2020-09-01. Horowitz, the president of the NJY Camps board, said he intends to resign no later than February, The Jewish Week reported. Len Robinson did not respond to requests for comment. Hey, its yeshiva week what are you and your family doing? They had three little kids and were doing their very best Jacob Kraus of Jersey City brings song and leadership skills to shuls, Mayor Steve Fulop of Jersey City tells his familys holocaust story, Rebooting the Conservative movements publication, Masorti Judaism, the movements journal, soon to be back online and in print, Why Germany didnt want to send Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, JFS of Central New Jersey benefits from sale of land, Ukraine and liver disease hate and love, The moral decline and political fall of the Republican party, Celebrating Rabbi Heschel on a milestone yahrzeit, Montclair philanthropist talks about business, friendship, stories, and life, Shai Held talks about Abraham Joshua Heschel in Livingston, Womens March in West Orange will remember Roe, protest Dobbs, Im a fan who squirms with every injury and cheers every touchdown, Bayonne-based Royal Wine Company brings back the Kosher Food and Wine Experience, Rethinking how to help people with suicidal thoughts, Touro psychologist from Passaic works with new model that encourages re-engagement with life, An attribute of the strong/a virtue of the brave. 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. 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. Phone: (570) 296-8596 Get New Jersey Jewish News's Newsletter by email and never miss our top stories Israels judicial overhaul: What is the coalition planning and where does it stand? 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. 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:. Make a donation now to support independent Jewish journalism in New York. More than $2.6 million is distributed in scholarships each year. 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 . A grandparent? Rosalyn & Bruce Nussman. . Over 100 years strong. 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. We Have a Try-It Program That's Just Right For Your Child! A newlywed? But a JCCA employee, who asked for anonymity for fear of reprisal, told NJJN last year that complaints about Robinson being verbally abusive were brought to the JCCAs attention but disregarded. (Photo illustration by Janice hwang). THE NJY CAMPS board of directors has named Michael Schlank to the newly created position of chief executive officer. 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. Len started his career as the Resident Camp Director - Youth Director at the Portland, Oregon JCC. According to the . 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. NJY Camps Board of Directors. 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. A newlywed? . NJY Camps is the largest Jewish overnight camping organization and serves between 1500 to 2500 children and families every summer. How do youse guys think we all should say it? Do you wish you belong to any of those previously mentioned demographics? 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. There was a whole movement on the importance of taking care of yourself before addressing the needs of others. 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. 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. 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. Hylton Wener, NJY Camps Say hello 1 High Ridge Park, Stamford, CT 06905 Phone: 203-399-5414 Phone . 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. Ihave no idea who reads this column. He will find that our staff is excellent, passionate, strong, and dedicated to the mission of camp. 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. She said she struggled with self-esteem and had difficulty navigating relationships throughout her young adulthood because of the experience. Working on an actual campgrounds and being able to work with children. Our camps are . Intensive Sports Program with Top Level Coaching! The womans attorney, Richard S. Swartz of the Cherry Hill law firm Swartz Swidler, LLC, declined to comment about the settlement. 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. Please feel free to browse our website to see the vast program that we offer and when you are ready to apply for the summer of your life, fill out an application by clicking on the link . 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. Email: nesher@njycamps.org |. Advertisement. Fairfield, PA, USA, Milford, PA, USA. I would recommend working at njy camps because of the one in a lifetime experience it gives to the workers. 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. 