Hannah Boyer

Dear Alex, Thanks for enhancing my son's experience away from home. It was so relieving when my son knew the names of all the head counselors, division heads and yours personally. To me that spells tender loving care. After reviewing my sons experience of the care he received not only from the chiefs but as well from his counselors, I definitely see a consistent pattern of genuine care. His counselor was so kind and a real angel. Needless to say Mikey had somehow lost his bottle of shampoo and soap, thanks to his counselor lending him from his own supply, Mikey was able to take a shower. The standard of responsibility is seen across the board, and this is a great accomplishment for Camp Dora Golding. Thanks for adding Mikey to the CDG family. Thanking you again, "yashar coach" Hannah Boyer From North Miami Beach, FL

Steven and Karen Finkelstein

Dear Alex and staff, I wanted to thank you so much for a wonderful summer for my son Jacob. In his words, it was "the best summer of my life". Wishing you and your family a happy, healthy year - a chsiva vchasima tova, and everything good. Best Wishes, Steven and Karen Finkelstein From Bergenfield, NJ

Gitelle Steinfeld

Dear Alex, Kudo's to you and thank you from the bottom of my heart. The kids had a great time this summer. Aryeh came back with recipes from Chef Yo and you guessed it this morning I got up and ran to the bakery for onion rolls and made him Sunny Side Up Eggs. He also met new friends and even relatives--- he had never met from Texas! Rebecca had an equally good time at Camp Dina and came home with stories of new friends she met. Thank you very much. You are doing a wonderful job and you should know the Camp truly has a Shem Tov because of all the hard work you put into the camp and our children. You are truly an asset to this community. Thank you, all the best. Gitelle Steinfeld From Woodmere, NY

Naomi and Mark Gross

Dear Alex, Thank you so much for allowing us to come up yesterday to visit Mikey. I just have to inform you that you have the most friendliest, warmest and wonderful staff. Their care and concern for Mikey is above and beyond the norm. Thanx for another great summer. Hatzlacha Rabba and keep up the great work. Naomi and Mark Gross From Lawrence, NY

Debbie Korman

Dear Alex, Thank you once again for a fabulous summer. Avi and Tzvi had such a great time and I wanted to thank you for all your hard work. I will send in an application soon for next summer. Thank you and I wish you and your family a happy and healthy new year. Debbie Korman From Lawrence, NY

The Gellers

Dear Camp Dora Golding Staff: I wanted to let you know, how thankful we are, the Gellers of Tarzana, for giving Avi the opportunity for the summer experience at Camp Dora Golding. He had a real BLAST!!! He told us about everything he did, he saw, he experienced, he liked, he learned and he ate. I understand the food was delicious, the counselor were wonderful, compassionate and nice, the sports were great, the learning was stellar, the trips were fun, the swimming and diving were extraordinary, the thunderstorms were cool, the campers were tons of fun, the camp was pretty, and the lake was awesome...real live toads and fish. All the telephone calls I made were returned in a timely fashion and all the concerns were dealt with in a prompt manner. The camp mother, Mrs. schor, was great. She kept me apprised of all issues of concern. And, she's so friendly too. We want to take this opportunity to give you a big yasher koach for all that you do. He is already bugging me to register him for next year. Thanks for everything. The Gellers From Tarzana, California

Orit Sperber

Dear Alex Gold, What would you call a great day? Would it be holding a winning lotto ticket? Would it be a nice summer day when it doesn't rain on a Shabbos when you are walking to shul? Would it be seeing the Yankees win the world series again? Well for me, it was last Sunday when i saw my son Yoni Sperber greet me with such a great smile on visiting day!!! As the day went on Yoni only had wonderful things to tell me about the counselors, rebbies, FOOD and great activities. He loves the "Ruach" you provide with your wonderful staff and caring personnel. The bunks were clean and inviting too. (A major task for a mother of three boys such as I) How do you do it??? Whatever the secret may be, I want to stop and thank you for a "GREAT DAY". I am so glad we have chosen Camp Dora Golding for our son. Thank you and Good Shabbos to you and your staff. Have a Great Day! Orit Sperber From Flushing, NY

