Reb Judah Mischel Calls in from Camp HASC 2026

Well, we promised you Rebjuda. We promised you Rebjudah Michelle. Nobody can give a firsthand account of what the first couple of days up at Camp Hask are like like Rebjuda Michelle can as he leads the folks up in Parksville, New York camp for another fabulous season. Rebjuda, a pleasure to welcome you back to JM in the AM. >> Good morning, Nome. Thank you very very much. >> A pleasure. Hey, you know, people who uh who take Hask very seriously all year round, all the friends and supporters and the concert goers and, you know, those who and the monthly supporters and those who really have their heart set on Camp Hask all year round. They want to check in. They want to see what's happening. They want you to be their eyes and ears and report back about how fabulous this summer is. And and what's the timetable, by the way? What was it? Yesterday did the buses arrived up at Camp As? >> Yes. Yes. Yes. Yesterday. Yesterday on Sunday we had a bunch of our campers came with their families for drop off and then yesterday was uh yesterday we became whole and and the rest of our campers came for buses and and wheelchair vans and and uh thank God we're running now at uh at full capacity. >> Night number one, Reb Judah, which was last night. Night number one, I suspect, is not the easiest of nights up at Camp Hask for the staff, for the new staff, even for the campers. As much as they love it, obviously it's a transition to get back to camp and away from family for a while. How would you describe what last night's overnight uh was like? >> Every every night has its dawn. So, we made it. >> That's funny. and and and and I'll I'll tell you for real as much as you know Rashi says all all beginnings have their challenges and transitions uh especially you know when there's this many moving people and different types of uh of of of people of all ages from all different places um it can be a little bit complicated in the beginning but I tell you it was it was really beautiful and overall really smooth um to the extent that uh we had uh you know last night when when when all said and done and and everybody was at least supposed to be going to bed uh we had a big beautiful barbecue and uh and a recap of the day and and if you look at I'm looking out the window right now here at the corner of Eisen right outside of our basa >> um you wouldn't believe that it's the first morning you would not believe it's the first morning >> there's a that is pack the sh is packed the is packed counselors and campus advent Counselors are helping the the campers put on filling. There's girls walking all around here on the front lawn. Um going to breakfast, smiling, sun is out. It feels like we've been here, you know, uh and you can't believe that it's the first morning. >> Well, the greatest thing that a camp director or leader can say is that uh it feels like they never left. They come back and within 10 minutes they've all adjusted completely to life up in camp. There's no greater compliment you can give to an environment that's able to uh lend itself to that type of situation. Or if Judah Michelle is with us folks up at Camp Hask in Parksville, you feel bad for the staff that tomorrow is a really long fast day. Uh, I feel bad for Omnitrail that we haven't figured out a way to get the ball over the goal line and fast about the goalless, but I also I also know this every year are are at the front lines to change that. Meaning like if something's going to change about that and the the fast of this month and scheduled for next month when that changes and we turn this thing over, it'll be because of places like Campass. It'll be places where people live with and don't judge people by the outside and and love each other unconditionally and take care of one another. >> That's the ant that's the antidote. Are you still there? >> It'll Yeah, it it'll be it'll be you know I don't know. There'll be some We'll figure it out. We're gonna We have a lot of support. We'll have the air conditioning running everywhere. There'll be a lot of power a lot of power ring. you know, but we'll do our best and uh take, you know, we'll do our best. I forget this every year. I forget this every year. We get older, but these council are still the same age. They have an amazing type of resilience and uh and re and reservoir of uh of ability, you know, to be able to to withstand >> and uh to sacrifice. >> Yeah. Trust me, I know that I know that you know what you're doing. I was just trying to be dramatic that camp starts with a long fast day. That's all. Judah Michelle is up at camp ask who are the special guests? You're always attracting amazing leaders in the Jewish community worldwide. Has anybody been there yet uh day and night? Number one, who are you expecting over the next few days? What kind of roster of special guests will be welcoming? So I'll tell you it's interesting like that the the first the first people who are in who are you know I wouldn't call them guests they're not necessarily on on staff but they're they're so connected and comfortable in highish here that um and so much a part of it and partners here that I don't even consider them guests like for example we had Kenningsburg was here with us for shabas over the staff orientation he's actually on staff he's going to be on TJJ this month right >> but came just for orientation landed Thursday left Sunday morning to rocking and uh and the here uh last night of the was here the first night there was a big for uh the Springfield Marcus uh also my brother-in-law will be here tonight to open up the formal you know as the first speaker for uh for all of campus and uh you know and and and then in both comments we have a a special closing