Judaica Week 2

Judaica in week two was great. Monday afternoon was American Jewish History Day. This half-day all camp program was a huge success. Campers began in their villages and then rotated through six stations. Each station dropped them off in a different era where they first learned about Jewish life during that time, and then participated in a related activity. In the Revolutionary era campers played Colonial field games. In the West campers ate s'mores, sang campfire songs, and learned about the role of Jews in settling the western states. In the late 19th century campers learned about immigrant life in NYC. Each camper decorated an individual quilt square which was then compiled into a CSL 2011 keeping quilt. The quilt is currently hanging up at CSL, to be seen by all on Visitor's Day! In the early 1960s campers played classic American bar/bat mitzvah games. In "today" campers learned about the history of CSL and had the opportunity to ask a panel of four alums questions about our camp. In "the future" campers explored the way symbols can be used to reflect both individual and collective Jewish identity, both now and throughout our lives.

In Judaica all first time bunks in Onondaga and Cayuga learned about Judaism here at CSL, practiced prayers, and made Shabbat decorations. O6 came for a second time and did a great activity about maps and how a may can teach us about a community's values. They then each drew their own map of camp, thinking critically about what makes our camp map Jewish. C3 also came for a second time and did an activity about creating Jewish community from the ground up, based on the premise that a group of Jews had been stranded on a desert island. This activity also included an introduction to the 12 tribes, the diaspora, and the contemporary search for these lost communities.

Shabbat was hosted by Cayuga and Seneca. The Seneca ladies read pieces about our theme, commitment. They also decorated a plaque for our Fire Circle Arch, gave musical performances, and presented the parasha players skit. The Cayuga boys decorated the dining hall, sang "Not By Might," and danced to "Ani NoLadti La'Shalom," I was born for peace. My piece is below. During discussion groups Youngest Onondaga and Cayuga learned about an eruv and the creation of community. Each camper then decorated a puzzle piece that, combined, created a mural. Middle Onondaga and Cayuga debated ethical dilemmas, and Oldest Onondaga and Cayuga created skits about what it may have been like to wander in the desert for 40 years. Youngest Seneca and Mohawk did a program about Facebook in a Jewish context, while Middle Seneca and Mohawk did a program about the role that Judaism and the concept of "b'tzelem elohim," "in the image of God," could play in creating healthy public images. Oldest Seneca and Mohawk learned about Jewish concepts regarding healthy interpersonal relationships, and Tusc explored the meaning of prayer. We look forward to a wonderful third week of Judaica, and reporting back great things!

Sincerely,
Joy Getnick
CSL Judaic Educator

Dvar – Friday night – Week 2

Theme: Commitment

A few weeks ago I went Israeli dancing in Albany for my last time before moving back to Rochester. The night started off pretty normal. We did some beginner dances, learned something new, and then started doing repertoire. I noticed that the first dance was one I’d taught several years before. That dance ended and another started. I noticed that I’d taught that dance as well, and then the next, and then the next. It seems the group’s coordinators had planned an entire evening of dances I’d taught over the past five years. It was a surreal experience. I was literally dancing through my past.

As the night came to a close a fellow dancer asked about my dance history. I explained that I was first exposed to Israeli dance as a child at Camp Sisol, CSL’s sister day-camp, and had been dancing almost every week of my life since. My fellow dancer was shocked, and asked how I had been able to make such a huge commitment at such a young age. I felt surprised, because I never saw dancing as a commitment. It’s just something I love.

This week’s theme is commitment, based on two stories in the parasha, Barak. The first story is about Balaam, a non-Jewish prophet sent to curse the Israelites so that the Israelites would not be able to defeat neighboring tribes in war. Balaam was absolutely committed to cursing the Israelites, but God wouldn’t let him, and Balaam failed. The second story in the parasha is…surprise surprise…about Israelites wandering in the desert. Despite God’s continued protection and guidance, by this point in the journey many Israelites were straying from God’s laws. As punishment, God sent a great plague that killed 24,000 Israelites.

Tonight and tomorrow morning you will hear many campers and staff speak about commitment. Some will speak about their commitments to family and friends, and how they struggled to maintain those relationships when a commitment or promise was broken. Others will speak about their commitments to sports teams and other activities. They’ll tackle important issues, such as what to do when you commit to play on a team but then want to quit, or agree to attend a friend’s party but then change your mind. Many will speak about camp, and the challenges of committing to not only spend a summer away from home, but to taking ownership for your own good time. And in the background of these pieces is the parasha and its conflicting message. On the one hand God prevents Balaam from keeping a commitment, and on the other hand God punishes the Israelites for failing to keep a commitment. So what’s the message? What are we supposed to learn?

For me this has been a year of commitments. I got married, finished my doctorate, and bought a house. It’s been a whirlwind of long-term commitments that affect not only me but Jonathan, my husband, our families, our cats, our friends, and our employers. I’ve entered all of these commitments with good intentions, and very much plan to keep my promises. And to me, that’s the lesson of parasha Barak. The parasha teaches us that sometimes commitments will, or perhaps even should be broken. Balaam committed himself to bringing harm to an entire community. Clearly God felt that Balaam’s commitment was one that should not be kept. Simultaneously the parasha teaches us that when we do make a commitment we should try our best to keep it, or like the Israelites, be prepared to suffer the consequences. While hopefully most of our broken commitments will not result in death by plague, when we break a commitment we could hurt or destroy a friendship, let down a team, or most importantly, let down ourselves.

When I move back to Rochester this fall I intend to keep dancing, maybe every week, maybe not. Only time will tell, so I’m not making any promises. I hope to learn from parasha Barak that I should save my commitments for things that are really important to me. In my case that means my commitments to be a good wife, daughter, professor, and educator. Your list will be different, unique to you. Beyond that short list I want to feel free to try new activities one day or one week at a time, and see what sticks. If I’m meant to dance every week, I’m sure it’ll happen on its own. Shabbat shalom.