Danya’s Shabbat Message – Welcome to Session Two

It’s the first Shabbat of second session. There are now just under 400 campers and Ozrim at Macheneh Herzl. Add approximately 120 counselors, program directors, and specialists, along with 60+ additional staff members from the Marp, kitchen, maintenance, and office, and we have a community of nearly 600 people. That’s not that far off from the population of our home city of Webster.

By now, you’ve seen the photos of the campers stepping off the buses on the first day into a sea of purple – lots of jumping up and down, high-fiving, calling out names, and welcoming each camper as they walked through the tunnel of staff into the ruach-filled Ulam. I remember that feeling from when I was a camper. It was finally time after months of anticipation, and when I made it inside the Ulam, I’d start to look around, trying to guess which counselors I’d have and which cabin I’d be in. And also knowing that the traditional first-day nosh of cookies and lem lem were just around the corner.

The past three days have been a whirlwind of activity. The first day of the session is always filled with boundless energy and excitement, as well as the not-so-exciting, but very important, marathon of stops around camp that help prepare the campers for the session:
– Visiting the Marp to meet the nurses and know where to go if they’re not feeling well.
– First visit to the waterfront to take the swim test. It’s not necessarily anyone’s favorite activity, but one of the most important.
– Watching policy shtick so everyone is on the same page about the expectations of living in a communal environment.
– Learning about the Chug (activity) options and signing up for a favorite.

When I worked on the first-day schedule this summer, I wondered if it mirrored the schedule from 1986, my first summer as a camper. I remember my counselors, the cookies and lem lem, the visit to the Marp (which felt SO far away), and the swim test. Back then, if you didn’t pass the test, you were automatically assigned to swim lessons. I know this because that first summer, I had swim lessons every day during Chug Alef. For three weeks!

Camp is a setting of extremes. One moment, it’s totally goofy, and the next can make your heart explode. Like yesterday, I was standing near Ozo Park, chatting with a few campers, when suddenly a group of girls circled us a couple of times, stopped, and shouted something I didn’t actually catch, in unison. Then they ran off to find their next “victim”. Before they ran off, one of the campers leaned in and whispered to me, “We’re going around and kuntzing (playing a trick) people!” It was so silly.

And then there are the random moments, like during breakfast last Shabbat. I was talking to a couple of campers, and Madonna came up in conversation. The campers had no idea who Madonna was, and I genuinely thought they were joking. I know she hasn’t been at the top of the charts in a while, but it’s Madonna!
I was curious, was it just these girls, or does no one know Madonna? I asked the Ozrim to take a group poll. “Raise your hand if you know who Madonna is.” About 70% of the people in the Chadar raised their hands. “Now raise your hand if you know a Madonna song.” Maybe 20% raised their hand. But the best part was that it didn’t matter if they were mid-conversation or even mid-bite of a cinnamon roll; everyone stopped to participate in the poll. And then went right back to eating/talking/daydreaming without skipping a beat.

Not all camp moments are big like that. Some are so small they are easy to miss. Two mornings ago, I saw a Haatid camper helping his cabinmate pour water into his cup from a very full pitcher. I started to walk over to their table to acknowledge the kindness he showed his friend, but changed my mind. I didn’t need to make a big deal of it – we should all be that kind when we don’t know someone is watching.
There are so many of those small moments every day. I wish I could see them all because they make me so proud of the people in this community.

Okay, one more.
This morning, I helped a camper get set up at the piano in the Chadar so he could practice. He’s been taking piano lessons for 10 years, and being away at camp isn’t an excuse to stop practicing (his words). He began playing as if he were giving a concert – it was beautiful. The kitchen staff had begun transitioning the Chadar from breakfast to Shabbat, and I watched them stop what they were doing and listen for a few minutes. What a unique moment for everyone. No headphones needed – just a piano and a very talented musician.

Speaking of Shabbat – we’re prepped and dressed and ready to welcome the Shabbas Queen to Herzl. Wishing you a peaceful Shabbat and weekend.

-danya

Senior Director of Camp & Culture