She remained at the camp, but refused to be alone with Robinson going forward. operations. NJJN managing editor Shira Vickar-Fox contributed reporting. Summer camp is truly embedded in my DNA and an integral part of my own family history. 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Incorrect password. 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. Phone: (973) 575-3333 Get New Jersey Jewish News's Newsletter by email and never miss our top stories Life is waking up every morning and being grateful that you can get out of bed and walk to the bathroom unassisted. A newlywed? 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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 NJJNs exclusive report on the investigations findings. Hylton Wener, NJY Camps Say hello 1 High Ridge Park, Stamford, CT 06905 Phone: 203-399-5414 Phone . I would recommend working at njy camps because of the one in a lifetime experience it gives to the workers. NJY is focused on creating a wholesome and inspirational community while simultaneously promoting critical discourse surrounding mental illness and its de-stigmatization. and Robert Tucker. 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.. Family Camp. 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. The independent investigation, conducted by the law firm McCusker, Anselmi, Rosen & Carvelli, P.C. Its up to thee! 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. His repulsive behavior had a psychological impact on me until this moment, recalled Joanna, now 42, in an interview with NJJN. 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. Israels judicial overhaul: What is the coalition planning and where does it stand? 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. A copy of the memo was obtained by NJJN. Email: [email protected], Lake Como Campus: 90 Woods Road . Scotch Plains, NJ 07076. Get the inside scoop on jobs, salaries, top office locations, and CEO insights. Do you rely on The Times of Israel for accurate and insightful news on Israel and the Jewish world? NJY Camps Board of Directors. 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. . 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. 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. Fairfield, NJ. N20: Recreational and Sporting Camps. 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. 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. Please use the following structure: [email protected], Send me The Times of Israel Daily Edition. London, United Kingdom. Aryn has been bringing her high energy and enthusiasm to NJY Camps for 9 years and has been in camping both as a camper and staff member since she was a . Why didnt his obituaries say so? The womans attorney, Richard S. Swartz of the Cherry Hill law firm Swartz Swidler, LLC, declined to comment about the settlement. . "For 100 years, our NJY camps have been creating lasting friendships, positive Jewish experiences, and summers of fun," said . A long-time member of our staff as the chief operating officer, she stepped up to lead the organization through our 2018 and 2019 seasons with great success. Comprised of five overnight summer camps, NJY serves children of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities. 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. In March, Debbie Findling wrote an op-ed in The New York Jewish Week, NJJNs sister publication, detailing how she had been sexually harassed and propositioned for sex three decades ago by an anonymous leader in Jewish communal service. Free Sign Up. Get New Jersey Jewish News's Newsletter by email and never miss our top stories An opportunity for your camper to meet potential bunkmates for future summers! Email: [email protected] |. For as little as $6/month, you will: Were really pleased that youve read X Times of Israel articles in the past month. (JTA) 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. Email: [email protected], Milford Campus: 570 Sawkill Road, Milford, PA 18337 NJY Camps in New Jersey is the largest Jewish camp complex in North America, serving about 5,500 youth annually. We are an incubator, HaZamir chapters rehearsing for 30th anniversary gala performance at Lincoln Center, The Belarusian-born educator from Morristown and Randolph was 92, Hearing the Gettysburg Address in Hebrew again. In a Dec. 19 statement sent to NJJN, Horowitz qualified that many members of the NJY board had no knowledge of Robinsons wrongdoing. Still, he wrote, although these people would be strong members to lead us toward the future they are part of a current reality that makes the present boards continued viability untenable, and not in the best interest of the campers and staff we serve.. The investigators' report "is a shameful, damning, heart-breaking and miserable study in leadership failure . 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. Like how, if the plane you are on is Jewish studies scholar from Rutgers looks at the Adam and Eve story, The library isnt a building. While a publicist for NJY Camps said that "almost all board members had no knowledge" of the. How do youse guys think we all should say it? The case was considered closed. Oct 2019 - Feb 20233 years 5 months. A grandparent? When she was 19, Robinson introduced her to cocaine, Joanna alleged. Fairfield, PA, USA, Milford, PA, USA. At the time, she was 42 and a separated mother of two. NEW! 2023 jewish telegraphic agency all rights reserved. The camps draw more than 4,000 campers each summer from numerous communities. while still having fun at the workplace being able to travel while on the job. At the same time, camp is about having fun and creating lifelong friendships. 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. According to Ben-Shimons letter, the report unearthed 11 cases in which Robinson harassed, abused, mistreated, intimidated and harmed women during his 25-year tenure as NJYs top executive. We are an incubator, HaZamir chapters rehearsing for 30th anniversary gala performance at Lincoln Center, The Belarusian-born educator from Morristown and Randolph was 92, Hearing the Gettysburg Address in Hebrew again. According to the story, top board leadership was made aware of Robinsons inappropriate behavior during his tenure, but failed to act. He also serves as an Assistant Executive Director of Camp Nesher's parent organization, the New Jersey YM-YWHA (NJY) Camps. NJY Camps is comprised of five children's Jewish overnight camps and travel programs. and Michael Schwartz! By registering you agree to the terms and conditions. The New York Jewish Week reported in December that Peter Horowitz, the then-president of NJY Camps, urged all 60 members of his board to join him in resigning for allowing the former executive . NJY Camps attorneys entered into good faith conversations with that individuals counsel and ultimately reached a settlement to address her allegations, Horowitz wrote. 1st Session Ends & 2nd Session Begins. 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. 