of yourself before addressing the needs of others. Leonard Robinson, a veteran and much-admired administrator in the Jewish camping field, resigned under pressure April 12 from his post as executive director of NJY Camps after . Michael is enthusiastic to be joining us, and I am including a note from him at the end of this email. Do you wish you belong to any of those previously mentioned demographics? Leadership at NJY Camps continues to decline NJJNs requests to disclose the full report, citing the confidentiality of women who have made allegations, according to an NJY Camps spokesperson. Nurturing and caring counselors that assist your child throughout their entire stay! For 100 years, our NJY camps have been creating lasting friendships, positive Jewish experiences, and summers of fun, said board president Stephen Seiden in an email to camp families, alumnae, and donors. A minor is not old enough to withstand a perpetrators grooming tactics to find his or her way out of the loop, she said. Richard Belzer was a Jewish comedian. The former president did not respond to requests for comment. Photo by Elan Mizrahi, An independent investigation undertaken by NJY Camps last spring found that at least 11 women accused Len Robinson of sexual harassment or assault, according to an internal memo. NJY Camps, a Jewish camping association in New Jersey, announced on Feb. 7 that its board of directors voted unanimously to suspend itself after an independent investigation found that Leonard . Board of Directors. While these are uncertain times for many of us, I am confident in the bright future for NJY Camps under Michaels leadership and I ask you to join me in welcoming him to our community. Could the government cancel elections? Family Vacation Weekends. Michael will be working closely with the directors of the individual camps and with the rest of the NJY Camps staff. It allows them to maintain control., NJY Camps said in a statement that the organization is working aggressively to reinvent itself in the aftermath of Robinsons removal and the entire boards resignation earlier this year. Under this umbrella we serve a spectrum of ages, denominations and abilities, across the entire Jewish community. Our camping program serves a total of 5500 youth annually. While most of us were blindsided by the allegations against Len Robinson, we quickly came together to take decisive action and ensure no one else would be subjected to sexual harassment or assault at NJY Camps, said board president Peter Horowitz, who announced his resignation in December, the day after The Jewish Weeks exclusive report on the investigations findings. Suzanne Albin Tucker. Our mission is to show the world that mental health is a lot less scary to face when we do it . We must reject this feral, anti-Torah approach, and return to tradition, God is not in the earthquake, but in the still silent voice, The idea that suffering is divine punishment doesnt ring true anymore, but focusing on the pain of another allows for a profound take on the problem of evil, The folly of hubris: Bibi, Levin, Rotman and Putin, Had Israels right been less prideful and more strategic, they might have averted the current uproar altogether, There is just one word that I a right-wing, religious voter who supports judicial reform would chant at a protest, Nightmares and pipe dreams: A visit to Huwara, The families told us of their dilemma: stay in their smoke-filled houses or flee and face the hordes rampaging outside. Life is waking up every morning and being grateful that you can get out of bed and walk to the bathroom unassisted. Tuition provides for the full operating costs of the NJY Camps. Responsible for enrollment, marketing, hiring, operational oversight and program management of a . For as little as $6/month, you will: Were really pleased that youve read X Times of Israel articles in the past month. Meet the Director Aryn Barer, LMSW. NJY Camps is part of the Jewish Community Center movement and is the umbrella organization for numerous overnight and family camps, and year-round programs for senior adults. It is clear that Robinson was allowed to operate for far too long without any real oversight, creating an environment in which his abuse of others was allowed to go unchecked., Horowitz said he intends to resign no later than February, and that it would be in the best interest of NJY Camps for the rest of the board to also resign within that time.. Working on an actual campgrounds and being able to work with children. I had to make sure this couldnt happen to another camper, she said. 1391 Martine Avenue. What is life? Phone: (973) 575-3333 A full time year round staff maintains winter offices in Fairfield, New Jersey. Ask the Camp Directors. The Jewish Week has also learned that the NJY board reached a settlement with at least one woman who was repeatedly sexually harassed by Robinson while she was employed by NJY Camps. A person Wiesenthal Centers program puts students in government offices, Rabbi Moshe Josef Rubin talks about his family history and looks forward, We are more than a choir. Photo archives for years 2016 and earlier can be viewed at the links below. Thank you, David Horovitz, Founding Editor of The Times of Israel, 2023 The Times of Israel , All Rights Reserved, NJY Camps runs a network of Jewish camps serving the New York metropolitan areas. Registering also lets you comment on articles and helps us improve your experience. Camp Nah-Jee-Wah for 8-11 year olds, Cedar Lake Camp for 11-14 year olds, Teen Camp for 14-16 year olds, Round Lake Camp for children with special needs and Club Enjoy for short term camping programs. In December, Dov Ben-Shimon, executive vice president and CEO of Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ, called for the resignation of the entire 60-member board of NJY Camps after viewing the report, according to an NJJN story. The camps draw more than 4,000 campers each summer from numerous communities. Sincerely,Stephen SeidenPresident of the NJY Camps Board of Directors, Thank you to the NJY Camps Board of Directors for putting your trust in me. We dont comment on personnel matters.. 