BIKKURIM!!! July 27th
Hi everyone!
I’ve been to a lot of Bikkurim-im (Bikkurims doesn’t sound right) in my life and I can say without a shadow of a doubt, this was the best! It was a picture perfect day and everyone was in a state of exuberance that you don’t get to see every day, though we do see it a lot of days.
So tonight I have asked the architect of this summer’s Bikkurim to give you the full play by play. So without further ado…I give you our Rosh Programming, Aidan Shafton…
The Chadar erupted into absolute pandemonium Sunday night after a spectacular musical number (choreographed by Josh Bagley) revealed that it was the beginning of everyone’s favorite day of the summer, Bikkurim.
The Chadar has never been louder than it was when this session’s theme was revealed: musicals.
The yellow team, Team Hamilton, came in winning three straight Bikkurims. The odds of the same color winning Bikkurim four times in a row are a microscopic 1/864, a feat never accomplished in Bikkurim history. They went in with an attitude that reflects Alexander Hamilton’s most famous quote, “Never tell me the odds.” Now that I think about it, that was definitely Han Solo that said that, not Alexander Hamilton.
The themes for the other teams went as follows… Red – Annie, Orange – The Lion King, Green – Wicked, Blue – Mamma Mia, Purple – Aladdin
The first event of Bikkurim was the basketball challenge, where the yellow team started their title defense off strong after a Kadimah camper drained a half-court shot to help lead yellow to a win in the basketball challenge.
In our first activity on Monday morning, tug-of-war, the blue team came out on top after a promising challenge from the orange team, who claimed second. The blue team rode the momentum from tug-of-war into the sports rotations, as they went undefeated in their first rotation sports, snatching the lead away from the yellow team. The purple team turned it on during second rotation, going undefeated in all their sports.
By lunch, the teams were neck and neck, each team with a real shot to deny the yellow team from making Bikkurim history. Not a single camper dared to make a peep during silent lunch. The judges decided to award the blue team points for effectively communicating silently, which extended their narrow lunchtime lead.
During third rotation, the green team put their hat in the ring as a contender after going undefeated. After the third rotation was over, everyone went to Ozo Park to participate in the first-ever Bikkurim ultimate frisbee challenge. The yellow team came out on top after the same Kadimah camper who made the half-court shot hit one from full distance to lead the yellow team to a sweep in the sports challenges. The four-peat for the yellow team was looking more and more plausible by the second.
During the marathon, a massive relay race across all of camp, the yellow team seemed to be in line to win yet another event. However, the purple team and the blue team claimed first and second place in the marathon on the shoulders of a late and dramatic comeback.
With all of the rotations and the marathon done, Bikkurim was going to come down to Cake Boss, Plaque, and Pop Dance. The immense talent of the campers was on full display during the presentations of those three events.
The blue team showed their innovation with a layered cake featuring specific dedications to the judges. The plaques were outstanding, it was hard to believe they were made in only one day. The expectations for the pop dances were extremely high given the theme, and they did not disappoint. Tears were shed, songs were sung, and monologues were recited to perfection. Most people left saying this group of pop dances was the best they had ever seen, and I have trouble disagreeing.
After the final pop dance was performed, the judges discussed the scores and a winner was decided. The campers watched anxiously at the closing ceremony, hoping their team would be announced as the winner.
The field was narrowed down to two teams, the blue team and the yellow team.
After a cinematic lightsaber fight, the yellow team was revealed as the winner of Bikkurim for the fourth straight time!
We’ll see you next session… can yellow make it five?
So there you have it folks…It was a banner day! Mazel Tov Yellow Team!
Thank you for sending your kid to Herzl Camp.
All is well. Safely rest.
,לילה טוב
Tommy