Tuesday June 17 – Opening Day
Tuesday, June 17
Welcome to Machane Stone 2025 Session 1: Moshevet Tnu’ot Yisrael where we will be studying Jewish history from 1492 – 1880’s. We are so thrilled to be here in Sugar Grove, offering our precious chanichim a Summer filled with happiness., friendship, learning and growth. Our hadracha and tzevet have been here a full week already, getting the camp and themselves ready for a wonderful Summer. Our thoughts and prayers are with Israel and the IDF, and we are grateful for the miracles we have been seeing. May Hashem continue to watch over our Homeland!
When all our chanichim arrived today, we began with the annual “Opening Tochnit”, a skit which serves as an introduction to this time period. Sammy Rosenberg and Hannah Solon, our Roshei Moshava, acted the parts of Queen Isabella and Don Isaac Abarbanel, as Queen Isabella proclaimed that all Jews must convert or leave. Each eidah went around to various “stations” learning about a market place in Portugal where Jews went to live, Morannos living secret Jewish lives in Spain, and the reality of a Jew escaping. At each station there was a game, some fun, or a snack. One more stop was added to this round robin, where the counselors and Roshei Eidah introduced themselves to the chanichim in their eidah (division).
This exciting first hour was followed by Mincha in the Outdoor Beit Knesset, a few minutes in the bunk and then dinner. Everyone spent their post-dinner time unpacking, making new friends and getting settled. More to come EACH day, in this blog, about what we learned each morning in shiur, some of the peulot (activities) different chanichim enjoyed, and any camp-wide shtick or shenanigans going on.
Kaytana has also kicked off its Summer for our youngest chanichim, and we will follow their adventures through the lives and lessons of our Avot and Imahot, our nation’s slavery and exodus, the long years in the desert, and eventually, our entry into Israel. They were settling in well tonight and were supported and greeted warmly by our Kaytana hadracha and their Rosh, Ephraim Helfgot.
This blog will follow Machal, as well, as they travel, camp out, canoe, hike and build community with common values and goals. Our Roshei Machal Didi Blau and Eliana Zaghi are excited to be leading these chanichim in their much-anticipated Machal experience.
Check back tomorrow. For now, signing off –
Your blogger in PA, 16350