Her extraordinary leadership has seen us through the past few years, which were full of challenges and hard decisions. Sign in to stop seeing this, Sara Netanyahu accosted by protesters at Tel Aviv hair salon, extricated by police, Brides joy turns to sorrow after Elan Ganeles killed driving to her wedding, Hiker discovers 2,500-year-old ancient receipt from reign of Purim kings father, Netanyahu compares Tel Aviv protesters to settlers who set fire to Huwara. 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. And with the implementation of important organizational changes and program updates, 2020 was looking to be the best yet until, of course, COVID-19 hit. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Winter Office: 21 Plymouth St. Fairfield, NJ 07004 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 director, Leonard Robinson, to operate for far too long without any real oversight, creating an environment in which his abuse of others was allowed to go unchecked.. 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. When she was 19, Robinson introduced her to cocaine, Joanna alleged. Being cooped up during the pandemic made . NJY s mission focuses on supporting the growth and development of every individual member of its community so that they can learn new skills . NJY Camps is the umbrella group for five residential . 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. It takes just a few seconds. Email: campinfo@njycamps.org, Lake Como Campus: 90 Woods Road Photo archives for years 2016 and earlier can be viewed at the links below. Oct 2019 - Feb 20233 years 5 months. . 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. Email: campinfo@njycamps.org, Lake Como Campus: 90 Woods Road Grade 10Grades 1-6Grades 7-9BaseballBasketballSoccerSportsTennisFeaturedSpecialty Camp, Grade 10Grades 1-6Grades 7-9BasketballSportsGluten FreeSpecialty Camp, Grade 10Grades 1-6Grades 7-9BaseballGluten FreeSpecialty Camp, Learn from Major League Soccer level coaching, Grade 10Grades 1-6Grades 7-9SoccerSportsGluten FreeSpecialty Camp, Expert Instruction from former Israeli Pro Tennis Player, Grade 10Grades 1-6Grades 7-9SportsTennisSpecialty Camp, Israeli service learning, touring & adventure, Winter Office: 21 Plymouth St. Fairfield, NJ 07004 keeps NJY Camps our home away from home. Robinson was forced to resign from his position as executive director last April, a day before NJJNs initial story was published. NJY Camps is comprised of five children's Jewish overnight camps and travel programs. With this team we are confident we can continue our tradition of excellence. NJY Camps is part of the Jewish Community Center movement, a tradition grounded in Jewish communal service and social group work practice. Cedar Lake Camp 21 Plymouth Street Fairfield, NJ 07004. 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. Position Summary: NJY Teen Camp (TAC) is seeking an energetic, creative, and passionate leader to serve as our camp's Mental Health Professional. View job. 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. 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. So now we have a request. 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 . 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. Registering also lets you comment on articles and helps us improve your experience. NJY Camps attorneys entered into good faith conversations with that individuals counsel and ultimately reached a settlement to address her allegations, Horowitz wrote. JCC of Central New Jersey | Special Needs Resource Fair. If so, please join The Times of Israel Community. Len started his career as the Resident Camp Director - Youth Director at the Portland, Oregon JCC. 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. It takes just a few seconds. Illustrative photo of one of the summer camps in the NJY Camps network. NJY Teen Camp Assistant Director. Try-it Program. He does so during one of the most turbulent times in camping. 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 The alleged assaults continued during the fall of 1994, when Robinson continued to call and visit Joannas home to solicit sex, according to police records. 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. 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 . 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Office: Teen Camp 21 Plymouth St. Fairfield, NJ 07004 - (973) 575-3333 Camp: Teen Camp 570 Sawkill Road Milford , PA 18337 - (570) 296-8596 Email: tac@njycamps.org Many thanks to CEO Michael Schlank, & the leadership & staff of NJY Camps for their yeoman efforts to create a wonderful experience for our campers and their families during Summer 2021 and all year round! . Joanna was not among the 11 women who reported being harassed, abused, or otherwise harmed by Robinson over the course of an independent investigation commissioned by NJY Camps last year. 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. (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. Apr 2018 - Sep 20213 years 6 months. 