Getting ready for Shabbos

Hello Parents, and good Shabbos to you! This morning started off right today with warm cinnamon buns for breakfast. Afterwards everyone went to an extended avodah meaning we got to help maintain machaneh for a longer period of time. Afterwards everyone went back to their tzrifim(cabins) and began intense nikayon(cleaning) so that they could get a shot at winning the Golden Broom. The Golden Broom is awarded to the cleanest tzrif during rikud(dancing) later tonight. It is regarded as one of the highest honors at machaneh and whoever holds the Golden Broom is regarded as a super clean kid.

Today the Madatzimot will be leading peula shikvah for the chanichimot as is per tradition for Shabbat, and tomorrow they will lead another peula, but this time for the entire machaneh and not just for individual shikvot(age groups). Afterwards we will have Shabbat Shira, where everyone gathers to learn special songs whilst also dressed up in funny costumes and hats. Kids with the most ruach(energy) get called up first to get pizza for lunch. Once all the kids get their pizza, everyone hangs around Hyde Park and enjoys lunch and chit-chats with each other.

After eating, kids will get kibud(snack) and Hyde Park will begin and kids will come up to the large rock one at a time and share either an idea they have to improve machaneh or just give a statement complimenting something the appreciated this week at machaneh.

Next kids can participate in mischak ha’shavuah(sport of the week) and this week’s sport is baseball, so kids can get their baseball gloves and bats and play ball! There will also be time for kids to take long showers and pamper themselves as they get ready for Shabbat dinner.

We will be meeting by mishpachot(families) and discuss how our weeks have been and also just.share fun stories from the week. Then we all walk down the road and group together to give out hugs and take more nice pictures with each other. Then the Tzophimot will perform their kabbalat songs and dance which they have been practicing all week for. Then our Rosh, Lia, will tell us a story about herself that has underlying morals and themes that we should all take to heart as we finish the summer off next week.

Dinner ends and then we all go to the Refet(barn) to watch the oneg(skit) that will be put on by the Amelimot. The oneg will end and everyone will get ready for rikud. We will be doing many Israeli dances and it will be super intense and at the end, people who stay the whole time will get a special treat due to their dedication. At this point kids will be going to bed and they’ll be getting a good night sleep since we get a sleep in until 10 am tomorrow morning.

We’ll see you on Monday once Shabbat is over, but for now, enjoy your Shabbat!

-Guy