Rena Gordon

To Alex: Just a short note of thanks. I enjoyed visiting day very much. I am impressed with the atmosphere at CDG. Good Midos seems to be the central theme and that is so great. Rena Gordon From Far Rockaway, NY

Brenda Weiss

Dear Mr. Gold, My letter is to tell you how much we appreciate all the work that you and your wonderful staff do for our children everyday and night.    We came to visit our son Avi in bunk 25, yesterday. He is having the time of his life.  Sending him to CDG was one of the best decisions we have made for him.  But what really impressed me yesterday was with my son Tzvi Yoseph.  In the dining room he saw Rabbi Idstein who happened to have been talking with someone at the time.  He went over and was greeted with a big smile and wide open arms.  My son was only in camp for 2 weeks yet he still was treated wonderfully.  It made me feel so good to see that he wasn't just given a simple wave and a how ya doin,  he made my son feel special.  He didn't have to, but it seemed to be his nature.   Yasher Koach to you and your staff, and much hatzlocha for the rest of the summer. Brenda Weiss From Staten Island, NY

Ardra Belitz

Alex: As parents of first-time camper Yoel Belitz, there was no greater joy than to relish in his obvious excitement and contentment yesterday. He is having a fantastic time @ CDG, and is alrerady talking about going for the full summer next year. Keep up the great work on staffing, activity planning and coordination on campus. Ardra Belitz From Suffern, NY

Ari Israel

Dear Alex, Suzy and I were thrilled about our visiting day experience at CDG yesterday. Our son Daniel is SO happy at camp and is relishing the entire experience. He praised his counselors, learning Rebbi, bunkmates, activities and FOOD. You are running a stellar camp and doing it with a smile. As parents of a first time camper, our fears and concerns have all been allayed. We want to extend our Hakaras HaTov to you and your entire staff. Rabbi Idstein has been a true Malach and conyinue to be matzliach. Ari Israel From Silver Spring, MD

Rabbi Ari Neuwirth

Dear Alex, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for taking me on board and making me a part of your esteemed administration. I enjoy working with you. You have taught me so many techniques of trade. It was a wonderful summer and a great experience working in CDG. My wife and I would like to thank you for a most pleasant summer due to the comfortable and luxurious accommodations. Thank you for always being concerned about our welfare at CDG. We appreciate you always being there for us and assisting our family with whatever we needed. Looking forward to working with you for many more years. Wishing you and your family a healthy and happy year. Rabbi Ari Neuwirth From SLP, MN

Helen Fuchs

Dear Alex, I wanted to drop you a note thanking you for your extremely generous gesture towards Benjamin the last week in camp. I thank you not only for inviting him to spend that last week with you, but also for the ability you and your staff have of making him feel special and wanted among so many other campers. I am sure that part of your success has to do with being able to make most if not all the kids at camp feel like they are the special ones among so many. In just one week Ben felt close to his counselors ( another credit to your staff). Every parent wants to know and feel that someone else can feel about their child as they do. You have made my husband and I feel that you do. This is very much appreciated. Helen Fuchs From Woodmere, NY

Mrs. Kabasso

With so much thanks and gratitude, I, Mrs. Kabasso would like to extend from my heart for a wonderful second month at camp. For Moshe's first experience and as well as mine, it is beyond words to say how memorable and special the summer was. Everything possible was offered to my son Moshe. I am extremely proud and honored to have sent him to Camp Dora Golding! G-d willing he will continue to return next summer! Thanks so much for everything you have done for my family. Please send me your application for next summer. Sincerely, Mrs. Kabasso From Brooklyn, NY

