Ohel & Camp Kaylie Expansion Update with CEO David Mandel on JM in the AM

JM in the AM on a Thursday morning, as we get closer and closer to the brand new year. David Mandel is, of course, the chief executive officer at Ohel. He has been an amazing uh guest and partner with us and is somebody who has been um very enthusiastic about our work for the last many, many years as we get set to celebrate our 43rd anniversary of JM in the AM tomorrow. We have an opportunity to not only give him New Year's greetings, but to hear what's been happening over at Ohel as we close out 5786. David Mandel, a pleasure to welcome you back to JM in the AM. >> Good morning, Nachum, and it is really a pleasure to be here and to wish you an amazing happy anniversary and a Shanah Tovah U'Metukah. >> Appreciate that. Thank you, and a happy, healthy, sweet new year to you. We'd love to hear what's been happening. We will We've guaranteed the audience we will talk about the summer piece. We'll talk about Ohel and Camp Kaylie and their big announcements and news recently, but let's start with Ohel in general. Tell us some of the things that have been going on with your incredible organization over the last couple of months. >> Let's start with you and Stacy and how your family's doing, your expanding family, Baruch Hashem, Nachum. How are you all doing? >> They're doing great, thank God. >> Good. Good. Wonderful. So, Ohel um Ohel is here, Baruch Hashem. Ohel has a board of directors that every single time we have a conversation and we speak about an opportunity or we bring an opportunity or they bring to us an opportunity, we just go into it, Baruch Hashem, sailing into the winds. Over the past couple of months, back in May, Ohel opened up a new outpatient center in Hillcrest, Queens, >> Wow. >> serving the general community and also the Bukharian community, and Dr. Hesky Kwork is the director there, and Hesky may be a familiar name to some people since you mentioned the summer. >> Yeah. >> Prior to OHEL Brizel, he was the former head camp OHEL Brizel is the director. Um Hesky used to be the head counselor in Camp Kaylie for several years, and then he left Camp Kaylie to pursue full-time PhD in clinical psychology, and we're so excited that Dr. Hesky Kwork is back as part of the OHEL professional leadership. >> It must be a very difficult decision process um to go ahead and and establish a new presence in yet another community, another neighborhood, to understand that the needs are so great that there must be some type of OHEL center in a particular place. What what is that process like? >> In this situation, the community came to OHEL. Several community leaders, comprised of Rabbonim from a cross-section of the community, um this community this both community has Ashkenazim, Sephardim, Bukharian, and a cross-section of Rabbonim and principals of Yeshivas invited us to develop outpatient therapeutic services. Of course, they perceived a lack um of such work. >> Yeah. >> We had a meeting at which more than community leaders, members, came to a conversation, and through the help of some local individuals, we identified some good central space. It took us several months and we had the support of federal elected officials, Assemblyman Ari Greenberger, Assemblyman David Weprin, Assemblywoman Nily Rozic, and with their support and others' support, we were able to develop and open up in mid-May and in a very short time, we had more than a hundred individuals, a lot more than a hundred individuals referred. We currently have in a span of three months, more than a hundred individuals that we are serving um outpatient treatment on a regular basis. And that number will grow significantly in the coming months. So, we feel very good about the work that we're doing as we expand our work throughout New York City and of course in New Jersey and South Florida and Israel that we've spoken about before. >> Yeah, it's funny because I was just thinking as we're talking, uh Ohel's been doing this for over half a century. In fact, we met Ohel, we meaning Jam and the AM, somewhere in the 41-42 years ago range. It is amazing how you've been able to stay at the top of your game and not just stay at the top, but beyond New York, now it is New Jersey and it is Florida as you said, it is Israel. And it's also being there in emergency situations, no matter where the community is around the world, uh for intervention when it comes to traumatic episodes, um schools that may need you and your staff to come in with special programming or again in an emergency. So, while most organizations and efforts start to peter out before the 50-year mark, it seems that you guys just keep getting stronger and stronger. >> When you have I you know, I can't say it often enough and you know the leadership of the boards. >> Yeah. And the young leadership also. >> No question about it. When you have the leadership of the boards with um the Mel Zachter and the Zachter family national trauma center and