Camp Blog

Wednesday, August 11

DATE: August 11, 2021

Wow — that was an intense two days of Color War we just finished!

And the winner is… Team Yerushalmi! Both teams gave it their all, and both teams’ projects, performances, and ruach were amazing. Team Yerushalmi won by a very slim margin. And last night’s final performances and revealing of the final results not only meant an end to Color War, but it also meant a very special post-Color War tradition here in Camp Stone this morning: late kimah (wakeup)! The chanichim deserved an extra hour of sleep after a very intense two days of competitions.

Today was back to a full schedule of regular activities. In shiur today we explored the way in which after the Second Beit HaMikdash was destroyed, with the loss of a central holy space, there was a shift in emphasis toward holiness of time. We learned about how the Jewish calendar was originally dependent on witnesses and testimony in the Sanhedrin (Jewish High Court) regarding the sighting of the new moon. Once the Sanhedrin‘s power was usurped by the Romans, the Jewish calendar was no longer a fluid calendar reset each month based on witnesses’ testimony, but rather a fixed calendar that Hillel set up for all future generations.

A new activity in camp this session is the activity called “AndIdrew,” an activity in the Melechet Yad (Arts and Crafts center) with our very own comic illustrator and creater, Andrew. Andrew teaches and models for the chanichim how to create their very own comic book narratives, sketches, dialogue, and create a story in comic book form. (Check the camp photos for some great shots of chanichim engaged and enjoying this activity).

On a hot day like today, the slip-and-slide peulah (activity) is very popular! The chanichim each take turns sliding down a wet slide on a slope, and seeing who can slide the furthest! Fun, cool, and just a bit muddy!

At lunch today, the Roman Emperor Julian declared to the Jews (of 361 C.E.) his intention to rebuild the Beit HaMikdash (Temple) in Jerusalem — a declaration that caused quite a ruckus among the Jews. Was this really to be? Was it the right thing for Judaism in the fourth century to have a new Temple? After some controversy among the Jewish leaders (they expressed themselves publicly at the entrance to the chadar ochel), singing of “Yibaneh haMikdash” broke out in the crowd, and the Jewish people’s optimism in Machane soared.

At Shekem, however, the entire Machane witnessed that just when Julian’s workers had begun to work on the building of a third Temple, a fire broke out in Jerusalem, dashing their hopes that a third Beit HaMikdash would be built in their lifetimes. Luckily, there were ice cream sandwiches and the other usual delightful Shekem treats to console them as they went off to continue their lives with Peulah Vav (Activity #6). Although there would be no Third Temple in the fourth century, there were vibrant Jewish communities in both Bavel and Eretz Yisrael.

Registration for summer 2025 opens 10/1/24 for returning families, 11/1/24 for new families.

Please contact Randi Mashmoor with any questions at:

or 440-465-5486. Thank You!

Staff application opens on 11/17.

New camper application opens on 11/1. Returning campers can register now.

Available positions for Summer 2024 are very limited! Click on the button below to apply.

We are no longer accepting applications from current 11th graders.

For questions, please email:

Registration for summer 2023 is now closed. There are a few select spots remaining.
Please contact Randi Mashmoor at:

or 440-465-5486. Thank You!

About the Chanukah Raffle

Dear Camp Stone Community,

It is an incredible feeling to reconnect with everyone once again at the beginning of our 2021 camp season.

We are writing to you today, first and foremost, to express tremendous gratitude.

Hakarat HaTov, literally “recognizing the good”, is an important and fundamental principle in our community. We, at Camp Stone, want to express our Hakarat HaTov to everyone receiving this email for your unwavering support, especially this past summer. Whether you provided financial assistance through your donated tuition dollars, participated in Indoor World, or connected with the Camp Stone community in other ways, together we had an incredibly successful, albeit different, summer experience.

There is no substitute for being in Sugar Grove, Pennsylvania, and this summer, B’ezrat Hashem, we will be back at Camp Stone, in person, in full force.

To achieve that goal, we must continue to ensure the financial success of our home away from home that we all know and love so deeply. The logo on top, featuring the slogan “Stone. Forever.” also features a Ner Tamid, an “eternal flame.” The year 1969, etched into the logo, is the year camp was founded. Symbolically, the overall image represents the idea that Camp Stone began many years ago and must endure forever, always burning brightly, and always an integral part of our collective conscience.

On that note, we are excited to announce that our annual Chanukah Campaign will be a raffle taking place over all 8 nights of Chanukah with prizes for both campers and parents/alumni!!

Please go back to the web page  to purchase raffle tickets and help us achieve 100% participation from our entire camp community!

Looking forward to being in touch with all of you in the near future.

Sincerely,

Yakov & Estee, Co-Directors