A middle school teacher today, Joanna said she chose to speak out when she heard that one of her students was going to be attending NJY Camps this summer. urged all 60 members of his board to join him in resigning, Already a member? Jim Levi is the newest member of the Starting Hearts Board of Directors. For as little as $6 a month you can help support our quality journalism while enjoying The Times of Israel AD-FREE, as well as accessing exclusive content available only to Times of Israel Community members. A newlywed? Incorrect password. The independent investigation, conducted by the law firm McCusker, Anselmi, Rosen & Carvelli, P.C. 2 Day Intro to Overnight Camp. 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. 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. We want to learn more and then choose. Leah Mesches,Girls Camp Director Camp Champions . Do you wish you belong to any of those previously mentioned demographics? 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. I would recommend working at njy camps because of the one in a lifetime experience it gives to the workers. We dont comment on personnel matters.. 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, he said. Phone: (973) 575-3333 Fax: (973) 575-4188. Rachel Jacoby Rosenfield opened her Riverdale home to a family of Ukrainian refugees. As for the meaning of life? Camp Overview. NJY Teen Camp Assistant Director. In that role, Michael will lead our professional staff and oversee all of NJY Camps operations. Are you a kid? Cultural Exchange; Advocacy; About the Program. They include the first victim to claim she was a minor when she was allegedly sexually abused by the network's former executive director, Len Robinson. She remained at the camp, but refused to be alone with Robinson going forward. His repulsive behavior had a psychological impact on me until this moment, recalled Joanna, now 42, in an interview with NJJN. 28 days ago. whose dedication and service. 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. Are you a bitter person? He does so during one of the most turbulent times in camping. $6,000 a month. A grandparent? The New York Jewish Week reported Wednesday that Peter Horowitz, the current president of NJY Camps, urged all 60 members of his board to join him in resigning for allowing the former executive . 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.. operations. While a publicist for NJY Camps said that almost all board members had no knowledge of the former directors actions, and that no board member had knowledge contemporaneous to when an incident happened, the members agreed to step down in the camps best interest. Get New Jersey Jewish News's Newsletter by email and never miss our top stories 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. What happens to the notes placed in the Kotel? Get New Jersey Jewish News's Newsletter by email and never miss our top stories, The New Jersey Jewish Film Festival returns to the JCC MetroWest, Kosher-chef-whiz-kid Eitan Bernath turns to social action as he works to feed the hungry, Local production,as in New York, takeson the Leo Frank story. 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. Robinson, 77, declined The Jewish Weeks request for comment. She said she struggled with self-esteem and had difficulty navigating relationships throughout her young adulthood because of the experience. She was working at the camp as a library assistant under the supervision of Robinsons wife, Carol Robinson, according to the police report. Email: nesher@njycamps.org |, make payments, add extras, or complete forms, download, print, and fill out a current application, TEAM Basketball Academy with Michael Sweetney. The summer camp experience is hands down one of the most important experiences we can provide to help children develop a deeper sense of their identity. Please use the following structure: example@domain.com, Send me The Times of Israel Daily Edition. The camp network is trying to pick up the pieces after abuse allegations. . NJY Camps Jun 2015 - Sep 2016 1 year 4 months. 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 . Family Vacation Weekends. He is on the board of Hofstra Hillel, president of Midway Jewish Center in Syosset, N.Y., and a member of AIPAC Long Island Council. For others, though, it's a pit of anxiety. 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, Virtual Walking Tour: From Paupers to Prime Ministers in Jewish Whitechapel, The Museum of Jewish Heritage A Living Memorial to the Holocaust, Di Shvester A Celebration of Women in Jewish Music, March comes in with a roar of new Yiddish music, A Rube Goldberg machine comes to life literally in a new dance piece, Purim parties in NYC: Heres where to celebrate this joyous Jewish holiday, These almost-too-cute-to-eat hamantaschen are baked for a good cause, Why American Eagle now has a mezuzah at its Times Square flagship, Feds arrest Michigan man who plotted to kill Jewish elected officials in the state, American citizen killed in latest West Bank shooting amid escalating violence. He stomped on my soul, and I was left to pick up the pieces.. There was a whole movement on the importance of taking care of yourself before addressing the needs of others. 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. Our camps are . . Email: campinfo@njycamps.org, Lake Como Campus: 90 Woods Road Click the link in that email to complete registration so you can comment. Caren Ford, Elyssa Wright. 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. Today, the board of NJY Camps announced the immediate resignation of executive director Len Robinson. 28 days ago. 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Sinai fights stigma with patience and love. 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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. A newlywed? An old parent? Well, I am old, and my kids are old, so yeshiva week is just a reminder that I am too old to have kids who are still in yeshiva. Schlank, a former teacher, has been an executive at Oasis Children Services, a provider of camp, enrichment, and after-school programs in the New York area. 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. Anne Carvahlo, chairman of the board, also awarded . (NJY Camps via JTA). I look forward to getting to know you in the coming weeks and months. A minor is not old enough to withstand a perpetrators grooming tactics to find his or her way out of the loop, she said. She spoke exclusively to NJJN after the paper first published a report of allegations against Robinson. NJY is focused on creating a wholesome and inspirational community while simultaneously promoting critical discourse surrounding mental illness and its de-stigmatization. "For 100 years, our NJY camps have been creating lasting friendships, positive Jewish experiences, and summers of fun," said . 