The recess bell rings, the children run out
But I remain behind
Engrossed in my thoughts, thinking out loud
A picture appears in my mind
A few weeks ago, I hardly knew
The meaning of being a Jew
But now in Yeshiva I do learn
Gan Yisroel, my thanks to you
Remembering my counselor’s devotion
His kind words filled with emotion
How can I forget the times that we spent
Oh, why do they have to end
Remembering the friends that I made
The times we laughed, the times we played
While learning the meaning of being a Jew
Gan Yisroel, my thanks to you
The Dry, Shriveled Seed
(T.T.T.O. A Gute Voch—Avraham Fried)
The dry, shriveled seed
How lifeless it seems
Its beauty and splendor
Locked deeply within
Planted in pure soil
No chances to spoil
A young, healthy tree
Now comes to be
The seed is what I once was
The strong, healthy tree is what I’ve become
Planted and nurtured in the rich, fertile soil
Of the beautiful gardens of Gan Yisroel
Both healthy and strong to remain
The spirit of Gan Yisroel I must always retain
The Chayus, the themes, the breathtaking scenes
That makes up the Gan Yisroel dream
Deep Winter Has Set In
(T.T.T.O. Sharm El Sheikh—Jo Amar)
Deep winter has set in
The snowdrifts are piled
They’re dripping like teardrops
From the bunks where we smiled
The shul where we davened
So lifeless and gray
The fields which we played in
So dull, not the same
Oh, dear Gan Yisroel
Your grounds will soon echo our steps
We’ll never forsake you
No, we’ll never forget
Oh, dear Gan Yisroel
Your halls will soon ring with our cheers
‘Cause we’ll keep returning
Year after year
My Counselor’s Care For Me
(T.T.T.O. Ovinu Ov Horachamon)
My counselor’s care for me
Etched into my memory
His stories, his songs, I still hear
Nostalgia brings me to tears
Many years have passed by
Now it is my turn to try
My campers to educate
My counselors to emulate
No time to waste
Work with great haste
Like shkeidim, so quick to grow
The Rebbe, so dear
Has made it so clear
For this, we learn all year
The trunks are all packed away
Tearful goodbyes we say
Counselor, my campers say to me
Like you we want to be
(T.T.T.O. Ke’ayol Taarog—Tzlil V’zemer)
Dear Rebbe, I am writing to you
To thank you from the bottom of my heart
For a summer, oh so dear
My eyes swell up with tears
From camp, it’s so difficult to part
We learn about Moshiach each day
For your gezunt, we do pray
Our song and our laughter
Our spirits soaring high
The Rebbe’s children at play
Oy yoy yoy, Rebbe, have nachas from me
A Chossid, I will now strive to be
Gan Yisroel, your camp is
The garden you planted
Who are the Peiros, if not we
Oh Gan Yisroel, your joy and your pride
How it hurts me to say goodbye
Thank you, dear Rebbe
Thus ending my letter
As I wipe the tears from my eyes
There Chirps A Robin
(T.T.T.O. Al Eileh)
There chirps a robin
Up in the treetops
The waves are rolling
Upon the lake
Melodies of learning
Flow through the forest
Campfires burning
Beneath the stars
Oh, Gan Yisroel
How can I leave you
Those precious moments
I’ll never part
‘Tis Gan Yisroel
I shall be bound to
And never let you
Out of my heart
On A Still December Day
(T.T.T.O. Al Zeh Hoyoh)
On a still December day
With snow upon the winding way
To camp, my friend, I do return
It’s been so long, for you I yearn
To camp, my friend, I do return
It’s been so long, for you I yearn
The silent bunks upon the hill
So empty now, so very still
The shouts of joy, oh where, oh where
All gone now, it brings a tear
On a still December day…
The frozen lake where we did wade
The darkened shul, once there we prayed
A flagpole stands, oh, so alone
The thought of it chills my bone
I leave you now, feeling more alive
The snow will melt, summer arrive
Chayus and zest we’ll see again
Davening, learning, with a bren
Chayus and zest we’ll see again
Davening, learning, with a bren
Oh, Why Do You Cry
(T.T.T.O. Im Avonos)
Oh, why do you cry, my dear Dovidel
Now’s not the time for tears
Your eight weeks in camp were most enjoyable
You’ve made friends for future years
Oh, why do you sigh, my dear Dovidel
What do you fear to forsake
A hike through scenic countryside
A refreshing swim in the lake
The spirit of Shabbos soaring so high
Circus day, what a thrill
Whispered talk of the day gone by
While all the camp was still
Yes, I do long for those precious moments
But now my eyes are dry
I’ll look ahead to the coming summer
But counselor, why do you cry
Whispering Wind Through The Trees
(T.T.T.O. Kol B’romoh—Pirchei)
Whispering wind through the trees
Waves washing up on the shores
Strange sounds seem to say
Dear children, don’t go away
Alone, on the dark path I tread
Banquet’s shouts of joy I couldn’t bear
On the ground I lay my head
Oh, how did eight weeks disappear
The morning sun broke strong and bright
Buses loading, a painful sight
Gan Yisroel, truly my home
To me, much love you’ve shown
With heavy hearts, to the road we took
Through the window, my last look
Gan Yisroel, my heart you’ve won
For many summers more to come
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