Gearing up for the first Shabbat of Second Session!

Chanichim (campers) waiting for Ivret Shimushit (Hebrew Skit)

The first Shabbat of machaneh (camp) is always an exciting time; the energy level over here is very high. At hitkansut boker (morning flag raising), all of the chanichim (kids) were freaking out about breakfast. Traditionally, we have muffins for breakfast every Friday, so it is always a meal that chanichim and staff tzevet (staff) members look forward to. After breakfast, we had an extended avoda (chores) period, in order to beautify machaneh for Shabbat. We then had an extended period for cleaning the nikyon tzrif (cabin cleaning). 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. Even those who never want to clean will work their hardest on Friday to try and win this broom.

The seder yom (schedule) on Friday is pretty different than the rest of the week, which is exciting for chanichim. It starts off differently with madatz peula (an activity run by the CITs). Today, all of the shcavot (age groups) 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. Something different we do on Fridays is Shabbat Shira (shira before lunch) and the kids who bring the most ruach (energy) get to go eat lunch first! Aruchat tzohorayim today is also pretty special, the mitbach spends all morning making different kinds of pizza! As you can imagine, the chanichim go nuts over that. Everyone eats in Hyde Park and then there is a short asefah (meeting) about machaneh and ways to improve it. The chanichim run this asefah which is awesome because it gives the chanichim are chance to take ownership over the space they are living in and think of ways to make it better. 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. People tend to get pretty creative with these. Some selected chanichim choose which struts are the best and allow those people to go up to speak.

Chanichim (campers) walking the sheep.

After Hyde Park, the day starts to really feel like Shabbat. The Bogrim (post 9th graders) hand out a special kibud (snack) which usually consists of water ice or ice cream of some sort. Following kibud, there is mostly free time until around 5:20. During this chofesh (free time) the chanichim have the option of playing the sport of the week, which this week was frisbee. For those who don't want to play frisbee, there is schiya chofshit (free swim). After chofesh, the chanichim experience mispacha (family). For mishpachot, the chanichim are split up into "families" who will meet every Friday and talk about their week together. If a chanich or chanicha has real family members at machaneh, they will be put in the same mishpacha. It is a really great time to meet people you wouldn't normally spend time with and also check in with people and talk about how your week was.

Everyone then gathers at the torren (flagpole) to hug their friends and say "Shabbat Shalom". It is a really nice and relaxing time of the week. Dinner on Fridays is also very special. The chadar ochel (dining hall) is reshaped and there are table cloths placed on top of all of the tables. For aruchat erev (dinner) we serve chicken, matza ball soup, a vegetable of some sort, and some grape juice! The whole meal has a different energy to it as everyone is excited to welcome the Shabbas.

Chanichim during chofesh.

Following aruchat erev, there is some more shira and then the oneg which is a skit performed by a different shichva every week. This week the Amelim (post 3rd and 4th graders) will put on a show that is usually pretty cute and funny. After the oneg, its time for some rikud (dancing). Everyone heads over to the moadoan to dance, and this ends around 10 at night but people are welcome to stay later if they'd like to keep dancing. There is a sleep in tomorrow morning until 10:30 to let people rest and catch up on their sleep from the previous week! Don't worry about those early risers, we have activities going on for them. Shabbat is a really relaxing time at machaneh and people love the atmosphere it creates.

Because we are not supposed to use electronics on Shabbat, there will unfortunately be no blog post tomorrow. Don't worry, I will be back to you on Sunday again and I will fill you all in on everything exciting that has happened.

Until Sunday, Shabbat shalom!

-Mike