Friday – Shabbat #2

Friday we learned about the difference between the Rabbis who created new ideas/principles/rulings in learning and those that passed on what they learned. The former is described as having been an עוקר הרים, uprooter of mountains, and the latter was nicknamed סיני. Rav Yosef was a Sinai-type and Rabbah was an uprooter of mountains. We learned that Rabbi Yehoshua taught that there can never be a serious Beit Midrash without some sort of chiddush (new interpretation or teaching) happening.  For younger campers, we focused on the idea of quoting someone and passing on mitzvot but also sayings and advice from parents and grandparents.

Each eidah had their Friday hike:

Alef – berry picking

Vav – to “town” (Sugar Grove park and convenience store)

Bet – hike that loops around and brings them back to camp

Gimmel  – water hike that ends at Tops Supermarket

Daled – After a few hours of sleep Thursday night, they were woken up for the traditional “eidah daled night hike” that had them greeting the sunrise with shacharit. Upon returning to camp, they were able to return to their beds and sleep some more.

Kaytana – trip to Perry’s ice cream!

Machal – 6 mile canoe trip down the Allegheny River. They learned correct paddling techniques and how to work together to be most effective.

Shabbat was even more spirited than the first – everyone was looking forward to it: mifkad erev shabbat followed by – Tefilah, meal, dancing, sleep, tefilah,kiddush, learning, meal, dancing, tefilah, learning, game, meal, singing…havdalah. Ask your children to go through the schedule of Shabbat when they get home and teach you all of the songs and dances in which they participate over the course of a Shabbat. It is so unifying, uplifting and fun!

Shavua Tov! Third week of camp comin’ right up, and that means…Machane Chutz happening soon!!