Wednesday June 26
Our shiur today was about Rabbenu Gershom (960-1040, Germany) and the decrees he made for the Ashkenazi community – no polygamy and no violating people’s privacy and boundaries by reading their mail. The punishment/consequence was cherem, excommunication. Our chanichim obviously focused more on the decree about mail than polygamy, and they discussed what decrees are for in general. They also talked about what decrees they would want to make in camp! Some of the groups had discussions about modern-day applications of this decree regarding texts on people’s phones and reading those without asking. Our Roshei Chinuch, Ephraim Helfgot and Rivka Benun write the shiur for each day and have a daily, post-lunch “morim meeting” where they explain the goal and give over the materials (history, content, sources, relevant applications for the chanichim, games to play etc). These “morim” are the Beit Midrash staff as well as many tzevet members who want to be involved more with the chanichim in a daily way and find it meaningful to bond over shiur. Kol haKavod to them all!!
For anyone following Sugar Grove, PA weather, you saw there were some heavy rains right in the middle of the day today! Lucky for us our Roshei Sport, Jamie Berger and Dovi Isakow, make the schedule with two sides. On one side we see Plan A – sunny/regular day – with all peulot scattered everywhere for all of the bunks – Village, swimming, volleyball, agam (lake activities), ropes courses and climbing well etc. But then, when it rains, we just all switch over to the second side – Plan B – where we see only the indoor activities like melechet yad (art), ceramics, dodge ball in the Butler Building, gaga in the gaga pit, basketball in indoor world, music etc. So, for today, we had the middle of our day follow the Rainy Day schedule and it was just as fun!
Tonight’s night activity for eidot bed, gimmel and daled was time alone as an eidah with a game that their Roshim made up for them. Alef and Vav got early Layla Tov, after maariv, which means a fun early night for them of some bunk time before bed and then a good night’s sleep 🙂
Kaytana had an exciting day – they learned about Yetziat Mitzrayim – the Exodus – and even did a fun activity called Take Flight on the ropes courses. They had a chance to swing around a little and feel like they were escaping Egypt. (Amazing what some creative imagination can convince you of!) During the rainstorm, they watched Prince of Egypt, and then over dinner they had a mock Pesach seder (sefardi-style with rice, ha!) with grape juice, maror, horseradish and a cup-stalking contest. The chanichim talked about their Pesach seders at home and had a great time.
Machal was up early, so they had a chance to get in a short hike before the rain came. After that, they came back to camp and had a chnace to shower (always a highlight of the week!) before heading out to Walmart, bowling and ice cream. Great day!
We cannot believe we have been here one full week tonight! That went by fast!
