Our first week of Judaica in August 2011 was a huge success. Younger campers learned Birkat HaMazon, Model Ani, and a new song to the 150th psalm with which CSL now concludes Havdalah. This "Kol Hanshamah/Hallelu" has been a huge success, and a wonderful addition to our CSL Havdalah service.
M1, M7, and S6 did programs on individual Jewish identity, S3 and S4 did a program on "Perek Shirah" and uniqueness and beauty in nature, and Tusc launched their August program on being an American Jew in relationship to Israel by responding to and evaluating a series of quotes about how an American Jew might view Israel.
During Saturday morning discussions, Youngest Onondaga and Cayuga explored the "five senses" of Shabbat, and how one could experience Shabbat in this sensual way. Middle Onondaga and Cayuga created murals of thanks, while Oldest Onondaga and Cayuga spoke about their image of peace, and created quilt art. Youngest Seneca and Mohawk spoke about "Yisra-el" as defined "to struggle with God," Middle Seneca and Mohawk learned about Birkot HaShachar, a traditional morning prayer based on thanks, Oldest Seneca and Mohawk debated interdating and interfaith marriages, while Tusc learned about how Judaism evolves, and created their vision of a "Jewish Reformation."
Services were led by Seneca and Cayuga and focused on the theme "Something Beautiful." The services truly were something beautiful. A huge thank you to Jenn Silverstein, Gregg Houck, and the Seneca and Cayuga staffs. Please see my dvar below.
Dvar – Friday night – Week 5
Theme: Something Beautiful
The summer before my junior year of high school I traveled to Israel for six and a half weeks with USY, the youth group of the Conservative Movement. I had mixed feelings about my trip. I’d never been to Israel, nor been away from my family for so long, and I didn’t know anyone else in my group. So when I say I had “mixed feelings” I should really say I was terrified. My parents took me to JFK, and my dad literally pushed me into the meeting room. I held back tears during the ice breakers, but as I walked onto the plane the dam broke. A guy on my trip looked at me in horror and asked how I was going to make it all summer. I was crying so hard I couldn’t respond verbally, and instead just shrugged. I didn’t think I’d make it either.
Before going to Israel my group spent a week in Spain. While touring the country we learned about Spain’s rich Jewish history, and the “Golden Age” during which Jews and Muslims coexisted peacefully. Like camp, each day seemed to last forever but the week flew by, and soon I was boarding another plane for Tel Aviv. The feeling of panic returned. I’d always been told that Israel was the “promised land,” the land of milk and honey. This place, so foreign and so far, had been built up in my mind as the Jewish utopia. I knew other USYers who had gone, and they all said it was the best six weeks of their life. But what if that wasn’t true for me? What if I didn’t love Israel? What did that say about me as a young Jew?
This week’s parasha, Devarim, begins with the Israelites standing on the edge of Israel, about to enter the Promised Land. Moses recounts their journey from slavery to freedom, and some of the challenges they faced during their trip. In particular he reminds the Israelites of how when he had instructed them to take possession of Israel they had hesitated, instead insisting that spies be sent ahead to ensure the land and its inhabitants were friendly and safe. I find this recounting interesting. There the Israelites were, standing on the edge of the beautiful Promised Land to which they’d been journeying for forty years, and instead of saying “go, rush in!,” Moses reminded them of their prior hesitancy. What did he hope to accomplish? Perhaps the answer lies in the end of the parasha. Despite their prior fears, by the end of the parasha the Israelites agree that the time has come to enter and settle in the Promised Land. Seen in that way, Moses’ reminder was empowering, reminding that Israelites that instead of being forced to build a great Israelite kingdom, armed with information from the spies, they were now choosing to settle Israel themselves.
As I think back to my own first journey to Israel, this parasha gives me comfort. As I traveled Israel that summer I had the opportunity to explore Israel like those spies, from the inside out. I had the opportunity to ask questions about Israeli politics, to stand at the site of famed biblical events, to sleep in the desert, and to swim in the Kineret. As had been promised by my parents, my friends, and my group-mates, summer 2000 was one of the absolute best summers of my life. Away from everything I knew, I had a unique opportunity to explore not only the land of Israel, but myself, and who I wanted to be as a young Jew in relationship to this mysterious and magical place. As I learn from parasha Devarim, it’s normal to have fears of the unknown, even when that unknown is proposed to be the most beautiful, special place on earth. As I discovered that summer in Israel, while sometimes something does turn out to be as beautiful as it appears on the surface, it’s ok to take the time to look underneath, to see what’s inside, and decide for oneself if something is truly beautiful, inside and out. Shabbat Shalom.
Sincerely,Joy Getnick
CSL Judaic Educator
