Tuesday June 24

In the 1500’s, Jewish thinkers had to figure out how to respond to new ideas about science and history that were spreading across Europe. Is there such a thing as wisdom that exists outside of Torah? How are we supposed to integrate it/relate to it in our daily lives? These are the ideas and questions our chanichim tackled this morning after breakfast. The morim had some psukim, some midrashim and even a quote from Rabbi Sacks to bring to the shiur.

The buzz around camp is that the Village has offcially opened and 8 different stations give the chanichim a chance to go back in time and walk into the life of the Renaissance era – the culture, food, and art are brought to life at the edge of Machane, in the forest area we are calling Padua (a city in Italy, home to one of the world’s oldest universities and a city rich in history). Each bunk will have a few times to visit Padua and make their way throught the 8 activities:

1- coffee & chocolate: chanichim learn about the promenance of coffee houses, and they create chocolate in a special silicone Camp Stone mold. Chocolate was discovered earlier but it was being shipped over to Europe in large quantities during this period.

2 – Law % Order:  campers discuss how courts and justice were in effect during these centuries they are studying…they see a guillotine and a pillory (built by the amish) and have a chnace to convict their counselor of a crime and then put them in these apparatuses and throw water balloons at them.

3 – Epoxiy resin: they create candle trays and learn about Kabbalat Shabbat and how that tefilah service started in Tzfat in the 1500’s.   This is an art form where epoxy resin, a two-part liquid that hardens into a solid plastic, is used to create unique and visually stunning pieces! Google it : )

4 and 5 – each camper receives a table top shtender and then creates an art piece with tempera paint (made from egg and colored chalk that they mix in a mortar with a pestle! #oldschool) and covers the shtender with plexi glass, by drilling holes and screwing it down, to cover and protect their name art which now covers the shtender. It is a wonderful project that will be put to good use back at home.

6 – bakery: campers learn about the lighter-dough pastries that “were trending” during this era and bake focaccia and donuts in the one and only Camp Stone brick oven. Sooo yummy!! No lfetovers are ever lying around 😉

7 – glass blowing with Rich Selfridge, our resident professional glassblower: This summer the chanichim are making salt and pepper shakers, drilling the holes into the hot glass!!

8 – blacksmithing with Justin, our resident blacksmith: this summer’s project is a copper salt bowl with a small copper spoon

The opportunities to learn about and engage with these ancient forms of art is a special part of our machane. We thank our three (20-22 year old) Roshim Ezra Lestz, Alyssa Kardon, and Matti Burnblatt, for managing this magical and fun part of camp and for coming up with these impressive projects with the help and guidance of Estee and Yakov. Kol haKavod for your hard work and creativity. As they say in Italy –  “Bravo!!”

Tonight’s night tochnit is “build a golem” for Eidot bet, gimmel and daled.  The learned a little about the Mahara”l and his golem in shiur today. Tonight they will have a chnace to build one! Eidot aleph and vav were so tired from the lina last night, they were given the opportunity to just go to sleep. They cheered when they announced that! ha!

Kaytana has been learning about life in the desert and the allowance for “second chances” sometimes. When Jews were not pure and could not bring the korban pesach on the first anniversary of Yetziat Mitzrayim, those disappointed Jews were told they could have a “second chance” on the 14th of Iyar, ie. Pesach Sheini. Last night at their lina, the Kaytana campers said their meat from the grill was their Pesach sheini after they had eaten their “korban pesach” the night before during their seder. They also had an early “layla tov” tonight – even earlier than eidot aleph and vav! Everyone in kaytana today had sticker-making and swimming, in addition to some soccer and ultimate frisbee etc

Machal was ….yup, on a hike today and then… yup, had lunch by some water and then… yup, slept out at a camp ground. In all seriousness, they are doing great, building their own community, bonding, challenging themselves, pushing themselves, helping each other and having a lot of fun. We love seeing them on Shabbat (and they make a very loud and obvious entrance into the pre-shabbat mifkad, so you can!) and you will see pics as soon as they send them. The office is in touch with them 24/7, and our mitbach sends them their food with a Machal driver who is at their service!