Danya’s Shabbat Message – Week 4: From Havdalah to Homecoming

Dear Herzl Camp Families –

Shabbat has come and gone. Same with Havdalah. And I am officially very late in posting this blog.

Havdalah has always been my favorite prayer. The first time I remember singing it was at Herzl Camp in 1990. It’s just so beautiful – the melody, the crowd singing and swaying in unison, arms around each other. I remember that right after the prayer ended, the staff and Ozrim would start singing:

Shavua tov, may you have a good week,
May you find the happiness you seek.
Shavua tov, may your week be fine,
May it be as sweet as the Sabbath wine.

I always thought it was a made-up camp song, which, I think, is a totally reasonable assumption. But as I was writing, I Googled the lyrics and just learned that it’s a real song, written by Jeff Klepper, a cantor who worked closely with Debbie Friedman and co-founded Hava Nashira. I chuckled because I genuinely believed the Ozrim and staff that summer made it up. The Havdalah prayer will always remind me of the Ulam on a Saturday night, as everyone wished each other a Shavua Tov – a good week.

So yes, this post is a little late. But I’m glad for the delay, because it means I get to tell you about the most incredible scene I saw yesterday.
Late last night, 180 Kadimah and B’yachad campers and staff gathered on the lawn in front of the Chadar, anxiously awaiting the arrival of 14 Israeli campers. They waited in the dark, often mistaking the headlights of our golf carts for those of the bus. And when the actual bus finally pulled in, it was like Bruce Springsteen, circa 1985, had just arrived.

There were welcome signs everywhere, made by the campers in Amanut earlier that day. As the campers stepped off the bus, the crowd spontaneously broke into “Im Tirzu, Ein Zo Agadah” . So much cheering, jumping, clapping, tears of joy, and relief. And hugs everywhere. Whether you already knew each other or not.

We’ve been holding our breath for weeks, unsure whether these kids would make it to camp. It’s been an emotional roller coaster (I just taught this phrase to one of the Israeli staff the other day, and now we love to say it to each other all the time) as things became more uncertain. We held onto hope as the first day of the session came and went. And then, finally, we received news that they would arrive to camp on July 13. But we didn’t exhale until they stepped off the bus.

One of the campers who stepped off the bus is my cousin, who is attending Herzl for the first time. Her dad was a Herzl camper and staff member for many years – back when there wasn’t a contingency of Israeli campers. It was just him, tagging along with his American cousins, at first – he quickly found his place at camp. His Herzl experience has stayed with him all these years, and he’s always dreamed of one of his kids experiencing the Herzl magic, too.

When I visited my family in Israel in February, I was prepped and ready for a full-scale, red carpet, recruitment pitch. But there was no need – she was practically packed and ready to go right then. I asked her if she was sure (big recruitment mistake) – she wouldn’t know anyone, except me. She smiled and said, “Yes, I’m sure. I want to go”.

I know she and all of the Israeli campers who arrived last night, and the two who have been with us since the start of the session, are going to have an incredible summer.

Today is going to be another great day at Herzl Camp. The sun is shining. There is a lovely breeze in the air. And we had the fluffiest pancakes at breakfast. Everyone’s in a fantastic mood. I’m off to an appointment with an Amudim camper who’s polishing my nails – I hope she has the color I like.

Wishing you a wonderful week – I’ll be back again on Shabbat. You can count on it.

-danya

Senior Director of Camp & Culture