Shalom,
We ended the week with the Kerem Carnival on Thursday, a day organized by Kerem, the oldest aydah (age group) at Camp. There was a moon bounce, a blind pudding eating test, a dunk tank, and trampolines. Although the day was hot, we were given ice cream as a snack, and our frequent dips into the dunk tank and down the slip n’ slide kept us cool. At night, we were treated to a special show from Bob, an entertainer who performs at Faneuil Hall and who unicycled, juggled and balanced precariously from dangerous heights.
Our first Shabbat of second month at Yavneh was relaxing and rejuvenating. On Friday evening, we all gathered in the Beit Am for ReleSh, or Ruach Lifnei Shabbat (pre-Shabbat spirit). We danced and sang and belted out everyone’s favorite tune, Minyan Man. Afterwards, the whole camp moved to Gilboa, our outdoor amphitheater for Kabbalat Shabbat. Our very own Josh Schwartz, one of the two Roshei Maalot, led Kabbalat Shabbat, and the Maalot chanichim (campers) cheered him on. After Kabbalat Shabbat, we sat down in the cheder ochel (dining hall) and ate challah, soup, chicken, rice, and cake. In the Ben Tzvi, we sang Shabbat zemirot, and then had our first Maalot tisch of second month. A tisch is a circle of song and story sharing that traditionally happens on Friday nights.
On Saturday morning we davened and then the chanichim had time to rest and play with their friends. We had an interesting sicha (discussion) in the afternoon Rabbi Ravid Tiller, the new Rabbi of Solomon Schechter Boston. He taught us about the Shema, and we discussed the language, it uses and its exact meaning. Our Saturday night Havdallah service was toned down from what it usually is because of our observance of the Nine Days, which are the nine days leading up to Tisha B’av, the holiday that commemorates the destruction of the temple.
Yesterday we continued preparing for our Tisha B’av tekes, a program that explains Tisha B’av for all of camp that will be performed on Monday night. At night, the banot (girls) did a group bonding activity called boundary breakers, and the banim (boys) did an Erev Gameshow. This week, we look forward to sharing our Tisha B’av tekes with all of camp, and to a very special Achla Yom (an awesome day) called Hampshire Hills that is coming up on Wednesday. Stay tuned!
B’ahavah,
Josh and Helen