of the uh of the fast day with Morai Berg from uh from Naser. >> Oh wow. >> Things here. Yeah. Right away these are friends our partners those who are you know encouraging their students and then Shabas for broccoli rose and bloom shabas will have uh uh Dr. Donath Jonathan Donath our mutual friend of daily giving will be here a real partner and friend of Amisil. They'll be here for Shabas speaking about how to impact the Jewish people and the world. Rabbi Simon Rash will be here with us for Shabas. Uh Rabbit Sarah Johnny Beanfeld Sher Hill great dear friends will be with us here for Shabas principal of NCAR he's the head lifeguard here and his will be here for Shabas and I mean we're just getting going. >> Wow every day every day. Yeah, I'm glad I asked because you really have an impressive group of people that are going to be coming up addressing the staff, spending time with the campers, etc. of Judah Michelle is up in Parksville. It's day two, first full day up in camp for the campers of Camp H. Uh those of you who wonder about all the support you give year round and specifically of course during the big concert in January for Camp Hass is what it's all about. The H summer program sold out, completely full as RJuda said and doing yman's work up there. uh for all the campers and helping out the families who are getting a respit uh during this time. So has anything replaced uh Noah was a big sadic uh in terms of the song of the summer yet? Rub Judah, is that going to remain in the number one slot or do you suspect that there's something of interest musically to the staff and campers that's going to be really really hot this summer? I I'll tell you, yesterday we had yesterday the opening concert on the baseball field was of Nissan Black. >> Wow. >> And Nissan Black, it blew everybody away. He was amazing. Scheduled this summer, we have our big camp experience which is going to be on August 2nd. And uh and on that day this year, this on that day, we have the greatest of all fun. It's gonna we're we're we're we're kicking it back old school with our eyes on our camper experience. The everybody's great as everybody's we love everybody's great and we would love all the musicians to come through camp and I believe uh just about you know everybody who feels connected here is going to be is going to be passing through. We have coming for the weekend. >> Nice will be here this summer. Kabura, you know, it's going to be a very musical summer. But I got to tell you, the bottom line and bottom lines, thank you, Hashem. I mean, this is the playlist of of the Jewish people right now. >> Um, that's what's happening here uh for young and for old. Thank you, Hashem. Here in camp, the rhythm, the beat goes with gratitude and goes with uh of thank you, Hashem. and on our campass thank you to Hashem experience day this year we're gonna have Uncle Mishi back back up on the big stage because in camp I don't want I don't know if any of the readers were ever at a Michael Jackson concert in Europe in the late in the mid 80s when 200,000 people faint and and uh throw personal items at Michael I'll tell you when Uncle Mikey rolls through campass there's nothing like it >> it's a similar experience you're saying >> oh my god we're going to have them up on the huge stage with a full band with a full band. And uh we're going to have a lot of paramedics and MT on uh on on site on location to make sure that everybody stays cool. >> Who ever thought that a Jewish uncle could cause such uh incredible uh uh celebration uh at a cab setting? Uncle Mishi coming August the second to Cab during their experience. That's the day you're doing that say for Torah, right? >> I think we're going to do we have a taking place that evening. We have friends and family learning uh who've been learning um nigla and nerat all year round in our salo program. Thank you for bringing up. We're going to make a big summator truck coming for the uh for the turo which is going to be really wonderful. We're doing our best. We want to engage the campers and give them a real chance to shine. The whole point here is to level the playing field and the experiences and opportunities that maybe some of us have in our own lives throughout the year. Um, you know, which are which are inspiring, uplifting to be able to extend that expand that specifically for all the individuals with specialized needs and developmental disabilities and autism and and and the idea is to do it together. So the healthc program is really an opportunity to to meet everyone where they are whether it's learning or tan or shava in kabala people are learning um and learning olives and uh and learning the words to to Jewish songs for some of our campers and just identifying certain certain pictures and certain moments on the Jewish calendar mata those are pointed out on a uh on the board for those who are were nonverbal to to bring Torah and Yishkite um which is the natural birthight and of every single Jew to bring it to them where they are. someone else learning from the Marbby and and learning learning the Zikin with our sons this year, you know. Um, it was wonderful learning it on a, you know, on a fourth grade level with our son. You know, someone who's learning in yeshiva this year is learning in yeshiva. Someone's learning in seminary, they're learning in seminary. But for our campers to greet them literally where they are, even if it's identifying colors on the Israeli flag and the feel of a mantra to have that sensory experience to connect the Torah, which is the uh the of every single Jew. So that's what we're trying to do over here this summer, >> you know, in every in every element of the program. >> Very cool. I'll let you go in a minute. I know you obvious