Opening Tochnit, 1st Day of Second Session 2024!! Wednesday 7/25

Machaneh has officially begun! We welcomed over 500 campers yesterday and we couldn’t be more excited and proud to be a part of their summer.  It was so heartwarming to see the hugs and the shouts of excitement as kids got off the buses. I happen to notice a second year camper introduce his friend from home to his camp friends, and the inclusion that happened was so uplifting.

Something unique about Camp Stone is that each month has a theme, a tochnit.  Tochnit this session is based on a period of Jewish history spanning from 1897-1948 called, Shivat Zion.

After centuries of persecution and uncertainty regarding the future of the Jewish people, early Zionist leaders revived the centuries-old dream of the Jewish people to establish a national home in the land of Israel. Zionism enabled the Jewish people to revitalize their national identity, culture, and language, and fulfill their religious vision. Through hard work, self-sacrifice, and boundless hope, they united despite their differences to create the conditions necessary for the improbable modern State of Israel.

In order for the chanichim to be introduced to tochnit we welcomed them to the First Zionist Conference in Basel, Switzerland in 1897. We are lucky enough to have talented tzevet in melechet yad, village, sports and plugah who made this scene come alive. Afterward the eidot went through a round robin where they experienced a banquet reception where they were introduced to some of the important delegates at the convention, another station, an obstacle course, inspired by the belief of Max Nordau, First Vice President of the Zionist Congress, which focused on developing Jews who were physically and morally strong.  At the final station the chanichim met Samuel Pineles of Ukraine. Samuel was a religious Zionist and a philanthropist who was very involved in the aliyah of Jews from Europe to Israel. While the chanichim waited for their “passports,” they visited different countries engaging with fellow Zionist pioneers from various youth groups who were instrumental in the chalutzim movement.

After all that, the campers were ready to head to their bunks and get accustomed to their new spaces. After a winning chicken dinner it was layla tov for our younger campers and unpacking for the older ones. Don’t worry, the younger ones got their toothbrushes and pajamas out! More to come…!

Trivia Question: Why do you think Eidah Vav is called Eidah Vav?