Dear Rabbi Merenstein,

I am sorry that it has taken me so long to write a long overdue and much deserved letter of appreciation to you and your wonderful staff of Camp Emes. As you know we were very last minute and hesitant enrollees into the camp last summer. The distance away and the spiritual and physical safety for a camp in a city, even if the city was Yerushalayim, were major concerns. However, the encouragement of Rabbi Krohn and my older son led us to take a chance and the result was the most enriching, ruchnniyasdik, growth filled and fun experience we ever could have hoped for. The tour of Poland guided by such an outstanding staff set a tone for the camp which I believe carried through to the end, resulting in the campers feeling a sense of greater purpose and maturity. The supervision was excellent, the programming meaningful, achdus building, purposeful and fun. We could sense our son's growth throughout the summer and he returned home appreciative, focused and happy and he has begun the new year at school with an enthusiasm and dedication that we feel was a holdover from the camp experience. y experience has been that such a successful program can happen only when there is a person at the top with a vision who is willing to take baalus over the camp in every respect, both ruchani and gashmi. That person of course, is you, and you should take great pride in what you have accomplished in instilling Torah, love of Yiddishkeit, a sense of purpose and destiny and an abiding camaraderie into the hearts and minds of your campers. Although "campers" is really the wrong word as they really were more like younger brothers to you, brothers to whom you showed great ahava and achrayus.Yasher koach for this tremendous summer program and I only hope that HKB"H gives you the koach and means to continue doing so much good for so many young people. With bracha and great karas hatov,
Rabbi Shlomo Goldberg, Menahel, Yeshiva Aharon Yaakov/Ohr Eliyahu, Los Angeles

"Words cannot express our Hakaras Hatov to you for the awesome camping experience in Eretz Yisrael that you gave our sons this past summer. Both our sons were thrilled with the experience. The Poland trip was inspiring, it's so important for the youth to see what many of their grandparents and great-grandparents went through during those trying times. You did an amazing job of touring the country from a Torah viewpoint, and at the same time having Color war and games to enrich the trip. We appreciate your prompt response to our phone calls and emails. It is so comforting to know we could communicate with you and we would hear back from you in a timely fashion always ready to address any concerns we had..."
The Spiegels - Staten Island, NY

My wife and I owe a lifetime of Hakoras Hatov to you and Camp Emes for giving our Yoni the trip and summer of a lifetime. Virtually from the day he left until his return, we have had nothing but praise and positive feedback about his incredible experiences. My family and I see such a magnificent growth in Yoni's Yiras shomayim, Ahavas Chaverim, Ahavas Eretz Yisroel and a mature and a new found sense of some of the important things in life (e.g., striving to be b'simcha, valuing friendships, etc.). We can't believe that he almost did not go this summer. What a loss that would have been! We share the sentiments of other parents with whom we spoke, when we compliment you and your team on the phenomenal job of balancing the Ruchnius and Gashmius. You clearly understand that the best way to get thru to teenage boys is by showing them that they can be solid, upstanding Yeshiva Bochurim, with proper emphasis on torah, Tefillah, and Kovod Gedolim, while still being able to expend energy toward sports, trips and adventure. We are extremely grateful that you took the time to document so much of the summer with your detailed emails. They were very much appreciated and allowed all the parents to truly "experience" the trips from afar..."
Shragie & Miriam Aranoff - Flushing , NY

"...We are writing, to both thank you and inform you of the wonderful, fantastic and inspirational summer that Yehuda had this past summer at Camp Emes. As you recall, we were a bit hesitant to send Yehuda back for a second summer-he had an amazing summer last year, and we did not want his past experience to be dulled by a repeat trip back to the same camp with the same programming. Well, we were pleased with the outcome by sending him for another summer!! Yehuda enjoyed another great summer at Camp Emes under your guidance!! Yehuda enjoyed learning in his shiur in the morning as well as the learning in the evenings. He was also inspired by the singing and Zemiros at the Shabbos seudos. We are not sure where to start when describing the great trips/experiences he had at camp. From the Divrei Bracha received from visits to Rav Shteinman, Rav Kanievsky and Rav Elyashuv, and Rav Moshe Shternbuch, to the visit to the army base to bring the Tzahal tzitzis; the frequent trips to the Kosel; Shabbos in the Old City and Meiron; Trips to the tunnel tours, Ir David, Masada, Dead Sea, Tzfas, etc.. Yehuda was inspired by the beauty and Kedusha of the land, as well as by the wonderful, inspirational speakers that came in as guest speakers. It also sounds like there was a good balance of activities, including the Motzai Shabbos basketball games followed by a pizza Melava Malka!!

"I would like to thank you for taking good care of Yisroel and for giving him the experience of a lifetime (really!!) Your E-mails were wonderful and let us live vicariously on this amazing tour through Poland and Eretz Yisrael. You really seemed to have combined all the elements, Ruchniyos, historic giving and fun!! IYH this will have a positive impact on Yisroel. Wishing you much Hatzlacha!"
Thaler family - Brooklyn, NY

"This is something that will be with him forever! Words can't express our appreciation to you for the summer experience you provided for Shloimie.."
Chaim & Menucha Hochman - Brooklyn, NY

"I am sure Dovid will remember the trip as a great experience. Your email updates to us were very much appreciated and I can tell you that we wished we were there. When he hurt himself and was sent to the hospital, your staff was very professional and made us comfortable. We received a calm call from your staff member, were given contact numbers and were confident it was being handled well. Thank you very much for the fantastic experience and keep us informed of future events."
Aryeh Rendel, Queens, NY

"..(Our son) has had the most amazing summer ever in 2011. The ruach and the activities of Camp Emes are phenomenal. You are a dedicated and selfless chinuch professional, only H-m Yisborach can thank you enough for being there for these boys...I will definitely recommend Camp Emes to anyone that cares to listen!!"
Lerner Family - Brooklyn, NY

"We can't thank you enough for the most amazing summer Chaim Boruch experienced!!! Your professionalism, warmth, Ruach and Kochos you put into each and every one of them It was just unreal!! We definitely will be recommending Camp Emes very highly!!!!! Thanks again...!"
Meilich and Leah Neumann - Brooklyn, NY

"...We were a bit hesitant as to whether the trip was appropriate for a boy his age. Was he too immature to really appreciate the spiritual aspects of spending time in the Eretz Hakadosh? Would he truly understand the gift he was being given? How pleased we were upon his return at not only his growth in maturity, but in his middos. Daniel came home a bit more serious, filled with the memories and lessons he had gleaned from the kiddusha of Eretz Yisroel, and of course the inspirational few days in Poland, tracing the roots of our history. I guess we shouldn't be too surprised that a trip involving the esteemed Rabbi Pesaych Krohn, Cantor Abish Brode and your excellent staff would cause anyone to take life a bit more seriously. Thank you for arranging this incredible partnership between your superb camp and Project Mesorah. I believe it's a relationship you should foster for many future summers to come. I also wanted to thank you for the almost daily e-mails updating my husband and I of the adventures the group was taking, whether it was spiritual or sheer action-packed "guy" fun! We looked forward to reading up on where our son was and what adventures he was having. It also allowed us to have a basis of topics to talk about when our son would call, and upon his return. What a sweet Friday night we spent with Daniel, reminiscing about his many experiences. He was overflowing with stories and anecdotes, barely taking a moments breath as he tried to fill us in..."Mr. and Mrs. Yoel Rubenstein

"..It is clear that all of these trips and activities had one goal in mind: To grow in Ruchiyos and Yiras Shamayim"

"..How pleased we were upon his return at not only his growth in maturity, but in his middos"