Welcome to this summer’s Kerem blog! This is the space where we will share chadashot (news) from Aydat Kerem. Kerem, as the leaders of Machaneh Yavneh, have a summer chock full of planning peulot (activities), creating memories for chanichim (campers), and bonding as an aydah. Kerem arrived before the rest of camp, on Friday afternoon. Kerem tzevet, Elianna, Dan, Ben, Yael, and Josh, had been preparing for the chanichim for a week and we were so excited to finally see them come. We set intentions for the summer, talked about what Kerem summer means, and prepared for Shabbat.
Shabbat is an exciting time for Kerem because there are tons of masoretim (traditions) that they finally get to participate in. Kerem got to go to the front of Gilboa (Amphitheatre) and dance in a circle, lead Birkat Hamazon (Grace After Meals) on Friday night, lead Shabbat zemirot (songs), and choose tunes for adon olam on Shabbat morning. We had a rainy Shabbat day, but had two excellent learning sessions in the afternoon. Diana Fox, an anthropology professor and Kerem parent, talked to us about racial diversity within the Jewish community, and Dani Pitkoff, a Yavneh alum, led us in a session about consent for an organization she works for called Sacred Spaces.
On Sunday, the rest of the chanichim arrived and Kerem had an extremely busy day helping with move in. We unloaded bags, greeted parents, and sold popcorn for the 5k that we are participating in for the organization The Arc of Bristol County, an organization that helps people with mental and physical disabilities. We raised over $180 (and an online donation page will be set up soon)!! On Monday, we spent our day at the Browne Centre, which is part of the University of New Hampshire. The Browne Centre has ropes courses and facilitates leadership activities, and we had an incredible day of harnesses, belaying, and growth. On the way home, we stopped at Hannafords so that Kerem could get food to bring back to the bunk, which they were unbelievably excited about. We ended the night with a bonfire, and then went back to the bunks to enjoy our snacks.
B’ahava,
Josh Schwartz