Shabbat Has Arrived

There is a different atmosphere in the air at machaneh (camp) during Shabbat. Friday morning started off with the chanichim (kids) excited for muffin day as they always are. After breakfast, we had an extended avoda (chores) period, in order to beautify machaneh for Shabbat. We also did a buffalo hunt before we started nikyon tzrif (cabin cleaning). A buffalo hunt at machaneh is when the entire camp walks from the very back of camp to the chadar ochel (dining hall) in the front of camp and pick up any trash we see. Its a quick, efficient way to get a lot of litter off the ground and make things look better before hand. This week we will honor a new tzrif with the golden broom, as the summer nears the end the contest gets much more competitive. Many of the chanichim want to win once before they go home and the tzrifim (cabins) never look cleaner than they do on Friday morning.


On Friday's the madatzim (CITs) run a peula (activity) for their different age groups. The Bogrim (post 9th graders) and nitzanim (taste of Galil kids) don't have madatzim so they run peulot (activities) for themselves. Today the nitzanim could be found at the pool, splashing around. The madatzim for the Sayarim (post 6th graders) and Chotrim (post 5th graders) focused on team building, inclusion, and how that relates to a kvutza (age group). More specifically, they talked about how it is important to incorporate everyone's ideas and make everyone feel included. The Bonim (post 8th graders) had a sicha (conversation) about the movement's values and how they are reflected and demonstrated at machaneh and also why we have the values we do. The Tzophim had a conversation about Israel and Judaism, and the Amelim (post 4th graders) had a peula on kvutza and then went to the beit omanut (house of art) to work on some crafts.

After the Madatz peula the kids all get dressed up and ready for Shabbat shira (singing). This is where each kvutza has a chance to show off their ruach (spirit), and whichever shichva (age group) sings the loudest gets to go get lunch first. On Fridays we make a bunch of pizzas that have all different toppings and sauces, so the chanichim sing really loud and proud to try and be the first ones. After aruchat tzohorayim (lunch) there is Hyde Park, sport of the week, and then free time to get ready for Shabbat. 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.

We will end the night with the Oneg (weekly skit by an age group) and rikud (dancing) in the moadon, and the kids have a later bed time tonight. Due to Shabbat, there will be no blog post tomorrow as we are supposed to rest and not use electronics of any kind. I'll be back on Sunday to fill you in on this weekend and all the activities we did!

Shabbat Shalom!

-Mike