Jay Kestenbaum the Kestenbaum family international children services and we have um Mike Schuman and we have Annette Rubin and you know, it just goes on and on and on and trauma the unfortunate situation that was that so many people know about of a young woman unfortunately who wound up in in a swimming pool of the house through a but your tragic accident and it affected um she was the head of mass at HAFTR >> Right. >> and it affected her family, the community, her friends, the entire school and the Ohel trauma team spent several days in in HAFTR and the middle school and the high school working with the students, the faculty, the parents, the friends. Um this is the work this is the work that that gets done and it gets done very well and this past weekend Ohel held this annual retreat for parents who unfortunately lost a child and we held it at Camp Kaylie and from Friday afternoon until Sunday morning conversation on on grief and bereavement. Excuse me, Nachman. It's good work. It's important work. It's satisfying work. And you get a lot of feedback from people about how it helps and that propels you to keep going forward, Nachum. >> Unbelievable, really something. Uh J M in the A M on this Thursday. Uh David Mandel is with us. So now uh many people are curious. Camp Kaylie began in what year? How how old is Camp Kaylie at this point? >> And Camp Kaylie was purchased 18 years ago and we took uh some time to develop it and this is going to be our 17th year in Massachusetts. You know those difficult teenage years Nachum? We're going to be 17 years old in Massachusetts. >> Yeah, well, that's an interesting way of putting it. Uh it has been well known and I think you were open and honest about this not only in this forum but everywhere uh that you've always wanted to have two campuses, be able to provide a full summer, one for boys and one for girls uh for Camp Kaylie. I don't think this was anything at all that was secretive. I think this was open and honest with everybody that this was always your intention. Um therefore I I felt it was it would be um it would be uh justified uh and it would be deserved uh for Ohel as they made this attempt now to uh expand and have a second campus uh to have a very um smooth experience. A smooth sailing uh process. And I'm not sure that's exactly what it was. So can you describe for us what the last couple of months have been like in the camp space for Kaylie and Ohel? >> Did you say a smooth process? >> That's what >> Nachum, >> That's what I said. >> I apologize. >> I think you deserved it. I think you you I you have no idea. I I had a lot I've had a lot to say about this whole issue. Not on the air but I've had a lot to say about this whole issue. I know a little little something about camping and the camping industry. In this case, you need to know this industry space very well. Tell us about the last couple of months. >> How about if I tell you about today and we just skip the last couple of months? >> No, that's fair. I can I can only ask you to to speak about what you want to speak about. Today means I saw notice that Camp Kaylie has begun registration for two camps on August the 31st. Is that still accurate? Did that take place at the end of August? >> Yes, very much so, Baruch Hashem. And Camp Kaylie, just incredibly, the growth, the opportunity, the expansion, the Shanto, the Shanto Meis Shulman, the president of America does love to say that Ohel has only one asset, its name. So, Shanto Meis Shulman told >> Yep. >> And it's not the buildings, and it's not the real estate, and all all all those are important because you need that in order to be able to provide the services that we provide in our housing and our patient day programs and employment and so on and so forth. It's the name. And Camp Kaylie, the Harvey and Gloria Kaylie Family Foundation has helped us so incredibly. It was our vision for a couple of years, as you say, to open a second camp, so we have a full summer for boys, a full summer for girls. Gloria Kaylie's motto was Camp Kaylie is where typical boys spend the summer and go home special, and special needs boys spend the summer >> That's a good insight. I go home typical. >> And and it's just amazing. >> Yeah, that's a good insight. I like that. >> Sometimes people say words, say a sentence and it and it just sticks. So, we've been looking to several years, a couple years ago, um the having Gloria um Camp Kaylie Family Foundation purchased a piece of property adjacent to Camp Kaylie just on the other side of the mountain. And we began to develop it believing that and we made an announcement that Ohel Children's two years ago that we would be opening a second overnight camp. And our architect said to me at that time, he said, "David, nobody builds a new camp." >> That's right. >> People buy a camp and then they expand and develop and renovate. >> Yeah, they resell it. >> Nobody but nobody but Kaylie thinks about building a new camp. Well, it took us a while to