Yom Yisrael – July 21st
Howdy Y’all
Before I get into today’s recap, I want to say how fortunate we are to have such an incredible group of Israeli staff with us this summer. They don’t just add authenticity to Yom Yisrael, they are a huge part of what makes the day so meaningful. Our campers get to celebrate, learn, laugh, ask questions, and build real relationships with young Israelis. That’s something pretty special, and today it was on full display.
Yom Yisrael is one of those days where camp just feels different. There’s an extra buzz in the air, Israeli flags everywhere you look, blue and white all over camp, Hebrew music playing, and a sense of pride that’s hard to describe.
Of course, there are the easy, festive parts of the day that everybody loves. Breakfast featured babka, lunch was shawarma, dinner was falafel, and our incredible food service team even surprised us with a giant Israeli flag cake that was actually made up of dozens of cupcakes. It looked fantastic and tasted even better. Everywhere you turned, it felt like a celebration.
But as much fun as the food and decorations are, the heart of Yom Yisrael is what happens during Tochnit Boker.
At Herzl, we always teach through the filter of fun. We don’t separate Jewish learning from camp, we weave it into the experience so naturally that campers don’t even realize how much they’re absorbing.
Our Habonim and Amudim campers learned about the Magen David as both a symbol of the Jewish people and the State of Israel. They each built one out of popsicle sticks, and all of their individual creations will be connected into one large Magen David, a pretty fitting visual for what Jewish community is all about (of course, the finished – huge – masterpiece will hang in the Chadar for the remainder of camp). They also learned a little about life in Israel today and wrote letters to Israeli soldiers.
Our Kadima and B’Yachad campers had one of my favorite programs of the day. They sat down with our Israeli staff for an open Q&A and asked whatever was on their minds, questions about growing up in Israel, serving in the IDF, everyday life, Jewish identity, the challenges they face, and what they hope for the future. There aren’t many places where a kid from the US gets to have those conversations in such an honest and personal way. Those moments matter and you could see the learning happening, you could sense the deep engagement, and embrace the continued and deepening adoration our campers have for these important members of our family.
As I sit here on the Director’s Porch typing this a little earlier than usual, I can see and hear Yom Yisrael continuing all around camp.
Off to my right on the Tayelet, Kadima is running around playing a bunch of games that I’m told are all over TikTok. I refuse to admit TikTok has contributed anything positive to society, I’m still carrying too much frustration over the misinformation and propaganda we’ve seen since October 7th. That’s a rabbit hole for another day. I’ll just say this… I absolutely love that Herzl Camp is screen-free. Kids are laughing with each other instead of staring at a phone, and I’ll take that every single day.
Straight ahead, over by the low ropes course, the Habonim campers are playing Israeli games and “IDF training exercises” that mostly consist of organized chaos, comedy, clumsiness, and nonstop laughter. It’s simply the sound of kids playing outside, and tonight that sound is everywhere.
Over in Ozo Park, the Amudim campers are learning another collection of Israeli games from our staff. Most of them are probably versions of games many of us played growing up, but because they’re being taught with so much Israeli ruach and just enough of a different twist, they feel brand new. That’s one of the beautiful things about camp. Years from now, these campers will probably say, “I remember when we first played that game at Herzl in 2026,” even though it’s probably been around for decades. Now it’s part of their Herzl story.
Meanwhile, our B’Yachad campers are gathered around the picnic tables beginning the work for B’Yachad Town Hall.
Town Hall has been a Herzl tradition for many years, and it’s one of my favorite leadership experiences we offer. As part of their avodah program, campers identify ways to make Herzl Camp even better and then present their ideas in a format that’s honestly a lot like Shark Tank. And we take those presentations seriously.
The cooling mister we installed this year in Ozo Park, the one everyone loves on these hot afternoons, came directly from a B’Yachad Town Hall proposal last summer. A group had the idea, presented it, and now hundreds of campers benefit from it every day.
There is no power point presentation, it’s all done on posterboard with schematics, etc. Each member of the group (of about 6 or 7…SIX SEVEN…I couldn’t resist…campers) plays a role in the presentation. It’s team work at its finest! Programs like this teach ownership, they teach leadership, and they teach young people that their ideas matter and that they have the ability to improve a community they love.
Herzl may be their second home on paper. But if you know me at all, you know I’m a little sentimental. Today, watching all of this unfold, it feels like home.
Thank you for sending your kid to Herzl Camp!
All is well. Safely rest.
לילה טוב,
Tommy
PS – Tomorrow evening starts Tisha B’av so, like on Shabbat, I will be taking an appropriate break from Ted Talk and talk at you again on Thursday…I’m sure I’ll have a lot to say, I’m chatty.