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. The former president did not respond to requests for comment. Regarding the NJY boards decision to disband, Ben-Shimon told NJJN, We are deeply grateful to the leadership of NJY in its new formulation and have faith in their abilities to lead the camp forward to greater success. Do you wish you belong to any of those previously mentioned demographics? Tuition provides for the full operating costs of the NJY Camps. NJY is focused on creating a wholesome and inspirational community while simultaneously promoting critical discourse surrounding mental illness and its de-stigmatization. Are you a bitter person? 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. urged all 60 members of his board to join him in resigning, Already a member? She was able to quickly transition our teams focus to navigating the unique and unexpected challenges created by the pandemic, with great concern for what a summer without camp would mean for campers, staff, and our organization. . 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. Under the supervision of the Teen Programs Director and the NJY full-time Mental Health professional, the MESSH professional is responsible for the development . Do you rely on The Times of Israel for accurate and insightful news on Israel and the Jewish world? Family Camp. Horowitz said in his remaining time as board president he will work to identify replacement board members and officers from outside the current board with impeccable credentials. At least 15 board members, including Horowitz, plan to step down, according to NJY Camps. Phone: (570) 296-8596 Phone: (973) 575-3333 Family Camps. Get New Jersey Jewish News's Newsletter by email and never miss our top stories The New Jersey Federation of Young Mens Hebrew Associations and Young Womens Hebrew Associations (originally named the Felix Fuld Camps, known later as the New Jersey Y Camps, and today as NJY Camps) was founded in 1920 as a residential summer camp for Jewish boys on a leased site at Bear Mountain Park. Have A Question? Email: campinfo@njycamps.org, Milford Campus: 570 Sawkill Road, Milford, PA 18337 The womans attorney, Richard S. Swartz of the New Jersey law firm Swartz Swidler, LLC, declined to comment about the settlement. and Michael Schwartz! After reflecting on the independent investigation into Len Robinsons tenure as executive director of NJY Camps, I have come to the conclusion that it is in the best interest of NJY Camps for new lay leadership to lead our community going forward, Peter Horowitz, the current president of NJY Camps, wrote to NJJN in an email. 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. As for the meaning of life? 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. A few key facts about NJY Camps: NJY Camps is the largest Jewish overnight camping agency serving over 5,000 children each year. As for the meaning of life? Email: campinfo@njycamps.org, Lake Como Campus: 90 Woods Road According to a police report filed in 2000, Joanna said Robinson sexually assaulted her eight times over the course of the summer. Working with our staff, Michael will provide leadership and creativity to get us there. 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. NJY Camps attorneys entered into good faith conversations with that individuals counsel and ultimately reached a settlement to address her allegations, Horowitz wrote. 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 . 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. Some have already complied. Scotch Plains, NJ 07076. while still having fun at the workplace being able to travel while on the job. 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. Life is good, life is bad, life is surprising, life is challenging. Leadership at NJY Camps continues to decline NJJNs requests to disclose the full report, citing the confidentiality of women who have made allegations, according to an NJY Camps spokesperson. "We are very excited to welcome chief Levi to our board," said Alan Himelfarb, executive director of Starting Hearts, in a news release. On our Milford campus, Camp Nah-Jee-Wah serves boys and girls from grades 1 through 6; Cedar Lake Camp, grades 7 through 9; and Teen Camp, grades 10 through 11. Under this umbrella we serve a spectrum of ages, denominations and abilities, across the entire Jewish community. P: 908-889-8800. A passionate believer in camping, Michaels background gives us confidence that he will lead us through the challenges ahead. Some have already complied. I have spent much of my career immersed in summer camp, and I know the transformative role camp can have on a childs life. (MARC), was completed in September 2018. 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. (NJY Camps via JTA). She discusses what the experience may tell us about Jewish obligation, history and dignity. The board of directors said Thursday the vote to suspend itself was unanimous and that they had enlisted the help of two organizations with which the camp is affiliated, JCC Association of North America and the Foundation for Jewish Camp, to assist in assembling an entirely new board, with a transitional board as a first step., NJY, which is home to nearly 6,000 campers each year is the largest Jewish resident camp program on the continent and plays a critical part in infusing the next generation with a passion for Judaism and Israel, said Doron Krakow, president and CEO of the JCC Association, in a statement.