From the Desk of Rabbi Engel - Ve'etchanan 5771

Dear Friends,

1) As you are all aware, during the summer, I raise funds for
camperships. This year, as in the last few years, my efforts, with
those who have helped me, have been able to help over 60 families and
over 100 children attend camp. We do not differentiate between our own
frum community and other who turn to us for camperships (we evaluate
each situation based on the need so that we do not waste precious
tzedaka dollars). Nevertheless, most of the camperships we give out end
up going to families where otherwise the children have no Jewish
identity whatsoever. In fact, 30-40% of the camperships go to families
with Jewish mothers and non Jewish fathers (many who have divorced or
are in the middle of a divorce) and we see our camp as literally saving
Jewish lives and souls - HATZOLAS NEFASHOS.

I'm turning to our community to ask if you can donate one or more
camperships (At $180 per campership - tax deductible contribution).
These can be in memory or in honor of someone or of an occasion. All
campership donations will be acknowledged at the front entrance of camp
unless otherwise requested. Because of item number three (below) which
is again asking for money, if you are able to donate a campership, but
cannot pull it together until the end of August, your commitment for a
donation will be enough at this time.


2) There are girls and there are girls. Some girls are highly motivated to continue their Jewish education at seminary in Israel, but unfortunately their parents do not have the funds for them to do so. One such girl who became Shomar Shabbos and a Torah dedicated Jew at twelve years old has gone to our high school for the past four years. She now wants to continue at Midreshet Moriah Seminary in Yerushalim. The seminary reduced the tuition by over 60%, but she still must come up with $10,000 to make it work. There is no question in my mind that this girl will go places in the future. I have personally contributed towards her fund and I am asking anyone in the community who can join me to please do so. She is willing to tell you her name as most of you know her, but I thought it more wise to withhold printing her name. However if anyone would like to donate and know who she is I would be glad to share this information with you. Please send a check for her seminary fund to CJL and earmark it 'Seminary Fund'.


3)Some of you have been asking if I'm still a member of the Shul as you
have not seen me around for more than four weeks. Let me be brief and
explain. During the week for Shachris I daven at the bochurim's camp
minyan. At the advice of one of my friends, who saw that my weekend
schedule is a little more loose during the summer, I offered Chabad
houses in California the opportunity of me being a guest speaker at
their friday night dinners or Shabbatons and so in the last few weeks
I've spent Shabbos in Mount Olympus, Ventura, at a camp Shabbaton, and
in Minnesota for my daughtor Rivkah, baby's bris (the first boy after
five girls). This coming Shabbos I will be in the La Jolla, San Diego
area and afterwards I will be right back where I came from, our Shul.
No, I have not left, I love our Shul with a passion, I've just decided
to explain this because so many people have asked me.


Thank you listening,

Rabbi Engel