absorb that and we have an amazing amazing relationship in the village in the town that we're in. But to build a new camp with all the requirements with all the local zoning laws uh took us a lot longer than expected. And an auction came up >> Right. >> about 3 months ago. And to the people in the camping industry, it's it's well known what occurred. Um an auction occurred in which 29 camps, I believe 10 camps and 19 overnight camps came up for auction. So, we checked that out a little bit. We learned what's going on. We consulted with some individuals um how to go into the auction which of the camps that were available in the auction were um potentially a good fit for Ohel Camp Kaylie. And with our research, we decided to enter the auction. The auction room. So many new words for me, Nachum. Um the auction room. And we did. And then um we were not the successful bidder on our first auction. And then we looked at some other opportunities. We bid on a second camp. We were the successful bidder on a second camp. And after several conversations with a number of people, um we decided that that second camp was really not the right fit for Ohel. And I just want to leave it at that. And and we decided not to pursue uh the development of Camp Kaylie in that uh specific location. >> Um >> Yeah. >> And then And then we get a phone >> call. >> Having nothing to do with the auction, but everything to do with the auction after we sat and we said, "Okay, what's next?" We get a phone call. And the phone call is, um we see that um Ohel and Camp Kaylie are interested in expanding and buying another camp. And we have an opportunity for you. Having nothing to do with the auction, Nachum, but having everything to do with Hashem. >> So, it was not part of the 29, you're saying. >> Nothing. Zero. Zero. >> But because of the because of the auction it became known because of the auction it became known in the industry that you had an interest in purchasing a camp. >> Um pretty much anyone in the camping industry >> Right, they knew already. >> in in in in the entire country. >> Right, that's true. >> You know, so it was very it It wasn't public, but it was easy to understand >> Right. >> who was bidding, who was buying, >> Right. >> who was >> Understood. >> who was What was going on. >> So, when will we What >> So, you get a call. >> Sorry, go ahead. >> No, I was going to ask when we're going to learn where this new camp is. >> Um very, very soon. We are um in contract and we're going to closing b'ezrat Hashem soon. Uh this camp is within a short driving distance of Camp Kaylie. >> Wow. >> And um parents who have um a son and a daughter in two different camps as an example, um I see you >> Visiting Visiting day at both the same day at both camps. >> You know, actually I don't know nothing. That's a good question. >> Oh, do your Do yourselves a favor. You got to You got to put me on your advisory board. I have too much to contribute. I have too many tidbits to contribute. You give You can do visiting day on the same day. >> any tidbits. So, with this new camp, there's a lot of concern, you know, parents that they drove, you know, from and visiting day, you hear from parents, "Oh my gosh, I I'm arriving at 9:00 a.m. Well, visiting day opens at 11:00 o'clock. I don't care. I'm arriving at 9:00 a.m. cuz I need to leave by 11:00 o'clock >> Yeah. >> to go drive 2 hours to visit, you know, my son, my daughter in the other camp. >> Yeah. >> You know. >> You're going to have You're going to have to sit You're going to have to sit through my presentation about visiting day one of these days. Um but you're so So, in all seriousness, >> We'd like to cancel visiting day, Nachman. >> Say it again. >> I said, "Camp directors would like to cancel visiting day." >> Yeah, and well, that's how my presentation starts on why you need to cancel it, but that's a separate issue. Um so So, I We You can I mean, I I don't think you have any trouble saying this. You can tell this audience that the new Camp Kaylie is going to be within what? 50 miles of the of the current one? Would that be fair? >> Much less. >> Much less. Okay, great. So, that's information I think people wanted to know. And is there a determination about which gender goes to which campus or that hasn't been determined yet? >> So, in the first year in the first It's a very smart question. >> Yeah. Hey. >> I hope this is a smart answer. Is that the You know, when Camp Kaylie started 16 years ago, it didn't look like Camp Kaylie today. We bought a camp. It was a beautiful camp. We I tell people that we saw 62 properties, 62. We saw every single piece of property that was for sale on the local Long Island area. Horse farms, camps, anything that was for sale. >> Yeah, in those days I was actually consulting a little bit. I remember that. >> Right. Right. Right. We saw Camp Kaylie and we just fell in love. We fell in love. You know, we we knew that this was the place. >> Yeah. >> And we opened up um a year or