Doubling Up On Enjoyable, Friendship, Development & Jewish Pleasure

As we put together to relaxation for Shabbat, I’m reflecting on what a full and significant closing week this has been for Machzor Aleph (First Session). We time-traveled for Yom Sport, loved in a single day campouts and climbing adventures, despatched Kochavim and Garinim on their yitziot (subject journeys), celebrated our thirtieth summer season with a foam occasion and popsicles, sang collectively at Zimriyah, and a lot extra.

Every second was crammed with enjoyable, friendship, progress, and Jewish dwelling.

This Shabbat, we are going to learn a double portion, Chukat-Balak. Why can we learn them collectively? In most years, they’re learn individually, however some years we mix parshiyot to make sure we full the complete Torah cycle inside the 12 months. Leap years and holidays that fall on Shabbat are among the many causes we typically “double up.”

That concept of doubling up feels particularly related at this level in the summertime. As the session attracts to a detailed, we attempt to take advantage of each second we’ve collectively: time with buddies, time in nature, time in our chuggim (actions), and time in particular packages. Every expertise feels somewhat extra valuable as a result of we all know our time collectively is restricted.

While Camp is crammed with extraordinary moments, it is usually the place we study a few of life’s most enduring, quotidian classes. This week’s parshiyot have a lot to show us with respect to these classes. In Chukat, Moses famously hits a rock as a substitute of chatting with it as G-d had instructed with a view to draw water from it. In that second, Moses loses each his endurance and his religion.

As a guardian and Camp Director, I discover this notion of sustaining endurance and religion significantly inspiring. With all that occurs within the outdoors world, I’m so grateful that Ramah Darom exists as a spot the place we will “double up” on enjoyable and dwelling as proud Jews, whereas additionally educating us essential life expertise like endurance and religion.

Camp teaches us to belief the method, although it could be lengthy. Each summer season, our chanichim (campers) develop extra impartial, construct confidence, deepen friendships, and strengthen their Jewish identities. These transformations don’t occur all of sudden. They occur 12 months after 12 months by experiences, relationships, endurance, and religion.

As our chanichim return residence, I hope they carry with them not solely the recollections of an unimaginable summer season, but in addition the teachings they’ve discovered about themselves and the energy they’ve found inside. And when the street forward feels lengthy, and the world feels sophisticated, might the friendships, confidence, Jewish satisfaction, endurance, and religion nurtured at Camp assist information them ahead till we collect collectively once more.

Enjoy our Zimriyah playlist and newest Kol B’Ramah Podcast.