Space–the infinite expanse. Since the dawn of time, humanity has looked up at the stars and seen our counterparts eons away, bundles of star dust scattered across an endless canvas. Could humanity recognize in ourselves the similarity? Consciousness expanded as the world contracted and cooled. Our universe is a vast pendulum, a soothing song of cycles and singularities, never stopping.
None of that was particularly relevant to the חניכים (campers) and their amazing קיץ (summer)… I suppose I could parallel how (Ma’alot) עדת מעלות have been perfect כוכבים (stars) all קיץ, investing every activity with רוח (spirit) and cosmic אהבה (love). But that might be a little cheesy or seem overly literary. So I won’t bother making the comparison.
Thursday morning–a morning of our usual לו״ז (schedule) of כיתה (class), מעלות פעולה (Ma’alot activity, our time to work on fun leadership development and games!) and חוג (elective). It was wicked fun! Picture מעולת then spending an afternoon playing fun sports and doing אומנות (art). I’m picturing it right now. That night for our פעולת ערב (evening activity) we had ריקודיה (a camp-wide dance performance where each עידה learns and performs a dance–also this writer’s favorite night of camp!!!!!!)!!!!!!! The חניכים performed a fun thoug
h complicated partner dance and had so much joy in their eyes that this writer could not have been prouder.
Friday morning. We had a super special ceremony for ראש חודש אב (the new Jewish month of Av, traditionally a sadder time of year since the 9th of Av commemorates the destruction of the Temple 2,000 years ago) where we got to celebrate one last time before the 9 days began. We celebrated the finishing of the Torah scroll dedicated to Debbie and had a musical extended הלל (the prayer service added for ראש חודש). The celebration transitioned well into our first round of מלצרות (called “meltzing” by the חניכים, bringing out food and cleaning up after meals) for the מחנה (camp)! What a joy to be responsible. A joy indeed. That joy transitioned us into שבת.
As the philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein once said, “what cannot be spoken of must be passed over in silence.” Thus I will not attempt to delve deeply into the transcendental joy that was שבת. Just don’t be surprised if the kids are unable to stop raving about it.Saturday night the כרם (CITs and oldest עידה in camp) slept in and bonded with the חניכים.
Sunday was one of our last normal days of the summer (don’t tell the חניכים that מכביה (our multi day color war led by the כרם) is coming up!)! The normal morning and evening schedule transitioned into a tournament for the בנים and a documentary about female empowerment for the בנות! As we approach Monday evening (preceded by another normal schedule with football, tennis, and swimming), we are going into ערב “Talia” because it’s her birthday (SHE STILL DOESN’T EVEN KNOW WE’RE DOING THIS SO DON’T SPOIL IT!!!!!)!!!!! Can’t wait to tell you all about it soon!
-Jeremy