Dov Kesselman

Dear Alex, First, I just wanted to let you know that Dovid seems to have been having a really terrific time. I want to give you a tremendous yasher koach on your efforts on the camp this summer. The staff seems extremely organized. I also want to commend Dovid's counselor, Yisroel. He is a tremendous mentch, extremely organized, gets the kids involved and doing the sports and swimming that they should be doing, and I am sure that he is a large part of why Dovid is having such a good time. Please relay our appreciation and commendation to him. Thanks again for a really great summer. PS - Just so you know, my older son Uri was so impressed with how much fun Dovid is having, and the fact that you came over to him on visiting day at lunch, and the totally revamped bunks, that he is now planning on coming back next summer. Dov Kesselman From West Hempstead, NY

Shelly Brand

Dear Alex, I want to thank you all- everyone at the camp- for making this an exciting and wholesome summer for Dovie. He had a wonderful time and considering that this was literally his first experience away from home – it was amazing. The counselors, the Rebbe, the waiters, the water staff – all are to be commended for their patience, their midos and their ability to make young boys happy. Shelly Brand From Staten Island, NY

Gary and Suzanne Wallin

Dear Alex, We wanted to take this opportunity to thank you and commend you for an incredible summer at Camp Dora Golding. Yosef and Binyamin had an amazing month filled with ruach, learning and excitement. As their first camp experience, they came home telling us about all of the great times at CDG including counselors, canteen, staff games, cocoa club and of couse...Alex. We would appreciate if you could let us know the dates for camp next year as we would like to plan our trip to America accordingly. As we have started settling into our new home in Israel, we just wanted you to know that we were thinking about you and CDG. If you are in Israel during the year, come by and visit! Kol Tuv! Gary and Suzanne Wallin From Israel

Tzvi Wodinsky

Dear Alex, I want to commend you and your staff. My son raves about the Yaalozu Mountaineering Program. Before it came into existence, he had no desire to spend his summers at camp and now, he cannot wait. He gets more exercise in his months with you than all year at Yeshiva and enjoys it more. Yasher Koach! Please keep up the good work. Tzvi Wodinsky From Cedarhurst, NY

Zvi Allman

Dear Alex, This summer was excellent! The slides, the pavement, the heat in the pool, the hikes with Rabbi Bodkins, and much more. The thing I enjoyed most in camp was making new friends and getting closer to friends, and counselors, and JC's . I'm not joking it was a lot of fun making new friends especially to Akiva Becker and he's from Florida!!! The learning program was very nice my Rebbi Rabbi Endzwieg, Meir Simcha Cohen, and Rabbi Feder. I really liked them alot. When I got home Mendy said he was camp sick and I was also!!! Well you had great success this year and I'm counting down the days until Camp Dora Golding 2006 have a great year!!! Zvi Allman From Cedarhurst, NY

Shua Brick

Thanks Alex. This was a summer to remember. Alot has changed, but it is still the great Camp Dora Golding! I love it so much that my brother and I would love to have our beds saved for summer 2006. Camp Dora Golding is definitely the best thing that ever happened to me. Shua Brick From West Hempstead, NY

Anat Levi

I just wanted to share with you how wonderful my son's summer at CDG was. He went for the second month only and I was sort of concerned as this was his first time and he would be there for the 9 days and Tisha B'Av, but I was so pleasantly surprised. David truly thrived over the summer (even with his loss of socks and clothing)--he made new friends but most importantly found a strength inside himself that perhaps he never realized he had. It wasn't easy being the new kid on the block in his bunk but he found the tricks to the trade rather quickly (like his favorite short cut through the woods). Again, thanks for a wonderful summer and David has already asked to go back for the entire summer. Anat Levi From Woodmere, NY

Jerry and Goldye Kopmar

I want to tell you how much we appreciated your wonderful Torah teaching to our grandchild Yoni Teeter. He has been with us for the past 9 days, and has been quoting and quoting the inspiring learning that he has received from you. Being a teacher myself, I know we can never be sure of the depth of learning, impression, or inspiration we achieve -- at the minimum we hope we can plant a seed that will blossom with time and study. Well, Rabbi Appelbaum, you have achieved all of the above with at least one of your students. We want to thank you personally for the great "Nachus" you have given to us through the inspiring torah learning you have given to our grandchild. May you go from success to success as you continue to bring Torah to our children and to others through your outstanding talent as a teacher. Jerry and Goldye Kopmar From West Hempstead, NY

