Session 2 – Day 9: Spreading the Magic by giving back.

Hi Herzl Family!

As you walk across Camp from the flag circle toward the North end, you cross this little bridge that was built back in 1992 by the precursor program of B’Yachad called N’divim. It had a lot of impact on me today as I was walking across Camp during Chafesh (free time) tonight. The scene was like a camp promo video.  I saw different groups of kids playing ultimate (frisbee) and Ozo Park. I passed one of our staff members doing Bat Mitzvah tutoring in a k’far (cabin cluster) near the north end, I saw two campers sitting at the MerCaz reading books together (always one that shocks me and impresses me), and I saw a cadre of girls sitting on a bench talking and working on friendship bracelets. It was about 78°. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky. The sun was starting to tip behind the trees in the West, and I smiled….our home was bustling! 

But the reason I bring up the bridge is because it was Danya’s N’divim group in 1992 that built it. If you ever get a chance to talk to her about it…don’t worry, she’ll bring it up first,  she’ll beam with pride, because as a teenager she learned about and how to give back to a community, not just one she loves, but one that so many rely on and look toward for a place of community and strengthening identity.  

N’divim was a program that started back in 1988 around Avodah. That program has matured itself into B’Yachad, which is a program about giving back, doing good work meaningful work, work that benefits others. Developing a core Jewish value.

Today was Tripps day at Machaneh Herzl. Our Amundim and Ha’atid campers went to a (very)minor-league baseball game in Duluth and had a blast! One female camper came up to me as she’s getting off the bus and I asked her how it was, she said well they won 6 to 3…I didn’t watch much of the game, but we had so much fun, and I got all these autographs! They are autographs of (not even) AAA players, but the kids loved it and, I’m sure the players did too. They’re all wearing their bright orange T-shirts (a way for us to keep the group together. And  they’re all walking around Camp with signatures on their shirts. I got a lot of reports about the score. 

Our Habonim kids went to Wild Mountain (water park)…always a fan favorite and a perfect day for it! Who doesn’t love a good waterslide?! But I really want to focus on our B’Yachad Campers. They started their Avodah today and it was amazing.

B’yachad rolled up their sleeves and made a real impact beyond our gates. For months, a dedicated group has been chopping and stacking firewood to help keep economically challenged families in the area warm through the winter. And today, our campers stepped in to lend a hand.

They formed four human assembly lines—passing logs down the line, loading wheelbarrows, and hauling load after load under a shelter so the wood can dry out and be ready when the cold months arrive. It was teamwork in the purest form…a shared purpose, some sweat, and a lot of laughter. It was Avodah!

At the end of the afternoon, one of the organizers pulled us aside and said that their most productive and entertaining day every year is the day Herzl Camp shows up.

This is the Herzl magic at work. When we show up for each other, and for our neighbors, we leave things better than we found them.

And so I bid you a fond and grateful nighty, night…I’ll sleep great tonight because…

All is well, safely rest. 

Thanks for sending your kid to Herzl Camp

‏לילה טוב

Tommy