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.. 2020-09-01. For photo archives, select the camp from the dropdown below. Our nonprofit newsroom depends on readers like you. Assistant Food Service Director (Former Employee) - Milford, PA - December 11, 2018. MJC President Michael Schlank has been named CEO of NYJ Camps. Phone: (570) 798-2373 | 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. 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. She said she struggled with self-esteem and had difficulty navigating relationships throughout her young adulthood because of the experience. Hey, its yeshiva week what are you and your family doing? (JTA) The president of a Jewish camps association in New Jersey has urged its entire board to resign, in the . Already a member? Specifically, I mean the demographic. Camp. THE STORY OF NJY CAMPS In the summer of 1921, 70 boys attended Cedar Lake Camp located in Bear Mountain, NY. In that role, Michael will lead our professional staff and oversee all of NJY Camps operations. 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. Through the 1920s, the demand for service outpaced accommodations, and in 1933 the NJY Camps purchased a permanent site in Milford, Pennsylvania, which now comprises 1250 acres of land and three lakes. P: 908-889-8800. Ihave no idea who reads this column. 28 days ago. Executive Director, Customer Facing Team Excellence Danbury, CT. Daniel Schofield General Manager Hospitality Astoria, OR. Working at camp is not just a job, it's an adventure filled with new friendships, amazing experiences and unforgettable memories. Ihave no idea who reads this column. 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. She discusses what the experience may tell us about Jewish obligation, history and dignity. 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. Fairfield, NJ. Do you rely on The Times of Israel for accurate and insightful news on Israel and the Jewish world? Family Camps. 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. 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Doron Krakow, president and CEO of JCC Association of North America, issued the below statement in response: "Today, the board of NJY Camps announced the immediate resignation of Len Robinson, after being confronted with allegations of sexual . But a JCCA employee, who asked for anonymity for fear of reprisal, told The Jewish Week last year that complaints about Robinson being verbally abusive were brought to the JCCAs attention but disregarded. More than fifty years ago, my father asked my mother to marry him on a day off they shared while working at a Jewish sleepaway camp, a camp they eventually went on to lead for nearly a decade. For one hundred years, our NJY camps have been creating lasting friendships, positive Jewish experiences and summers of fun. A grandparent? 2 Day Intro to Overnight Camp. Do you wish you belong to any of those previously mentioned demographics? 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. Ellen Goldner, a former employee of NJY Camps and the former president of the MetroWest Federation, told The Jewish Week she warned the then-board president, Bruce Tucker, about Robinsons behavior; Tucker dismissed the information, according to Goldner. 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. 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.. Board of Directors data for 2023 *with the ability to download the data for 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016 Download it now for $125. Iam pretty sure that I wrote a column about self-care at some point during the pandemic. 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. The most common race/ethnicity among camp directors is White, which makes up 61.1% of all camp directors. 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. Call Jeff, the Director of First Step, at 973-575-3333 ext.170 or email him at [email protected]. Marketing and Communications Coordinator. So now we have a request. The vision of NJY is to unite individuals in a globally supportive community. Working on an actual campgrounds and being able to work with children. Jim Levi is the newest member of the Starting Hearts Board of Directors. Or even Pauline Chernichaw of Englewood Cliffs talks about art, family history, and life, No room for indifference in the fight against antisemitism, Rabbis, Rep. 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Soon after the story was published, she revealed that the unnamed individual was Robinson when he served as a supervisor at a JCC on the West Coast. Will Bibis legacy be a new constitution for Israel or civil war? (MARC), was completed in September 2018. We are grateful to Janet for guiding NJY Camps through troubled waters these past few years and always putting the needs of the camp community first. He will find that our staff is excellent, passionate, strong, and dedicated to the mission of camp. In that role, Schlank will lead the professional staff and oversee all of NJY Camps Meet the Director Aryn Barer, LMSW. 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.. 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. Are you a bitter person? 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. Jan 2012 - Jun 20208 years 6 months. Camp Fire envisions a community in which every child has equitable access to the learning opportunities they need to succeed and thrive in a rapidly changing world. Life is good, life is bad, life is surprising, life is challenging. I look forward to getting to know you in the coming weeks and months. Her claims were corroborated by her college roommate, who recalled Robinson picking up Joanna from her dorm room in college. The independent investigation, conducted by the law firm McCusker, Anselmi, Rosen & Carvelli, P.C. Summer camp in the middle of a pandemic has been a tech-free, joyous balm for some. NJY s mission focuses on supporting the growth and development of every individual member of its community so that they can learn new skills . 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. 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 . 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. Sinai fights stigma with patience and love. NJY Camps (NJY) is one of North America's premier Jewish summer camp networks. The allegations involve complaints by female staffers of unwanted sexual advances and abusive behavior before and after his hiring by NJY Camps in 1993. Our camps are accredited by the American Camping Association, and we are an affiliate of the Foundation for Jewish Camp. Email: [email protected] |. Phone: (570) 296-8596 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.. NJY offers a 5-week Israel programs for teenagers as well as extensive travel and community service programs Family Camp Weekends Administrative Login Play Ads Full Screen With Controls Powered by Wizadjournal - Developed by PBCS Technology * Background covers created by starline www.freepik.com * Servers: web2 mysql5 Event: 1182: 1709