Rabbi Pinchus Idstein

RE: Our Shabbaton at Camp Dora Golding Dear Mr. Gold, The Yeshiva of Greater Washington and its students would like to thank you for the magnificent Shabbos we spent at CDG in May 2005. You have a tremendous camp ground that is maintained beautifully and your staff was so accommodating in make sure that everything was "just right." The boys really enjoyed the weekend and we are looking forward to returning to CDG for future Shabbatons. Rabbi Pinchus Idstein From Silver Spring , MD

Mr. Naiman

I JUST WANTED YOU TO KNOW HOW WONDERFUL YOUR STAFF IS. WE WANTED TO BRING OUR SON AKIVA NAIMAN HOME FOR A BAR-MITZVAH THIS PAST SHABBOS. YAAKOV ERLICH WAS ON TOP OF IT. HE SAID HE WOULD KEEP HIS EARS OPEN FOR A RIDE TO NYC AND HE KEPT US NOTIFIED OF ANY LEADS. HE ACTUALLY FOUND US A RIDE STRAIGHT TO QUEENS(WHERE WE LIVE) THURSDAY EVENING THAT WAS PERFECT. ALTHOUGH I WANTED KIVI TO WAIT UNTIL WEDNESDAY-THE CHANGEOVER- TO GO BACK TO CAMP, HE WAS ANXIOUS TO GET BACK TO HIS BUNK ( A CREDIT TO YOUR STAFF AGAIN). MY HUSBAND IS BUSY BECAUSE HIS MOM IS NOT WELL SO I DECIDED TO DRIVE HIM BACK MONDAY EVENING AFTER WORK. DUE TO TRAFFIC AND HIGHWAY WORK IT TOOK LONGER THAN I HAD HOPED AND IT WAS DARK BEFORE WE GOT TO CAMP. I REALLY WAS NERVOUS ABOUT DRIVING ON THE QUIET DARK COUNTRY ROADS, SO I CALLED CAMP( THE EMERGENCY # SINCE THE OFFICE WAS CLOSED) TO SEE IF SOMEONE COULD MEET ME BY THE COUNTRY KETTLE. WHOEVER DID IT WAS SO NICE,ACCOMODATING AND RESPONSIBLE. IT WAS SO NICE OF RABBI WALDMAN TO MEET US ( AND HIS TIP ON GETTING BACK TO RTE 80 WAS REALLY FOOLPROOF). I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW IMPRESSED AND GRATEFUL I WAS WITH YOUR STAFF AND THEIR EFFORTS, YASHER KOACH. Mr. Naiman From Queens, NY

Avi Feder

Dear Uncle Alex, Camp was awesome this year. I doubt I ever had a better summer in my life. Consider this letter an advance application for CDG '05, two months. The only complaint I have is camp is way too short, 12 months is much more like it, but oh well. My mom and dad were very impressed by the camp. I just want to thank you for making this such an awesome summer for me, everything was amazing. A happy camper, Avi Feder From West Hempstead, NY

Merele Turitz

Hi Alex, I hope everything is well with you and your family. Let me brag by telling you how well all the boys are doing. You will have to witness for yourself the glow on their faces. I know I have said this many times before, but you have changed the Lives of my children with your vision and generosity. Coming from Brooklyn, you probably don't know the feeling of being the "only Jew in town" and always feeling different or left out. What a glorious awakening it was for the boys to know that they belong to something greater. That's what Camp Dora Golding did for them. Thank you so much. Merele Turitz From Marshalls Creek,PA

