Kupa Trip!

Today was Kupa Trip! Every session we go on one kupa trip which of course is a surprise to all of the campers (chanichim). This morning began as any normal day at Galil, however, after work groups (avodah) all of the chanichim were asked to go back to their cabins (tzrifim) and get a bathing suit, towel, sneakers, and water bottle and head to the parking lot. We all boarded the busses and were off to a fun filled day at Dutch Springs! Dutch Springs is a water quarry with many fun blow up obstacles! As soon as we got there all of the chanichim excitedly headed towards the water! All of the obstacles are challenging, but one stood out from the rest...the iceberg. The iceberg was a large and tall blow up mountain which seemed impossible. Only a handful of the chanichim succeeded in making it to the top, however, everyone else had a lot of fun trying. 

Dutch Springs also has a new obstacle which they call the Wibit. This was a blow up obstacle course with many elements that eventually ended with a huge slide into the water. The point of the Wibit was to try and make it through each obstacle without falling into the water, which was very challenging, but also made for a great laugh.

For the chanichim who needed a break from the water, we had an arts and crafts table set up in the pavilion that we rented for the day. They made fun projects such as bracelets and drawings. We also brought sports equipment for chanichim that wanted to have a catch. 

For lunch we set up a buffet for the chanichim to make sandwiches. Although we had many tables in the pavilion, many chanichim formed circles in the grass next to it to eat lunch together picnic style.    

Throughout the day we sent kids by age group (shkavot) to the sky challenge. The sky challenge is a rock climbing wall with high ropes course elements all in one. The chanichim went in rotations and anyone who didn’t want to go had the option of staying in the water. The chanichim that did go on the Sky Trail said it was so much fun!

Tonight the chanichim will have an evening activity (tochnit erev) with their age group (shickvah). We had a lot of fun today and had a great kupa trip!

Tisha B'av

Today’s schedule was different than a normal day because it is Tisha B’av. Tisha B’av is a Jewish holiday when we commemorate the destruction of the second temple. In order to commemorate this holiday, we fast, however we still work today. At Galil, the option is offered to the older age groups (shkavot) to fast if they are above Bar-Mitzvah age.

The day began with a small sleep-in followed by flag raising (hitkansuit boker). For hitkansuit boker today, we sang different songs than we typically do to recognize that today is a holiday. The chanichim that were fasting went to the Moadon while everyone else went to breakfast. If a camper (chanich) decided to fast, during the meals they hung out in the Moadon and had discussions with the counselors (madrichim) about why they decided to fast and what this holiday means to them. Because Tisha B’av is a working fast day we still had work groups (avodah) after breakfast today. 

In the morning, the Amelim, Chotrim, Sayarim and Tzophim went to the barn (refet) to see an exhibit on Yitzchak Rabin. In the refet there were exhibit posters set up with information about Rabin’s life. Our Shaliach, Oded, and our educational director, Nora, briefly explained to the chanichim what each poster meant. The older chanichim at this time had a mock mikvah next to the creek. They each wrote down different types of hatred on pieces of paper and then tossed rocks into the creek which represented that hatred. 

Before lunch today, the older chanichim and the younger chanichim separated for a movie. The younger chanichim watched Iron Giant which is a movie about befriending and finding commonalities within people from different backgrounds. The older chanichim watched Pay It Forward, which is about engaging in acts of kindness and expanding that kindness to others. 

Tonight there will be a special evening activity (tochnit erev) to close the day. Each age group (shickvah) will be given a poem or song to perform in front of the rest of camp (machaneh). The songs and poems that they will be given have to do with spreading hope and kindness and each shickvah will be able to perform it however they wish. The night will end with a conscience play performed by the staff (tzevet) for the older chanichim.

We've had a moving day and have learned a lot! Check back tomorrow! 

Shabbat Shalom!