two later and we opened up with a small number of We opened up with 86 kids that home. >> Right. >> 86 kids. >> Not small for the first year, but okay. Go ahead. Yeah. >> The dining room in Camp Kaylie was the the shul, the dining room, and the gym. >> Right. >> Okay? We davened, we ate, we played ball. >> Right. >> And then we we kept doing that. And it took two or three years um to and then of course 16 years later as people visit Camp Kaylie, they see that every single summer we expand. >> Right. >> So, this new camp it doesn't currently have the capacity that Camp Kaylie has in terms of um of the kids, the staff. >> And it needs work, I'm sure. >> and the work and the it's a beautiful campus. A beautiful campus. Year one, it's a beautiful campus. With a lake and a pool and basketball and and and an indoor gym and and a pickle ball and and and volleyball and tennis and uh all the things all the things. This see this coming summer boys are going to be in Camp Kaylie in July. Girls um are going to be in the new camp Kaylie in July. Girls are going to go over to Camp Kaylie Camp Kaylie one the current Camp Kaylie in August. And boys are going to go from Camp Kaylie one to Camp Kaylie two in August. >> Wow. >> So we're going to be using both campuses >> And making that whole switch? >> only. The 2027 only. And there's not a chance for 2028 because we're already taking our plans that we had for the property. We have a lot of plans on that property that I spoke about. We're taking those plans the buildings that we mapped out. This way we can bring it to the new camp. We can site it. There's a lot of property to develop on this new camp. And there's not a chance we're going to be able to develop and build new buildings and expansion. And then in 2028 there's not a chance we will have um a full summer camp at Camp Kaylie one and a full summer camp at Camp Kaylie two. Camp Kaylie, probably Camp Kaylie Gloria, the boys for girls. Looking forward to it now. >> Is the is I mean yes or no answer if you're willing to give it a sufficient is the situation and your involvement with that whole auction thing that you described to us, is it over now or is it ending now? How would you describe that? >> Yes. >> Ending now. >> Ending now. Like whatever's left to be tied up, it'll be tied up in the next few days. >> Yes. Yes. And the auction process the auction process is obviously very different in terms of buying and selling. There's so many different rules and normally purchasing the house or a property. So the auction process timetable is that it's all in the finishing stages right now auction. >> All right, there you have it folks. David Mandel, he is the chief executive officer at Ohel Camp Kaylie of course a prize possession of Ohel. Pretty amazing camp. So you heard the plan. The plan is the big switcheroo. Two campuses for 2027 in the middle of the camping season, they will actually move the boys to the other camp and the girls to the quote-unquote other camp. Very interesting. I got to find out got to find out more about it. I need a lunch with David Mandel one of these days when the new year begins. I I need I need to lend them my expertise on the logistics of this whole thing. So that's the Camp Kaylie announcement and obviously we cherish this relationship we've had with Ohel for all these decades. I thank you David because not only are you guys amazing partners and supporters of the work that we do but you're really enthusiastic about what goes on here every single day and I appreciate that very much. And I'm sure in the new year we'll have a chance to speak and promote events and to talk about some of your programs and all the different things that are going on on a regular basis which is extensive. Lots of stuff going on all the time when it comes to Ohel. So, I take this opportunity to wish you a happy, healthy, and sweet new year, and may we have a peaceful and wonderful 5787. >> Nachum, thank you very much, and I want to give a special thank you to David Brecher, to Jay Kestenbaum, that have invested so much time over the summer in this process to Ellie Cohn, the chairman of the board of Camp Kaylie, to Daniel Jacobson, Mel Zachter, Annette Rubin, and Ben Englander, and others that have been involved. And of course, to Ellie Brazil, the director of Camp Kaylie, David Schavit, Avi Weber, leadership who's been involved in spent a sleepless summer. And to you and your entire listening audience, and may we all hear the shofar in the coming days in Eretz Yisrael and around the world. Thank you very much, Nachum. >> A pleasure, a real pleasure, David. Thank you for everything. And I look forward to getting together soon, Bezrat Hashem. Shana Tova Umetuka. More coming up. It's hour number three on the way at America's one and only Jewish Moments in the Morning Radio Program, heard on listener-sponsored digital radio, rather with the web at nachumsegal.com and on Nachum's mobile network and of course, the beloved NSN app. >> Hey.