Zev Adler

Dear Alex, Effy had about a year to train for his Bar Mitzvah, and his hard work paid off nicely. I can confidently say this is one Bar Mitzvah I will never forget. It was an AMAZING Bar Mitzvah at Camp Dora Golding. My wife and I had an absolutely wonderful time. You have a beautiful camp with great facilities. As you may know prior to every camp season I work in camps training "pool" lifeguards to become comfortable in open water rescue techniques , but attending Effys Bar Mitzvah I got to go back to camp and TRULY enjoy camp. I got to go back to camp with my entire family, most of whom are "camp people". I got the opportunity to meet and talk with Rav Goldwasser and Rabbi Yaffe. I even got to meet and talk with you, the person whom I send tzedakah to plus I got to see where my money was being spent. I had an incredibly, suprisingly successful, weekend that I never could have expected. I want to thank you for hosting Effys Bar Mitzvah at Camp Dora Golding and tell you what a pleasure it was to stay at your camp. Wishing you and your entire family a year filled with happiness, good fortune and good health. Zev Adler From Cedarhurst, NY

Dov and Gittel Nierman

Mr. Alex Gold Camp Dora Golding I just wanted to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to you and your staff in the way they handled the medical situation with my son. As you are aware my son took ill last week. From the time he was initially diagnosed the communication between your staff and my wife was excellent. When there was additional concern later that night, and it was determined that he should be sent to the hospital, I saw how professional your staff can act. We initially received the call at 12:30am from the camp nurse. As a parent, when a child is away from home and there is a medical situation, there is greater concern. As we were heading to the hospital in the Poconos in the early morning hours, your staff made numerous phone calls to reassure us of the situation. The guest house was prepared for our arrival. Your “hospital escort” stayed with my son in the hospital all night so he wouldn’t be in a strange environment alone. All in all, my wife and I felt that the well being of our son was the camps top priority. Baruch Hashem, my son was released that morning, and has now recuperated. The true test of any establishment is how they are prepared and handle emergency situations. You should be proud of the professional staff you have, and how they reflect on you and your camp. Dov and Gittel Nierman From Flushing, NY

Ronnie and Devorah Borochov

DEAR ALEX, HERE'S JUST A SHORT NOTE TO TELL YOU HOW GREAT ELI'S SUMMER HAS BEEN YOUR CAMP IS TOP RATE!!! SINCE THIS WAS HIS FIRST TIME AWAY ON HIS OWN WE WERE QUITE NERVOUS HIM BEING ALONE BUT YOUR STAFF WAS SO WARM THERE WAS NO NEED TO WORRY THEY TOOK GREAT CARE OF HIM TO COME HOME- HE WAS IN NO HURRY WITH OVERGROWN HAIR AND SKIN DARKLY TANNED OUR SWEET LITTLE ELI BECAME QUITE A YOUNG MAN. ALTHOUGH 1/3 OF HIS CLOTHES WERE LOST THERE IN CAMP IT'S GOT TO BEAT THE 2/3 THAT WERE MOLDY AND DAMP!!!!! IT'S PART OF THE EXPERIENCE WE KEEP TELLING OURSELVES AS WE SHOP ONCE AGAIN TO REFILL HIS SHELVES. WE ARE COUNTING THE DAYS TILL CAMP DORA GOLDING STARTS AGAIN SAVE ELI A SPOT FOR 2005 IM YIRTZEI HASHEM!! WISHING YOU AND YOUR FAMILY A HAPPY AND HEALTHY YEAR! Ronnie and Devorah Borochov From Cedarhurst, NY

Simmie Chiger

Alex, I wanted to thank you for the wonderful job you did in running the camp. My boys came home so happy and they had a fantastic time. I appreciate you working with me earlier in the year when we switched Zachary out of the camp he attended last year, along with a few of his friends. In the end, all the boys had a blast and ended up staying all summer. Thanks again and please let me know when I can sign Zak and Jordan up for next summer. It is a certainty that they will be there again (Please G-D). If we don't talk, have a shana tovah umetukah!!. Simmie Chiger From West Hempstead, NY