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. Supervised program and operations on two 1100-acre campuses, six . Office: Teen Camp 21 Plymouth St. Fairfield, NJ 07004 - (973) 575-3333 Camp: Teen Camp 570 Sawkill Road Milford , PA 18337 - (570) 296-8596 Email: tac@njycamps.org According to the story, top board leadership was made aware of Robinsons inappropriate behavior during his tenure, but failed to act. L'Dor V'Dor Society. 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The first alleged sexual assault took place when Robinson drove her to a deserted location under the guise of taking her out for a drive and a drink. and many more to come. Our roots grow deep. I attended and then worked at that same camp for 15 years. 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. What is life? Intensive Sports Program with Top Level Coaching! 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. 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. . Mazel Tov to all the honorees. 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. Camp Nah-Jee-Wah (entering 1st - 6th grades) Cedar Lake Camp (entering 7th-9th grades) Teen Camp (entering 10th-11th grades) Round Lake Camp (special needs inclusion) Camp Nesher (co-ed Orthodox) Total Specialty Camps. Amy, whose story was included in the investigative report commissioned by NJY Camps last year, is further alleging that she was subjected to retaliation by NJY Camps for participating in the investigation and disclosing that she had been sexually assaulted by Robinson, according to her attorney, Richard Swartz. Rosalyn & Bruce Nussman. Phone: (570) 296-8596 The allegations involve complaints by female staffers of unwanted sexual advances and abusive behavior before and after his hiring by NJY Camps in 1993. Crooks, a Member of the Order of Canada (CM), is a five-time Olympian (Athletics), a former Member of the International Olympic Committee, an award-winning business leader, an entrepreneur, a corporate director (non-profit and public Boards), a technology advisor and a . The New York Jewish Week reported Wednesday that Peter Horowitz, the current president of NJY Camps, urged all 60 members of his board to join him in resigning for allowing the former executive . Richard Belzer was a Jewish comedian. Robinson was forced to resign in April 2018 from his position at NJY Camps, which operates various Jewish summer camps, after allegations of sexual misconduct surfaced. For as little as $6 a month you can help support our quality journalism while enjoying The Times of Israel AD-FREE, as well as accessing exclusive content available only to Times of Israel Community members. Full-time. Are you a bitter person? That's why we carefully select our staff from the USA and abroad including Israel, United Kingdom, South America, Russia, Australia and New Zealand. NJY Camps is the largest Jewish overnight camping organization and serves between 1500 to 2500 children and families every summer. This year we are celebrating 40 years of innovative programming for individuals with special needs at Round Lake Camp. 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In the summer of 1995, I met a young college junior named Ilene at camp and nearly four years later we married. Normally, our camps are buzzing with activity; however, with much regret, the realities of the pandemic prevented us from opening our camps this summer. 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. Phone: (570) 296-8596 Get the inside scoop on jobs, salaries, top office locations, and CEO insights. 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.. The most common race/ethnicity among camp directors is White, which makes up 61.1% of all camp directors. 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. Fairfield, NJ. Get New Jersey Jewish News's Newsletter by email and never miss our top stories Our summer camp is only as good as the staff we hire. With this team we are confident we can continue our tradition of excellence. 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Loving memory of David Lenusky. Specifically, I mean the demographic. Incorrect password. 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. Our mission is to show the world that mental health is a lot less scary to face when we do it . 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. Sinai fights stigma with patience and love. She said he would give her alcohol and money. For one hundred years, our NJY camps have been creating lasting friendships, positive Jewish experiences and summers of fun. An NJY Camps spokesperson said the camp has not been contacted by the Essex County Prosecutors Office, but we will cooperate fully if contacted. His resignation came less than a month after Debbie Findling, a philanthropic adviser in the San Francisco Bay Area, wrote an op-ed in The Jewish Week detailing how she had been sexually harassed and propositioned for sex by a communal leader she later identified as Robinson. 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. This MESSH (Mental, Emotional, Social, and Spiritual Health) Professional serves a key role in the overall camper care and staff care of our community, both for Teen Camp campers and staff. But as the journalism we do is costly, we invite readers for whom The Times of Israel has become important to help support our work by joining The Times of Israel Community. Theketubah(marriage contract) that hangs on our living room wall is a painting of camps waterfront. Its a community, A local rabbi reflects on his experiences in Washington last week, A look at why no one has tried to stop the war Putin started last year, Rabbi Jonathan Porath looks back, on Zoom, at 175 trips to Russia, over 50 years, The deeper meanings of giving and getting. 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 . 2023 The Times of Israel , All Rights Reserved, NJY Camps runs a network of Jewish camps serving the New York metropolitan areas. (MARC), was completed in September 2018. An old parent? Fairfield, New Jersey, United States. Comprising five overnight summer camps, NJY serves children of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities. 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. What is life? 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. Could the government cancel elections? 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.. Summer camp in the middle of a pandemic has been a tech-free, joyous balm for some. 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 After reflecting on the independent investigation into Len Robinsons tenure as executive director of NJY Camps, I have come to the conclusion that it is in the best interest of NJY Camps for new lay leadership to lead our community going forward, Peter Horowitz, the current president of NJY Camps, wrote to NJJN in an email. Registering also lets you comment on articles and helps us improve your experience. 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