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 . Shlomit Ravitsky Tur-Paz: Knesset left the courts no choice but to intervene, Darkest tragedy, unrealized dreams: Whispered in Gaza, the final interviews, Whispered in Gaza, Part 2: When residents of the Strip tried to challenge Hamas, Introducing Whispered in Gaza 25 short, animated interviews on life under Hamas, The quirky, improbable, infuriating and uplifting, In rare scientific advance, new snake family identified in Israel, Sadats family angered by sale of passport used for historic Israel trip, Racist wording will be edited out of reissued James Bond books, Rabbi Chaim Kanievskys pants taken off auction site, Ex-Trump aide marries in 1st-ever wedding at UAEs Abrahamic house, Memphis rapper NLE Choppa returns to Israel for May concert, Torn pants of late Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky up for auction, Guns N Roses to kick off 2023 tour in Tel Aviv, Guns N Roses, Morrissey reportedly to return to Israel this summer, South Park rips into Harry and Meghan in latest episode, Israeli scores late game-winner for English soccer club Fulham, Winter rains in Saudi Arabia cause floral bloom, turning desert purple, Netflix Israel to air Kan 11 shows, including Checkout, Dismissed, Cramel. . Fairfield, NJ. Meanwhile, the Essex County Prosecutors Office confirmed that it is reviewing materials related to other allegations that have arisen against Robinson and NJY Camps handling of the matter. Email Us. . Some have already complied. An independent investigation into the allegations was completed in September, The Jewish Week reports, but its conclusions only became public when the head of a large New Jersey Jewish federation read the report and called on the entire 60-member board of NJY Camps to resign. In addition, Amy, a former associate director at NJY Camps, is alleging that Robinson, then her boss, sexually assaulted her in his car during the winter of 1999. The NJY Camps is governed by a Board of Directors, which includes JCC representatives, regional leaders, former campers and other friends. Please try again or choose an option below. For as little as $6/month, you will: Were really pleased that youve read X Times of Israel articles in the past month. 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. Will Bibis legacy be a new constitution for Israel or civil war? Under the supervision of the Teen Programs Director and the NJY full-time Mental Health professional, the MESSH professional is responsible for the development . Family Vacation Weekends. Are you a kid? According to the story, top board leadership was made aware of Robinsons inappropriate behavior during his tenure, but failed to act. Phone: (973) 575-3333 Our summer camp is only as good as the staff we hire. Although an independent investigation into the allegations was completed in September, its conclusions became public only when the head of the MetroWest federation read the report and called on the entire board of NJY Camps to resign. Our camps are accredited by the American Camping Association, and we are an affiliate of the Foundation for Jewish Camp. August 15, 2023. It takes just a few seconds. Loving memory of David Lenusky. Get New Jersey Jewish News's Newsletter by email and never miss our top stories Email: campinfo@njycamps.org, Milford Campus: 570 Sawkill Road, Milford, PA 18337 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. Description. MILFORD, Pa. -- An 11-year-old Bergen County boy who died earlier this week while away at a Pennsylvania sleep-away camp has tested positive for a bacteria that is a precursor to meningitis . When she was 19, Robinson introduced her to cocaine, Joanna alleged. By registering you agree to the terms and conditions. Nurturing and caring counselors that assist your child throughout their entire stay! 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 . 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. According to the story, top board leadership was made aware of Robinsons inappropriate behavior during his tenure, but failed to act. The camp was originally created to give young Jewish boys from around the state of New Jersey an opportunity to go to the country with other Jewish boys. And I have seen the impact that residential camp has had on our own two children, their friends, and our family. In 2014 he joined the full-time team and for the seven years to follow, Jason was the Assistant Director of Camp Nah-Jee-Wah and directed NJY Camps' Pre and Post Camp seasons, First Step and short stay programs. Please use the following structure: example@domain.com, Send me The Times of Israel Daily Edition. 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. If so, please join The Times of Israel Community. A former teacher, for the last decade Michael has been an executive at Oasis Children Services, a leading provider of camp, enrichment and after school programs in the New York area. What is life? An old parent? NJY s mission focuses on supporting the growth and development of every individual member of its community so that they can learn new skills . The allegations involve complaints by female staffers of unwanted sexual advances and abusive behavior before and after his hiring by NJY Camps in 1993. He stomped on my soul, and I was left to pick up the pieces.. Thinking About Overnight Camp? 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. P: 908-889-8800. He also serves as an Assistant Executive Director of Camp Nesher's parent organization, the New Jersey YM-YWHA (NJY) Camps. 