The Sounds of Summer, the Strength of Community
Our thoughts and prayers are with the Texas communities which suffered such tragic losses during the devastating floods, and we mourn the deaths of so many, including the campers, counselors, and leaders of Camp Mystic and Heart O’ the Hills.
Our visits this week have taken us to Ramah Canada, Berkshires, New England, and the Boston day camp. Shlichim and Israeli campers who arrived late are now settling in, and our camps have the mid-July feel that we joyfully anticipate each year: exuberant children (some already in need of hair cuts!), sticky humidity (when we are all in need of ice cream!), tzevet who have become masterful counselors—spirited shira, rikud, tefillot, maccabiahs and zimriyahs. As friends of Ramah, we all know firsthand the sounds of July: they are our favorite sounds.
“Dedication”
This past Shabbat, I was at Camp Ramah in Canada, where I had the opportunity to meet with the oldest edah, join Tikvah for their oneg Shabbat shira, and meet with numerous staff. A theme of my visit was dedication: dedicated staff, board members, and donors. On Sunday, I participated in a magnificent Chanukat Ha’Bayit, as camp formally dedicated Beit Avraham in memory of Ab Flatt z”l. Ab and his family—the Flatts and Wolfes—have dedicated their lives to strengthening Ramah; what an inspiration to be there with them. Beit Avraham is beautiful and includes much needed programmatic space, offices, camper care facilities, and guest housing.
Another theme of this week: “Farm to Table”
Last week, I wrote about befriending goats. This week, I had the opportunity to spend time in the garden of Ramah Day Camp Greater Boston. The campers were harvesting garlic and making pesto (which smelled wonderful!). In bishul, they were pickling their freshly picked vegetables and learning brachot. Across the way, other campers were singing “Olam Chesed Yibaneh” (written by a proud Ramah alum, Rabbi Menachem Creditor).
At Camp Ramah in the Berkshires, Assistant National Director Daniel Olson joined campers for their visit to Brookby Farm Store and Dairy. This small farm produces small batches of fresh milk that the campers sampled. Daniel writes, “We also went into the cowshed where we watched the farm's seven dairy cows get milked, enjoyed watching the milk go into the collection vat via tubes and pipes, and pet the cows. Upstate New York is well-known for its dairy industry, and it was great to watch these young campers see how a small family-owned farm works.” Older campers at Berkshires adapted the farm to table theme—theory to practice: life skills class at camp. Campers are learning important skills like how to tie a tie, change a tire, and sew buttons!
“Ma Tovu”
I was joined by JTS Chancellor Shuly Rubin Schwartz at Camp Ramah New England. It is always an honor to visit a camp with JTS leaders. The chancellor met with prospective and current JTS students, and spent time talking with campers and staff. During a session with Nivonim campers (rising 11th graders), our teens shared what high school has been like since October 7th. They had just started freshman year when the war broke out. Some of their stories were heartwrenching. Sitting in the Nevonim tent, Chancellor Schwartz looked at them and, referencing this week’s parasha, said “Ma Tovu Ohalecha”—how good to be under this tent, in this community, surrounded by your friends. The Nivonimers nodded in agreement and started to clap.
A counselor who had participated in NRC’s Weinstein Leadership Institute, held this winter, ran over to thank us for teaching him new tefillah methodologies during this four-day leadership development program, and to let us know how helpful they have been with his rising 8th graders. He then invited me to tell his campers a story before their highly anticipated Night Stalkers game. I told them one of my favorite stories from when I was a rosh edah at Ramah New England (quite some time ago). It’s the train story, and can be found here in the “Ten for Roo” podcast.
While our hearts are heavy, we find comfort in these moments of dedication and happiness. The sounds of children and young adults uplift us, and will never be taken for granted.