Shabbat Shalom!

Shabbat Shalom everyone!

Everyone woke up this morning excited to prepare today’s special Shabbat schedule. After hitkansut boker (morning flag raising) and a pancake breakfast, everyone headed out to an extra long block of avodah (work groups) to beautify machaneh (camp) for tonight and tomorrow. Afterwards, there was an extended period of nikayon tzrif (cabin cleaning time) as the chanichimot (campers) contended for the cleanest cabin in our Golden Broom competition. The Mazkirut (Directors) will judge the cabins during lunchtime and tonight, after rikud (Israeli dancing), the winner will be announced! This year, no one can score full points for their tzrif (cabin) without having a stamped and addressed letter home on their bed, so you can all look forward to some written letters in the next couple of days!

Some Chotrimot serve pizzas!

After all this tidying up, it was time for Madatz Pish (Peulat Shichva, age group activity run by the CITs) as the Madatzimot (CITs) for each shichva (age group) were finally revealed. Needless to say, all of the chanichimot were very excited to find out who is working with them! The Madatz will plan activities for their chanichimot each week on Friday and Saturday mornings and put them to bed twice a week. Tonight will be the first night the Madatz put their kids to bed!

At the end of Madatz Pish, the chanichimot put on some crazy costumes for Shabbat Shira (Friday singing time). On Friday’s, the age group that sings the loudest and has the most energy while learning new songs is rewarded by being called to lunch first! Traditionally, Friday lunch is homemade pizza with lots of delicious toppings from veggies to hot sauce, as well as fresh grapes and salad bar. Chanichimot eat outside, picnic-style, in Hyde Park before gathering around the benches to state their feedback about how the week went and suggestions about how to improve machaneh.

The Madatz make cinnamon rolls for breakfast Saturday morning!

After lunch, the chanichimot relax with a block of free time to make crafts in the Beit Omanut (arts and crafts building), compete against madrichimot (counselors) in the Mischak Hashavua (Sport of the Week), and dress up for Shabbat. This week the Mischak Hashavua is Ultimate Frisbee, a crowd favorite! Optional t’filot (prayers) will be held in the gan (garden).

Before the start of Shabbat, the chanichimot (campers) will be split into their Mishpachot (families) with groups of their actual family members and individuals from different age groups at machaneh. In these groups, they’ll reflect on the busy week by discussing the best and worst thing that happened to each person, as well as what they’re most looking forward to in the week ahead. The Mishpachot will also talk about this week’s Torah portion and pose some questions as food for thought. Then, the Mishpachot will each join in for a Procession around machaneh singing songs and ending at the toren (flag pole) where everyone will greet each other for Shabbat before lowering the flag.

Some Bonimot enjoy lunch in Hyde Park. 

Before dinner, the Bogrimot will lead this week’s Kabbalat Shabbat, which includes singing songs in Hebrew and English, and performing a rikud (Israeli dance). Lia, our Rosh Machaneh (Head of Camp) will tell a story before everyone sings prayers to welcome Shabbat while facing the setting sun. Then we’ll head to a dinner of chicken, vegetables, and delicious challah bread baked by the Madatz. After dinner, there will be more shira (singing time) before the week’s silly oneg (skit), which the Madatz will perform before leading the whole machaneh in rikud.

Tomorrow, everyone can look forward to a leisurely Shabbat including a sleep-in, a sweet surprise for breakfast, and lots of chofesh (free time). After the Madatz run an activity for all of machaneh, the Bogrimot and Madrichimot (counselors) will each run chugim (electives). Lunch will be sandwiches in a picnic held for each shichva (age group) around machaneh (camp). In the evening, there will be a Musicale where chanichimot will sing songs for each other before heading into Havdalah when everyone will sit in a spiral and watch the stars before singing prayers. As a chanicha (camper), this was always my favorite part of the week. Afterwards, everyone will head over to medurah, a bonfire where chanichimot perform silly acts, and then get ice cream before going to bed.

See you Sunday!

- Carli

P.S. It looks like we’re in for a little rain!