Danya’s Shabbat Message – Week 4: Kindness at Camp

Dear Herzl Families –

As we head into the first Shabbat of 3rd session, I’m delighted to share this week’s Shabbat message from the shores of Devils Lake.
I’m Danya, the Director of Camp & Culture at Herzl Camp. I get to spend my summer with our incredible staff, Ozrim, and campers. For the past few years, I’ve sent a weekly Shabbat message to camp families. This summer, you’ll receive one each week so you can share in a little of the Herzl magic and stay connected all summer long.

For the fourth time this summer, we welcomed campers off the buses and into the Ulam. And we’ve got the system down! The buses roll in, and the staff and Ozrim erupt with excitement. Campers step off the bus and walk through a tunnel of cheers and ruach before finding a spot on a bench while the other buses empty and the rest of the campers arrive.

Meanwhile, I’m usually wandering around saying hello to campers I haven’t seen in a year – many of whom I barely recognize because they’ve all grown up so much since last summer – while also welcoming campers experiencing Herzl for the very first time. Eventually, I’ll plop myself down somewhere in the middle of it all to take it in.

On Wednesday, I happened to sit in front of a group of rising fifth graders. As the RKs (program leaders) began reading cabin assignments, I felt a tap on my shoulder and turned around to see a familiar face of a camper who has been coming to Herzl for several summers.He pointed to the person sitting next to him and told me that he needed to go to the bathroom. I recognized the camper he was referring to as a first-time camper and wondered how they knew each other. But there was no time to ask right then.

The new-to-Herzl camper and I jumped up to make a run for the West Haks. As he hurried to leave, he grabbed his backpack and everything else he had brought with him from the bus. Before I could tell him to leave it behind, the camper next to him reached over, grabbed the strap of his backpack, and said, “Leave it with me. I’ll hold onto your stuff for you”.
I nodded in agreement, and off we went.

On the walk over, I asked him how he knew the boy sitting next to him.
“I don’t know him,” he said.
“You don’t?”
“No, we just met on the bus.”
“You just met him? I thought you two were friends.”
“Nope,” he said. “I don’t even know his name.”
What???? I was genuinely shocked. The way he offered to help was so natural, and exactly the way good friends take care of each other. I just assumed they’d known each other for years.

By the time we got back to the Ulam, his cabin had already been called, and they were outside headed towards the photographer for their cabin picture. We rerouted to the other side of the Ulam to meet up with them, spotted his new buddy, and walked over to grab the backpack.
Before we could even ask, he looked at us with a guilty smile and admitted that he had accidentally left the backpack in the Ulam.
I couldn’t help but laugh because it was too perfect – I love the intention he had; we’ll work on the follow-through.

I’m a sucker for genuine kindness like that, where a simple gesture from one person to another makes a new place feel a little more like home. Like later that evening at opening bonfire. As I was walking through the Chadar, I stopped to say hello to a camper who is back for his second summer. Camp doesn’t always come easily to him, and we both knew the first few days of the session would be hard, but he could get through them.

After we chatted for a few minutes, I told him I’d check in with him in the morning. The Shira team started singing, and campers and staff began swaying together. I had already walked away but noticed my buddy wasn’t joining in and still sitting off to himself. I was about to approach but the camper sitting next to him beat me to it, he leaned in, whispered something in his ear – and in my head it went like this:

“Bro, get in here, we’re singing Wild World”.

And so he did. That small gesture from his cabinmate isn’t going to cure his homesickness, but it was a positively special moment for them (and for me!).

And with that, it’s time for Shabbat. It’s B’yachad Shabbat this weekend, and I’m off to see what they’ve been planning and preparing over the last few weeks.

Wishing you all a peaceful Shabbat and a restful weekend.

Shabbat Shalom,

-danya