Herzl Summer 2025: Reflections from the Porch

Hi Herzl Family,

This summer was one for the books. Every night (except Shabbat), I sat on the Director’s Porch and tapped out my “Ted Talks” – little reflections on the sights, sounds, and spirit of Machaneh Paradise. Looking back, I see a story bigger than the sum of its parts: a summer filled with joy, resilience, tradition, and Jewish pride.

From that first day’s walk into the Ulam – the staff shouting “Im Tir Tzu” and “Am Yisrael Chai,” the hugs, the high-fives, the Herzl Hebrew wrapping around our first-timers like a cocoon – to the very last night when cabins swore they’d “stay up all night” before collapsing like dominoes, the magic never let up.

I saw it everywhere: kids waterskiing as the sun dipped behind the trees, casting lines at the fishing dock, timing themselves up the climbing wall. In Kadimah’s unforgettable Mamma Mia, every one of the 77 campers gave their all, whether they could carry a tune or not. At the Kadimah Wall, rivalries disappeared and cliques dissolved. In Bikkurim, tug-of-war and Pop Dances carried the ruach of camp to a fever pitch.

And in the quieter moments too: in the ceramics studio where a camper painted a seder plate, in friendship bracelets passed hand to hand, in the smile on a camper’s face as they welcomed our Israeli friends after weeks of uncertainty.

Herzl is built on fun – but it’s never just fun. This summer, campers dove into Jewish life in ways that were creative and powerful. Torah LARPing brought stories to life in flash mobs and improv skits. “Torah for the Girls” mixed challah and cupcakes with conversations about Esther’s bravery. Our mural chug painted pride onto the very walls of camp, combining Hebrew and English words with Jewish symbols that spoke to who we are.

Our B’yachad teens showed me what leadership looks like. They stacked firewood for families in need, built new camp signage, and led Shabbat with pride. Most of all, they looked after younger campers – pulling them into Israeli dancing, teaching them the moves, making sure traditions live on. That’s Herzl at its best.

Some moments this summer I’ll never forget. Tribe Talk joined us to help Kadimah, B’yachad, and Ozrim talk openly about antisemitism and how to walk proudly as Jews beyond our gates.

I also had the privilege of welcoming Jacqui and Yoren Vital from Kibbutz Holit. They shared the story of their daughter Adi, murdered on October 7th in her safe room. Their words were heartbreaking and holy. When they told our campers that by listening – by remembering Adi – they were helping carry 1/60 of their pain, there wasn’t a dry eye in the Chadar.

Those are the moments that remind me why we do this: raising proud Jews who love Israel, who understand resilience, who carry the stories of our people forward.

At the end of the day, my porch reflections kept circling back to one theme: growth. I saw your kids try new things, sometimes fail, sometimes succeed. I saw them sing Birkat Hamazon and HaTikvah with pride. I saw them make mistakes and then show better judgment the next week – or the next hour. 

As I wrote on the last night of Session 2:

I saw your kid… leading, laughing, learning, and loving life as part of this extraordinary community. That’s Herzl Camp. That’s why we are all here.

Herzl is, and always will be, a Zionist camp. Everything we do is rooted in raising proud Jews who love Israel, who carry our people’s story with pride and joy. I often think of Howard Jacobson’s words (yes, I read things…):

“Zionism is not a country or a system of government. Zionism is the expression of a people’s soul: It is a longing and a necessity, a Utopian fantasy, an understanding of history, a solution, an act of reasoning, an act of despair, a prayer, a poem, and a song. Hate the poetry of my soul, and you hate me.”

That’s what we’re doing here – raising kids who embrace that poetry, who live it with laughter, song, courage, and love for Israel.

So thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for sending your kid to Herzl Camp this summer. And, as I closed out every Ted Talk…

All is well. Safely rest. 

Herzl L’tamid!

Tommy