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Intensive Sports Program with Top Level Coaching! Robinson, 77, served as executive director of NJY Camps, the largest Jewish camp complex in North America, for 25 years, and he was celebrated and received many communal honors. By Hannah Dreyfus April 13, 2018, 12:00 am. Phone: (570) 798-2373 | In an email statement, Horowitz wrote that NJY Camps was first approached in July of 2018 by the legal counsel of one of the victims of Robinsons abuse seeking a financial settlement.. H ours after NJJN published a report in which New Jersey federation executives called for the entire board of NJY Camps to resign for not taking action after learning of allegations of predatory behavior by its former executive director ("After damning probe, NJ fed exec urges board purge at NJY Camps," Dec. 20), the president of the NJY board announced his intention to resign, and advised . Tucker has declined repeated requests for comment. He does so during one of the most turbulent times in camping. Its up to thee! Life is waking up every morning and being grateful that you can get out of bed and walk to the bathroom unassisted. Normally, our camps are buzzing with activity; however, with much regret, the realities of the pandemic prevented us from opening our camps this summer. And I have seen the impact that residential camp has had on our own two children, their friends, and our family. Len started his career as the Resident Camp Director - Youth Director at the Portland, Oregon JCC. NJY Camps in New Jersey is the largest Jewish camp complex in North America, serving about 5,500 youth annually. As Israel implodes, does nobody in Netanyahus Likud have the guts to defy him? Brought to you by the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Ten months after the executive director of the largest camping organization in North America was. Ihave no idea who reads this column. Later, a nearby camp for girls was added at another leased site. (MARC), was completed in September 2018. (NJY Camps via JTA). A grandparent? The president of a Jewish camps association in New Jersey has urged its entire board to resign, in the wake of an investigation finding that the board knew for years about the predatory behavior of its former executive director. Cultural Exchange; Advocacy; About the Program. And with the implementation of important organizational changes and program updates, 2020 was looking to be the best yet until, of course, COVID-19 hit. It was the worst experience of my life.. 28 days ago. An NJY Camps spokesperson said the camp has not been contacted by the Essex County Prosecutors Office, but we will cooperate fully if contacted. As for the meaning of life? Supervised program and operations on two 1100-acre campuses, six . NJY Camps, a Jewish camping association in New Jersey, announced on Feb. 7 that its board of directors voted unanimously to suspend itself after an independent investigation found that Leonard Len Robinson, the 74-year-old former executive director of the organization, had sexually abused or harassed at least 11 women during his 25-year tenure as NJYs top executive. Acouple of years ago, I wrote a column called Parenting at 10,000 Feet. It was about a family that Husband #1 and I had the pleasure of sitting next to on an airplane. The investigators report is a shameful, damning, heart-breaking and miserable study in leadership failure, Dov Ben-Shimon, executive vice president and CEO of Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest, NJ, wrote in a letter to his leadership last week. NJY Camps is the umbrella group for five residential . Robinson was forced to resign from his position at NJY Camps, which operates various Jewish summer camps, in April after allegations of sexual misconduct surfaced. Grade 10Grades 1-6Grades 7-9BaseballBasketballSoccerSportsTennisFeaturedSpecialty Camp, Grade 10Grades 1-6Grades 7-9BasketballSportsGluten FreeSpecialty Camp, Grade 10Grades 1-6Grades 7-9BaseballGluten FreeSpecialty Camp, Learn from Major League Soccer level coaching, Grade 10Grades 1-6Grades 7-9SoccerSportsGluten FreeSpecialty Camp, Expert Instruction from former Israeli Pro Tennis Player, Grade 10Grades 1-6Grades 7-9SportsTennisSpecialty Camp, Israeli service learning, touring & adventure, Winter Office: 21 Plymouth St. Fairfield, NJ 07004 The womans attorney, Richard S. Swartz of the New Jersey law firm Swartz Swidler, LLC, declined to comment about the settlement. To Our NJY Camps Community, I am excited to share with you that after a nationwide search, the NJY Camps Board of Directors named Michael Schlank to the newly created position of chief executive officer. As for the meaning of life? With a sexual abuse scandal that forced out its longtime executive director, the camp, sponsored by two New Jersey Jewish federations, will now find out whether more recent developments will mean a healthy housecleaning or a debilitating lack of leadership.

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