About | Camp Gan Israel - Detroit, Lubavitch City, Michigan

Alone I sit deep in thought
My mind travels back in time
Thinking of the summer filled with fun
With lessons for down the line

The friends I made, the songs we sang
Are things I will never forget
For these I will always cherish
I promise they’ll always be kept

Who is it that I can thank
For the summer so rich and full
There must be one I can behold
Where can I find this jewel

I’m like a child raised in a pit
Who never saw the light
And was only described vividly
Of life beyond the night

Rebbe mein Tatte I know that you’re with me
I can only stand at the Ohel and cry
The kochos you grant me give strength to proceed
Thank you for the summer gone by

Although it may seem, very hard to continue
Your chosid I will forever be
Through pushing away the darkness of Golus
Mein Tieyere Rebbe I’ll see

Amongst-the Chasiddim he’d spend his time, Chazering the Rebbes words, with zest, line by line, A life of delight, so holy and pure, He could not think to ask for something more...

But then-to the city he relocates,
He’s struck-by the fashion, the customs of the state, For-a brief moment a thought crossed his mind, “Just to taste this life of a new kind”.

A call, comes forth, from deep within his soul: Theres no way in the world,
I’l drop my dignity, I am a Chossid!,
And that’s a novelty!

Aha ahay ay ay ay,

My standards aren’t the same,
I bear the Rebbe’s name, It’s okay for others, But I must stay away…

We are Chassidim, the Rebbe’s chosen men,
We’re different we’re special, No matter where or when... With pride we strive, Our name to preserve, Bringing down Moshiach Tzidkeinu...

Winning Alma Matter - Veniflinu

The water’s so calm
The birds sing with charm,
The sun’s spreading forth its bright light, The oars swish with grace, I speed up my pace, The noise from the shore is no more…

Oh Gan Yisroel where are you, En-gage me please, In a dream, a vision,
A brush of wind in air,
I feel estranged and distant, Something’s incorrect, Gan Yisroel, I need you,
I must reconnect.

My boat turned around, My heart starts to pound, The A-frame is growing in size. Joy fills the void, That engulfed me before, The lonesomeness gone – it’s no more.

Oh Gan Yisroel I have you You’re sweet as can be, You give me the comfort,
The support that I need, I feel familiar and welcome Everything’s just right
Gan Yisroel I thank you, With all of my might.

The banquet begins, My mind starts to spin, How will I manage to leave? It dawned on me then, That it ersht begins when, Gan Yisroel shines forth from within…

Oh Gan Yisroel I have you You’ve shown me the way, To cherish a moment, How a yid spends his day. To be happy and proud And feel, lucky too I thank you Gan Yisroel, Gan Yisroel thank you!

That Thursday night was his flight, He’s excited more than ever, He packs his bags, marks the tags, Off he’s going to the Rebbe,
While he stands and awaits his turn, A Sichah he does learn.
Wholly unbeknown to-him, There’s another Jew in line, The mood he’s in, his frame of mind, Completely of another kind, Although he is a Frume Yid, He’s not yet a Chossid.
As they find their seats on-board, Mendel greets-this fellow, “sholom Aleichem! Vos macht a yid? It’s here I’d like to sit!”
“It’s clear to me”, the man did say, “you are a Luba-vitcher, Maybe you can share with me
The secret of-your joy”.
hay didi ya, didi ya, didi ya, didi ya...
“The Rebbe has granted us, With the greatest gift in life, His holy insight his saintly guidance,
His council and advice.”
ha hay ay yei yei yei yei,
“The Rebbe concerns himself, With caring for us all, No matter what the issue-is, From the biggest to the small!” “Ashreinu” we’re all so fortunate, For having such a Rebbe, Now, you know our secret too, You need not feel left out…” “Accept my invitation, To join me at the Ohel, There we feel even more secure, With the Rebbe here and near...”

Alma Matter - Ashreinu
I was but a child-so young and pure, I knew-not who you were,
You stared-right through my eyes, I smiled-not knowing why,
How-could I have known that, That moment would change my life…
Extending your holy-arm, that I-may reach, A-dollar you’de give-each,
Then-I saw you-say, Some words-I know-today, Were “Brachah Ve’hatzlacha”, “Success in all of your ways…”

But since-then I’ve-grown older-I’ve, Learned much-more-about,
Who you-are, My-Rebbe, and, With what you’re-set-apart…
The fiery love that blazes inside you, To Hashem, and his nation, each and every Jew, You care for us like a faithful shepherd, You are-the-head on which-we-all depend.
Yet, when-I-come to-seven-seventy, And once-again, to behold-you, I do seek, It seems-to-me, your-holy-throne, lays bare, Confused and bewildered I just stare…

Rebbe, you-told-us-that now-it’s up-to-us, A Chossid to become - I realize that-I-must, I know you’re with me, giving-me strength,
“I promise-you Rebbe! I’ll go-the greatest-length!”
I realize the Rebbe relies on me, But, “Chsiddim ein mishpochoh”, “we’re family”. Thank you camp, for-the-hope, you grant,
Together-we-join, as one, we-do-stand, Camp Gan Yisroel... this year you’ll be, Lubavitch City- 770!