Thursday July 30

This morning we learned about Boaz and Rut, which happened during the days that “the Judges judged” and whose story was written down for us and is now read every Shavuot. The chanichim focused on the theme of chessed, found throughout the story and talked about how we emulate Hashem when we give and extend ourselves and that is actually a mitzvah in the Torah – to emulate G-d! We also referenced the pasuk ואהבת לרעך כמוך and talked about the various ways we help one another, based on the ways we feel cared for by friends and family.

The day had a busy schedule of regular peulot, followed by chugim, but then it turned into a special day we all got invited to a wedding for Boaz and Rut! Everyone got all dressed up and wedding music played over the ram-kol. Boys started in the Indoor Beit Knesset at the Chatan’s tisch and the girls kicked off the festivities at the כסא כלה singing and dancing in Indoor World. There was music and appetizers were served – just like a “real wedding” 😊

The bride and groom were none other than…want to guess? Our very own Yakov and Estee – you have to see pictures of the “beautiful” 😉 gown!! Let’s just say it was very girly!! The chuppah was held at the agam, looking out over the water as the sun was setting. Ephraim, one of our Roshei Moshava,  was the מסדר קידושין calling up various tzevet as witnesses and to recite the sheva brachot. We had a beautiful choir of young men singing harmonies to songs, and photographers were taking pictures. Felt real to me! We even had a beautiful ketubah that was held up for everyone to ooh and aah at for its elaboarte art work. After אם אשכחך  was sung and the glass was broken, we all marched the chattan and kallah to the chadar ochel for a special festive dinner, served on white tablecloths with (plastic)  goblets for our water. Mazal Tov! For some chanichim, this was the first wedding they had ever been to.

Kaytana had the best day of Color War. Team Moshe and Team Aharon battled it out over dodgeball and soccer and competed in swimming and climbing wall races. They had an elaborate apache race, with someone eating a tomato with “no hands” and a race to mummify with toilet paper (classic!!). Their presentations tonight consisted of a girls’ stomp, a boys’ rikud, a song and a cheer. And the winner is… it doesn’t matter. That wasn’t the point! Let’s see if the chanichim remember who won by the time they get home.

Machal had a fun day with a 6.5 hour canoeing trip down the Allegheny River. The weather was beautiful and just the right temperature. They grilled dinner at their chutz site on our camp grounds and are sleeping in their bunks tonight.

Looking forward to Friday hikes tomorrow and then a second shabbat here at Machane Stone…shabbat shalom!