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. With this team we are confident we can continue our tradition of excellence. click the link in that email to complete your registration. Phone: (570) 798-2373 | 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 . Apr 2018 - Sep 20213 years 6 months. In that role, Schlank will lead the professional staff and oversee all of NJY Camps'. Specifically, I mean the demographic. Senior Accounting Manager Location: Fairfield, NJ About NJY Camps: NJY Camps (NJY) is one of North America s premier Jewish summer camp organizations. Her story was corroborated by two contemporaneous NJY colleagues, including Ellen Goldner, the former president of Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ. She spoke exclusively to NJJN after the paper first published a report of allegations against Robinson. 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. Was the Director of Logistics for Malan Breton's February 2020 London Fashion Week Show. Office: Cedar Lake Camp 21 Plymouth St. Fairfield, NJ 07004 - (973) 575-3333 Camp: Cedar Lake Camp 570 Sawkill Road Milford , PA 18337 - (570) 296-8596 Email: clc@njycamps.org Please use the following structure: example@domain.com, Send me The Times of Israel Daily Edition. Under Jeff's leadership, Camp Nesher introduced Yachad B'Nesher, an inclusive program that mainstreams children with disabilities into daily camp life. Working with our staff, Michael will provide leadership and creativity to get us there. Are you a bitter person? NJY Teen Camp Assistant Director. 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. 28 days ago. Theketubah(marriage contract) that hangs on our living room wall is a painting of camps waterfront. Life is good, life is bad, life is surprising, life is challenging. Once a new governance structure has been put into place, this community will once again be the stewards of one of this countrys great Jewish summer camp experiences.. 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. Robinson was forced to resign from his position as executive director last April, a day before NJJNs initial story was published. The former president did not respond to requests for comment. Are you a bitter person? The NJ Y Camps is one of the nation's premier Jewish camping organizations, with seven camps clustered at two locations serving children, families and seniors. Specifically, I mean the demographic. A minor is not old enough to withstand a perpetrators grooming tactics to find his or her way out of the loop, she said. In December, the chief executive of a New Jersey Jewish federation called for the resignation of the entire 60-member board of NJY Camps after viewing the report, according to a Jewish Week story. (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. 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. 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 New York Jewish Week, NJJNs sister publication, detailing how she had been sexually harassed and propositioned for sex by a communal leader she later identified as Robinson. Rachel Jacoby Rosenfield opened her Riverdale home to a family of Ukrainian refugees. Assistant Food Service Director (Former Employee) - Milford, PA - December 11, 2018. Life is waking up every morning and being grateful that you can get out of bed and walk to the bathroom unassisted. Today, the board of NJY Camps announced the immediate resignation of executive director Len Robinson. Hannah Dreyfus is a staff writer at The New York Jewish Week, NJJNs sister publication. 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. Gottheimer, other leaders rally against hate in Livingston, Moldova, Ukraine, and our Jewish commitment, MetroWest Federations CEO describes massive effort to help war refugees, Israel, Ukraine and their tanks arent treading lightly, We have to continue to raise our voices, Abe Foxman assesses the situation in Israel as he balances optimism and fear, Vshinantem lvanechah teach your children, Old South Jersey family with proud Colonial past discovers link to storied Sephardi Jews, UPDATE: Suspect in Ner Tamid attack arrested, Rabbi Katz of Ner Tamid: Weve unfortunately been preparing for this, Golda Och Academys student newspaper places second in national competition, South Orange shul considers diversity, displacement, and art this weekend, Kids playwright from Elizabeth talks about Corduroy, A word of difference in tackling a recurring tragedy, Lessons from Ben-Gvirs Temple Mount Visit, American and Israeli Jewsare more than just oceans apart, A winning formula for better mental health. As for the meaning of life? 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. Email: campinfo@njycamps.org, Milford Campus: 570 Sawkill Road, Milford, PA 18337 Ten months after the executive director of the largest camping organization in North America was. June 19, 2023. Amy said she did not have the financial means to leave her job and felt she had no recourse to report the incident, as Robinson was the organizations executive director. Child victims can carry guilt for their whole lives for going back, and perpetrators encourage that kind of thinking. Camp Overview. 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. I know how heartbroken our community is not being able to be together. NTEE code, primary. 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.