Archives
Categories
One of my favorite Shabbat moments this summer at camp came as a total surprise: during Kabbalat Shabbat my prayers were suddenly interrupted by a group of campers and staff pointing out to the sea and jumping up and down. “Whales, whales!” they squealed with wide-eyed excitement. Following their gaze, I too noticed that out in the Pacific Ocean, just a thousand yards off the camp beach, were several humpback whales breaching in grandiose swoops above the water’s surface. I smiled, knowing that if we hadn’t gathered to pray at that moment we would never have witnessed their wondrous presence.
How grateful I feel to be apart of the Jewish community of Ramah Galim that comes together every Shabbat and every summer for life changing moments like this.
And how might we capture more precious moments of spiritual surprise even in our lives outside of camp?
As a camp counselor my fantasy was year round camp. Instead of ending camp and returning to school and work, we’d just stay at camp all year round. I’d live with my closest friends, we’d always have fun activities, and, thanks to the kitchen staff, we’d never have to cook! What could be better than that?
As I grew older I realized that maybe my year-round-camping idea wasn’t really the best idea after all…
A beautiful, productive, and educational camp vegetable garden. Chanichim eagerly awaiting their boxes of nishnoosh (snack), and munching happily once they arrive. Staff members enjoying cholent as they learn together on a Shabbat afternoon.
These wonderful vignettes came to be at Ramah Galim this past summer thanks to contributions of the two participants of Ramah Galim’s Ezra (vocational training) program, which I had the privilege of managing in its inaugural summer.
In the first line of Parshat Chayei Sarah, we are told that Sarah, our first matriarch, lived to the age of 127. The wording in the very first line of the parsha is a bit unusual—it says Sarah was “one hundred years, and twenty years, and seven years.” Rashi explains the repetition by saying that her life was divided into three distinct period, each with its own uniqueness and particular characteristics. I suspect all of us could divide our lives into distinct periods, some more memorable than others!
Abraham runs to the edge of his tent. He spots three messengers approaching. Then he gazes up at them and greets them. In doing so, Abraham creates a timeless model for the practice of hachnasat orchim, or welcoming guests, that informs how we welcome others into our synagogues, our homes, and into our lives. But wait — why does the Torah tell us that Abraham looked twice when he greeted the guests, and what might this teach us about true hospitality?
|
Howard Blas, Ramah Galim Summer Tikvah Director and Director of the National Ramah Tikvah Network, offers his reflections on the value of equestrian therapy at camp!