you must be swamped with work, but I'm curious about anything new. There have been summers where you've been able to tell us literally about brand new massive buildings and services are being provided. Anything we should know about for the summer of 2026? >> Yes, thank you for asking. Yeah, the actual regards to the ruach and to the spirit they actually have a beautiful new program building here at the center of campus adjacent to our our basua our medical center. Thank you Hashem Bfua Medical Center. The uh academics program on our on our front lawn um is is beautiful. The building a special thanks to um all the hard work by Mr. Bisner, the chairman of our board, and all those who are in Albany, our dear friends, uh who are really doing uh you know, they're they're community servants. And there are times when when our community servants are something we get frustrated and we can get cynical about uh you know elected officials and politicians and then times to say thank you and to be grateful and say wow really the resources of the community being put into the community for real impact and come see our uh beautiful academics program here at um the good folks in Albany um and our friends in the state assembly and the state government and and specifically I'll I'll express appreciation here uh in disregard for Governor Hulk. Um we have a new academic facility and and God willing in the next year going to continue to expand the academic facility. Um and uh and that's made a that's that's making it real. Today's the first day of school. >> They say school's out for the summer, right? >> But over here, school happens during the summer. There's a real like real goals and and real life um skills and and and learning that goes on over here in our academics program. and our our our intention and goal here um on our way to the Holy Land is uh to continue to do our best expanding and improving all of our facilities and doing our best >> and on the skills and learning that you just mentioned uh people need to realize that during the summer months uh these things accelerate uh I mean there's students or I should say campers in this case uh who are picking up skills or are learning things uh in at a much much quicker pace nothing against the schools or programs s during the year just the nature of being in the camp environment 24 hours a day and getting the attention they get and all the fun that they're having and you see them progress like crazy and anybody who doubts it you can speak to the parents of these campers and they will confirm that for us. Uh and anybody out there Judah if they anybody out there who has any type of significant or insignificant as they might call it um uh input uh that they'd like to get across to you or possibly think about helping you expand. they should be in touch because there are plenty of opportunities. That's one thing about Camp Hask. Uh you have a million dreams you'd like to fulfill. Uh very often you need the resources in order to do it. So if somebody out there has a um a desire to help out, you want to hear from them. >> Yeah, I I'll say it even if you don't mind. I'll just I'll even add that that um nothing's insignificant even and and ask this not I mean I don't this is not my thing. I didn't start this. This is started by the T family more than 50 years ago and uh they don't have they didn't you know and their family didn't have children with any developmental delays or special needs. We started this because there's a need in the community and that's why it continues and therefore uh naturally we were we asked the community to please share in this book to to share in the responsibility of taking care of our of the people in Clarkville and uh whether that's you know encouraging your children to come work here as staff member staff members or you're a professional who wants to add their professional abilities to our roster or like to become a partner and and and share your uh your resources and help us sustain and build and provide scholarships and uh and and the beauty and growth here of our of our program and our campus or or for every single person living listening here to to Davin to to pray and to be with us and to have us in mind and to add an extra even one of the or one penny into any um we're we're doing our best here and we're we're we count on on Israel. That's why I'm so grateful for for uh for inviting me on today uh to be able to share the good news. A little bit of a timeline cleanser from some of the cynicism and difficulty that that and sometimes you look at the news and if it bleeds it leaves but you turn on the single network you know that you're getting the good news about the Jewish people and and some hope and optimism. So I'm here to share the good news that there's uh about 1100 people here on our campus today who are loving each other doing their best and uh grace and God's good earth over here with good old fashion positivity and >> so good news is on the way and thank you everybody for your support and thank you for uh for being such a dear friend of police. >> A pleasure and plenty of community leaders and great rebbitic leaders agree with everything you just said. A lot of folks out there appreciate the incredible goodness that's happening up at H every single summer. Rib Judah, have a wonderful uh we'll have an easy fast tomorrow. Wonderful Shabas. Shabas number one with the campers at Camp Hask. Have an amazing summer. >> Thank you so so much. It's you as well. Looking forward to seeing you. >> Desm Judah everybody. Rebjuda Michelle up at H. Today's the first full day for the campers and thank God, as you heard, as you would have suspected anyway, they're off to a fabulous start. More coming up. It's JM in the AM.