Shabbat Shalom from Machaneh Galil!

The first Shabbat of camp (machaneh) is always exciting, so as you can imagine the energy level over here is very high. This morning when we gathered to raise the flags (hitkansut erev), all of the campers (chanichim) were buzzing with excitement for breakfast. Traditionally, we have muffins for breakfast every Friday, so it is always a meal that chanichim and staff (tzevet) members look forward to. After breakfast, we had an extended chore (avoda) period, in order to beautify machaneh for Shabbat. We then had an extended period for cleaning the cabins (nekayon tzrif). Tonight, the chanichim with the cleanest tzrif will be honored in front of the entire machaneh, and will be given the "golden broom," which is a very revered award. The golden broom is just a normal broom that has been painted gold and covered in glitter, but everyone competes to win it so it is a fun initiative to clean.

Happy Sayarot with pizza

The next event on today's schedule was Madatz (counselors in training) discussion (peula). During Madatz peula, the Madatzim lead a group discussion with the chanichim. Today, all of the age groups (schavot) are having a conversation about feedback with their Madatzim. The conversations will be centered around how to speak to each other constructively as well as how to reach a compromise. The Madatzim took their kids to sing (shira) for Shabbat afterwards. In order to get called up for lunch (which is buffet style pizza on Fridays- it truly might be the favorite meal at machaneh), the chanichim must sing the loudest. The shichva that sings the loudest will be called up first to get food (taking into consideration that a little kid won't have as loud of a voice as an older kid). We all eat pizza together outside in Hyde Park, sort of like we did on Wednesday with the barbecue. A special part of Friday lunches at Hyde Park, though, is what we do after the meal. Instead of singing like we do after every meal, we sit around in the circle and create a forum for machaneh-wide feedback. Chanichim who feel that they would like something to be changed about camp have the opportunity to speak their mind and make suggestions. Before you can stand up in front of machaneh to make a suggestion, however, you must do a creative "strut" up to a tire in the middle of Hyde Park. Some examples of struts include cartwheeling from your seat to the tire or piggy back riding. Some selected chanichim choose which struts are the best and allow those people to go up to speak. Everyone who would like to give feedback will be chosen by the end, it is just important to stagger the kids who'd like to speak so that they aren't just standing around for a while. Examples of some feedback that has been given at Hyde Park in the past include requests for new basketball nets or more garbage cans around machaneh. All of the feedback is written down and our leadership team (mazkirut) does their best to fulfill everyone's requests for the betterment of machaneh.

A Madatz and a Sayar on serving duty (toranut). 

When Hyde Park came to an end, some of the Bogrim (post-ninth graders) handed out water ice to everyone as a snack (kibud). From that point on, there was free time (chofesh) for a few hours. During this time, many chanichim choose to shower and get dressed up for Shabbat. There is also a sport of the week during this time, which is a weekly game where the chanichim play against tzevet members. This week, the sport was basketball, which got a good turnout. There is also an optional free swim during this chofesh. After chofesh, we transition into family time (mishpachot). For mishpachot, the chanichim are split up into "families" who will meet every Friday and talk about their week together. If a chanich has real family members at machaneh, they will be put in the same mishpacha. Each mishpacha consists of about 10-12 people so, for example, in my mishpacha, I will have my five family members and then 4-6 other people at camp. The other people may be related, but they also may not be. We will all call ourselves a mishpacha and will act as a supportive and accepting institution.

Mishpachot will conclude when it is time to meet at the flagpole (toren) to lower the flags. Before we do that, however, we all hug each other and say, "Shabbat shalom!" The songs that we sing on Shabbat to lower the flags are different than those on any other day, because this is a special day of the week. Once the flags are lowered, we all move to the field to sing songs to welcome the sunset and the coming of Shabbat. This is one of the more intimate machaneh-wide activities because it only happens once a week, and for many of us Shabbat is a very special time to be with family and friends. 

Two happy Bonot at lunch.

We will move on to dinner once the sun sets, however before we eat, we will all sing prayers together and light the candles. When it is finally time to eat our Shabbat meal, I know that everyone will dig in immediately. There is something for everyone on Friday dinner. We will have chicken, rice, green beans, matzo ball soup, and even more vegetarian options. On Shabbat, we set up our dining hall (chadar ochel) differently than we do on other days. Today, it will be set up so that more of us will be facing each other, which makes the meal seem even more comfortable and home-like. 

After dinner, we do more shira to celebrate Shabbat. Then, we all go down to the barn (refet) for the oneg, a play out on by one of the schavot each week. This week, the Madatzim will be preforming the oneg. Once it's over, the Madatzim will lead us to the clubhouse (moadon) for Israeli dancing (rikud)! Then, the Madatzim will put the chanichim to bed tonight, and everyone will have a sleep-in tomorrow until 10:00. Don't worry about those early-risers though, there's always something to do Saturday morning before everyone wakes up! 

Because we are not supposed to use electronics on Shabbat, there will unfortunately be no blog post tomorrow. But have no fear, I will be back to you on Sunday again and I will fill you all in on everything exciting that has happened. So, until Sunday, Shabbat shalom!