Serving the Jewish communities of the South Shore

June 17, 2005/Sivan 10 5765, Volume 4, No. 24

Singles go “Back to Camp” during Memorial Day Weekend getaway hit

Hundreds of Jewish singles from the Long Island, Brooklyn, and Manhattan areas, came together for a Memorial Day Weekend getaway filled with adventurous outdoor activities, uplifting seminars, and the occasional splotch of rain.

SawYouAtSinai, the Jewish online matchmaking site, teamed with the Alevy Family Foundation to provide something different in what has become the increasingly bland Jewish singles’ experience.  Four hundred and twenty singles and matchmakers drove and flew from as far away as Miami, Los Angeles, and even Vienna, to Camp Moshava, located in the Northeastern Pennsylvania hillside.  Traffic, stylish suits, and hopes of bumping into the “one” at a cafe, were replaced by frisbee tossing and crisp, mountain air as everyone was given the refreshing opportunity to go “Back to Camp."

Prominent Orthodox lecturers, Rabbi Binny Freedman of Isralite, Rebettzen Esther Jungreis of Hineni, and Rabbi Steven Friedman of Ramat Orah Manhattan, spoke to hundreds of assembled participants, inspiring them throughout the weekend in the sunny outside environ.  Even intermittent thundershowers did nothing to spoil the experience, as people would simply take shelter in the large cafeteria for a few minutes until the rain clouds rolled away.

Delicious ice cream and pizza was served on Saturday night as singles built on previous encounters, or simply, enjoyed the unifying and relaxed atmosphere created by Mark Samowitz's soft music and the surrounding, hillside ambience.  After a late wake-up, Sunday activities included color war games, rope courses, softball games, and, by far the most popular activity, just hanging out with old (and new) friends.

Shabbatton Chazzan and participant Gregg Duftler from Merrick, said, “The success of the weekend was due to the environment created by the SawYouAtSinai team, including their experienced matchmakers’ ability to facilitate introductions in a relaxed camp setting.  They gave singles advice without being invasive or intruding.” 

Marc Goldmann, founder of SawYouAtSinai and Woodmere native said, “We saw an opportunity to let people meet in a relaxed, exciting environment.  The matchmakers at the event did an unbelievable job and people came away saying what a wonderful time they had.”

SawYouAtSinai is a website that allows members to choose their dates with discretion and convenience based on the recommendations of over two hundred dedicated matchmakers. With 98 singles having met their partners in eighteen short months, it is no surprise that Goldmann was recently honored in May at the National Council of Young Israel dinner.

Steven Alevy of the Alevy Family Foundation thought of the “Back to Camp” getaway just weeks before Memorial Day weekend, Alevy added, “I can’t imagine doing another getaway without Marc and the rest of the SawYouAtSinai team by my side.  Because of the organizational know-how and talented matchmakers they provided, people were at ease during the retreat, even if they weren’t taking down phone numbers.  This let people think not only about themselves, but also about their friends, bringing out the ‘inner-matchmaker’ in everyone.”