I was just at Camp JRF. Here is my report. The facility is beautiful:  read more »

• The Hadar Ochel (Dining Hall) is well lit, has great acoustics with a quality sound system, and is of proper size and structural soundness to accommodate our 153 dancing and stomping chanichim (campers) along with the 60+ tsevet (staff).
• The Beit Sport, our indoor multi-purpose space, is also of sound quality and space to accommodate the entire camp for a calm, spiritual Kabbalat Shabbat and, later on, raucous Oneg Shabbat dancing.
• The teatron (theater) has fantastic lighting and sound equipment and looked quite full for our motze Shabbat (Saturday night) Shabbat Unplugged performances.
• Three of the four pavilions have been designated as batei am (gathering places) for individual eidot (age groups), with the fourth and oldest eidah getting a refinished indoor space.
• The streams and rivers are all flowing nicely, creating a wonderful sight and sound throughout the camp.
• The footpaths are well lit and look quite pretty at night.
• The new mirpa'ah (health center/infirmary) is shiny and clean and provides the nursing staff with an attractive and well outfitted station for handling our sick and injured campers (k'aynahorah - keep away the evil eye).
• The pool is being used every weekday morning for swimming instruction (!).
• The lake (I've decided that it is of sufficient size to call it a small lake) is full of water toys - a slide, an iceberg for climbing up and sliding down, a trampoline and a catapult, a teeter totter, paddle boats, canoes, kayaks - all of which were used this weekend.

Shabbat Dancing
On June 28, 153 campers were greeted by 60 staff members as the fifth summer of Camp JRF opened at a new site, the Aaron and Marjorie Ziegalman Campus of Camp JRF. The camp is located in the Poconos in South Sterling, Pennsylvania.

Camp Director Rabbi Jeff Eisenstat wrote to the parents on the first night of camp, "After more than a year of planning to move into our own camp, we are thrilled that the day has finally arrived. It is the campers that truly make camp - and we are so blessed to have them with us."

Included in the 60 staff are 11 Israelis, who are being integrated well into camp life and culture.

Rabbi Jeff Eisenstat Welcomes Campers  read more »