Wednesday June 21

First full day in Machane. It was perfect weather as everyone enjoyed a day of peulot (activities) while making time to continue unpacking and getting settled.

Kima (wake up) is 7:30 am daily, and we have three minyanim for tefilah – one for eidot alef, vav and now kaytana, one for bet and gimmel and a third one for daled. This way, many many chanichim can play the role of chazan, have aliyot to the Torah etc.

Today in shiur we learned about the tension the Jews faced, post-churban. On the one hand, we needed to preserve our religion, traditions and history. On the other hand, changes and new decrees were needed to meet the needs of a new type of Jewish community – one without a Temple and one not even in Eretz Yisrael anymore.  Each shiur group is just 6-8 chanichim and taught by either a member of our Beit Midrash program or some other tzevet who have offered to give over the shiur every day. Our Roshei Beit Midrash, Noa Berkowitz and Eitan Oberlander prepare the shiur and prep the morim the day before. The Torah we teach is connected to the time period in history that is coming alive in camp (more on that in future blogs), and the shiur each day is relevant, interesting and fun with a lively discussion or a fun game.

Every eidah had some regular peulot today (ceramics, horse-back riding, swim, soccer, volleyball etc) as well as the more classic first-day activities like unpacking and bunk time. Each bunk’s hadracha led a sicha (discussion) to get input from the chanichim/ot in the bunk about expectations and rules etc for their group. It was a great opportunity for everyone to experience a group discussion, respect for one another and collaboration.

Our meals in the Chadar Ochel had lots of cheering and energy as everyone is just soooo happy to be hanging out with friends and getting close to each other.

Kaytana learned about Avraham’s hachnasat orchim, and they wanted to follow his way of  being generous and thoughtful. They spent an activity baking brownies, and then they set up a tent and welcomed passers-by and offered them brownies. People loved the friendliness and the free snack! In addition to their unpacking and bunk time, they had soccer and time with the bunnies and other animals in our refet.

Machal went on a 5-mile hike called Ministers Creek, and then they camped out with a dinner of hot dogs. AAAhhh, what could be better?!