Shabbat is here! Today the chanichim woke up to Friday morning muffins and a slightly different morning flag raising (hitkansuit boker). Not only is today the opening ceremony for the 2012 Summer Olympics, but it is the 40th anniversary of the Munich Olympics. To commemorate the Munich Olympics we read a brief description of what happened on that day for the campers (chanichim) that didn’t know. We then had a moment of silence before we raised the flags. Typically, we raise both the American and Israeli flag to the top of the flag pole, but today we only raised the flags half way. We also have different songs for each flag that we raise everyday, but today we sang the Hatikvah for the Israeli flag. 

During the CIT activity (Madatz peula) the Amelim had a peula about their kupa. Kupa for the campers (chanichim) is their communal box of candy they all share. Whenever any of the chanichim recieve any type of candy or food in the mail or on the first day, they give it all to their counselors (madrichim). The chanichim share all of their candy together and today the Amelim made a decision of how they want their kupa of candy to work for the session. During the peula different chanichim recived different amounts of candy which of course did not seem fair to those who recieved less than the others. In the end they all decided it would be best if they shared all of their snacks and they came up with a system of how they would receive it.

This week Shabbat is going to end slightly different than it normally does. Tomorrow night starts the Jewish holiday, Tisha B’av. During this holiday we commemorate the destruction of the second temple by fasting. At Galil we use this holiday as an opportunity to have serious discussions about oppression as well as talking about the destruction. Tomorrow night instead of having our campfire (medurah) as the last activity, we are going to move it earlier in the night so we can start the holiday when the sun sets. We have special activities planned for Tisha B’av on Sunday. 

Shabbat Shalom and check back on Sunday to read about Tisha B’av. 

Seminar on Aliyah Bet

We’ve had a crazy weather day! What started as a cloudy and rainy day has turned into a very warm and sunny day. Everyone headed to the pool in the afternoon to cool off from the sudden temperature change. During instructional swim today, the campers (chanichim) split into teams and had relay races that helped them to practice their different strokes they have learned. 

Today, the Bonim had a special seminar. During the seminar they learned all about Aliyah Bet which was an illegal immigration to Palestine by Jews after the World War II. Every summer the Bonim plan a simulated Aliyah Bet for the entire Machaneh so their counselors (madrichim) wanted to teach them about the actual event before they planned it for the machaneh. 

Before their seminar began the Bonim were instructed to put on “shtetel” clothing which included long skirts, scarves, slacks, buttoned shirts, rags and head coverings. When the Bonim got to the barn (refet), it was transformed into a “shtetel” located in Western Europe in the 1930’s. The refet was set up as a carnival with different stations that simulated what a “shtetel” would be like in the 1930’s. The stations included a cow milking station, a school that taught yiddish, a bakery and a shul (synoguage). 

After the stations, they were split into groups and each group had a different idea of where they were going to migrate to next. One group wanted to go to America, the other group wanted to join the communist revolution, one group wanted to assimilate, and last group wanted to make the journey to Palestine and join the Zionist movement. They all had a debate voicing their opinions of why their idea was better than the others. In the end they all decided to make the journey to Palestine, aliyah bet, because they wanted to hold on to their Jewish identity and traditions together.

During the afternoon the Bonim watched skits of a mock ship headed towards Palestine. They learned all about the difficult journey the Jews completed. The seminar will continue into the night and will end with a short hike.

During workshops (Sadnaot) today, the Sayarim brought white t-shirts to the arts and crafts building (beit omanut) to spray paint! They each created their own stencil design and chose their own colors! 

We are excited for the first Shabbat of second session! 

Kicking off Second Session

We’ve had an exciting first day of second session! Today all of the campers (chanichim) were split into their work groups (anafim) for the session and were taught by the counselors (madrichim) the different responsibilities they have for their specific anaf. One of the anafim had a special treat today. The chanichim that work in the garden (gan) had the opportunity to also walk the sheep today! At Galil, we have two sheep that we are taking care of for the summer and the gan anaf also takes care of our animals. 

