Thursday June 25
Today in shiur, Chanichim learned about the process and unfolding of Yemot haMashiach – what does it mean when Yeshayahu the prophet describes the End of Days as a time when “a wolf will lie with a lamb” (chapter 11)? The shiur teachers (all 17-20 year olds!!) taught the campers that we have two traditions for how to understand this prophesy: literally or metaphorically. Rambam assumes the prophecy is an analogy for world peace; he explains that word powers will co-exist. Ramban explains that we will revert back to pre-sin Garden of Eden existence where nature was different. Famous disagreement…and now your children are “in the know”!
A regular day of peulot was capped off with an exciting night activity. Each eidah-by-gender had to complete challenges, riddles and puzzles to earn one of six wooden pieces that, once all collected and assembled, created a mini tower, similar to the ones used by early Zionists to claim land. “Tower and Stockade” (in Hebrew: Homa U’Migdal) was the name of this operation, initiated by leaders of pre-state Israel, during which 52 new settlements were founded. This operation was a response to the 1936-1939 Arab Revolt and to the restrictions the Mandatory authorities placed, both on the building of new Jewish settlements, and on the number of Jewish immigrants allowed into Palestine. The building of each settlement began at night. First, the guard tower and the defense stockade were set up, and according to an old Ottoman law that was still valid during the Mandate period, the destroying of a building was not allowed after the roof had been finished. For this reason the British did not destroy the “Tower and Stockade” settlements which had not received building permits. The equipment needed for building the settlements was organized in advance, which allowed for the quick building of these 52 new settlements. Our chanichim were quick and worked at night, just like the Jews of the late 1930’s 🙂
Kaytana enjoyed Color War with Team Moshe (blue) battling it out against team Aharon (red). They had sports competitons, a cake wars activity and an apache race. They could earn extra points if a member of the team went over to one of the Roshim and recited the books of Tanach or said the bracha of al haMichya all by heart. The night presentations were a girls’ stomp and a boys’ dance. So fun and highly competitive! This blog will post the winner next time!
Machal went on a 6-mile canoe trip down the Allegheny River. They learned all the techniques they will need for the boating trip in Virgina. When they came back to Sugar Grove, they went to their Machal chutz site. They divided up into four groups (plugot) and cooked dinner over fire pits. Tomorrow morning will be the “never ending breakfast” where they use culinary creativity with lots of ingredients and can cook all morning!