In the morning, the amelim and chotrim had their first instructional swim of the session. Today, they were all tested in the water to see everyone’s swimming abilities and were then given a little bit of free swim. During their free swim all of the chanichim got together and formed a whirl pool in the shallow end! 

The tzophim also had an exciting morning. In the beginning of their activity (peula) the head of camp (rosh) Kali came to tell the tzophim that their bedtime was going to be at the same time as the Amelim. The tzophim were not happy because the amelim are 3 years younger than them, so they decided that they were going to protest against this decision.

They spent the morning making posters, writing chants and songs, and coming up with a strategy of how they were going to get their later bed time back. After everything was ready to go, the tzophim marched to where Kali works singing their songs and holding their posters. After a long conversation with Kali, the tzophim won! 

In the afternoon, the Amelim had a fun peula filled with team building activities. One of their favorite challenges was the human knot! All of the Amelim stood in a circle together and held hands with someone across the circle. Eventually they created a large human knot and had to work together to become untangled. After 10 minutes of talking to each other and forming a strategy, they successfully untangled the knot. 

During workshops (sadnaot) the Bonim went to the arts and crafts building (beit omanut). After they all went on a tour of the beit omanut and were taught all the rules, they made candles with wax today! Some made different shapes, while others created traditional candle sticks.

Check back tomorrow! 

Welcome to Second Session!

Today, we welcomed the second sessioners! As parents and families left, each age group (shikvah) gathered together for ice breakers and other fun games! For the chanichim that were here first session, this was a great time for them to be able to teach the new campers (chanichim) their favorite games! One of the favorite ice breaker games we play at Galil is called “A Strong Wind Blows.” Everyone stands in a circle and one person stands in the middle. The person in the middle then states a fact about themselves, such as, “I have one younger sister.” If the statement applies to anyone else in the circle they run into the middle and try and find a different spot to stand in. The last person in the middle is the next person to state a fact about themselves. 

This game is a great way for the chanichim to get to know each other! 

After icebreakers we returned to a normal day schedule and headed to singing time (Shira). Everyday before dinner the entire camp (machaneh) gathers in front of the flagpole (toren) to learn different songs that we sing here at Galil. On the first day of each session, the song that we sing before each meal is taught. We do this so each camper (chanich) is able to participate in the singing before the meal that day. 

After dinner tonight the chanichim will have an evening activity (tochnit erev). Tonight’s tochnit erev are special interest group (chuggim) skits. Every session different staff members (tzevet) 

create chuggim that the chanichim will go to everyday. On the first night of each session, the tzevet put on short and funny skits about the chug that they are running so the chanichim can decide which chug they would like to join. 

Here is a list of all the age group’s (shkavot) counselors (madrichim):

Amelim

Shira Pik-Nathan

Gabby Malissa

Jon Shahar

Guy

Chotrim

Aliyah (Aro) Zlotkin

Leora Paradise

Reut

Jonah Adams

Dan Weiss

Sayarim

Lia Ben-Ishay

Mor

Shula Smith

Pele Irgang-Laden

Eli Organic-Ayres

Tzophim

Diana Goodman

Jordan Cooper

Max Weisman

Eli Silverman

Dan Barkon

Bonim

Yael Sabag

Pauline Bogad

Eliana Yankalev

Aviel

Ari Feinberg

Bogrim

Jill Lipman

Allie Amado

Dan Magid 

Howie Stanger

Intersession!

We've had a great first session! Sadly, we said goodbye to the first sessioner's today and we miss them so much already! For the campers chanichim staying 7 weeks, it's intersession! Intersession is a relaxing time for the chanichim filled with lots of free time (chofesh), naptime, movies, games, and fun activities planned by the Madatz. Staff (tzevet) is hard at work starting to plan for second session so the Madatz help to run the next two days!

Today the chanichim had a long period of chofesh. Most of the chanichim chose to nap, play cards and hang out with their friends. Later in the afternoon they had a movie and interest groups (chuggim) run by the Madatz.

The chanichim love intersession! Look out for some pictures of intersession tomorrow!