By Alyssa Kress
Assistant Director
Since the time you arrived at camp, you’ve probably heard “Welcome Home” hundreds of times already. Throughout tonight’s service, you’ll hear more about our philosophy of Welcome Home and how this place connects us all.
Many of you are by now familiar with my camp story – my first summer here 16 years ago, I cried a lot. Prettymuch all day every day. And how Iended up here working for camp full time is a story you’ll probably hear at some point this summer, but tonight, I want to reflect on one specific moment from that first teary summer: my first Shabbat at camp. I grew up at a Reform Jewish congregation and Harlam is a Reform camp, but coming to camp as a 10-year-old, I still felt completely out of my element. I remember everyone bowing during certain parts of prayers and singing tunes I’d never heard before. And I remember feeling like every other person in the entire Chapel knew exactly what was going on but me. I now know a very different reality: there were lots of other new campers who were just as overwhelmed as me and tons of staff members – not so different from many of you – who didn’t know much about Judaism or Reform Judaism or Shabbat or even camp.
I vividly remember being lost during that first service and carefully peering around, seeing if anyone else looked as nervous as I felt. Then, my counselor leaned down to me and said, “Don’t worry, you’ll pick it up soon.” That moment didn’t change my entire summer, but it did make it okay that I didn’t know. I didn’t know when to bow during services. I didn’t know one word of the Birkat Hamazon. I didn’t know which was the Z Pool or L Pool, let alone the I Pool (yes, there’s an I Pool too). I didn’t know where Omanut was and I didn’t know what Omanut meant. I didn’t know who the Assistant Directors were or what they did. I didn’t know where Kunkletown was on a map. I didn’t know if the summer would ever end. I didn’t know if I would ever be happy here. I didn’t know if I would ever call this place home.
Chances are if this is your first Shabbat here, you may be feeling some of that too. I’m here to say, “Don’t worry, you’ll pick it up soon,” just as my counselor did to me once upon a time. That doesn’t mean it will be easy or without challenges. But soon you’ll know which pool is which and that Omanut means art. You may learn just what it is that an Assistant Director does, and if you do, please let me know. I’m still figuring it out insummer number four in the job. You’ll find out that Kunkletown actually isn’t on many maps and that you’ll blink and the summer will be over. And I hope over the next 10 weeks that you too will be happy here, that you too will call this place home.
If this is your 10th or 20th or 50th Shabbat here, I hope you’ll be like my counselor and reassure those around you who are new that it takes time to understand and learn our customs and traditions. It’s easy to forget how much we didn’t know when we first came to camp. Encourage our new staff members to ask questions then be patient when answering them. Sit at a table with no one you know. Help them follow along during services and song session. Remember that the funny thing that happened in Chavurah three summers ago might only be funny if you were there. With every action you take, show those who are new to our community just what it is that makes this place home. Someone did that for you once and now it’s on you to create a home for others.
As we enter the first Shabbat of what will be a remarkable summer of 2018, we have a great opportunity to build a community from scratch. Let’s have fun. Let’s laugh a lot. Let’s be kind. Let’s be welcoming. Let’s be open-minded. Let’s learn together and teach one another. Let’s ask questions. Let’s celebrate our differences. Let’s push ourselves out of our comfort zones and try new things. Let’s be united. Let’s be awesome. You are all Harlamites now. Welcome to the weirdness.
Alyssa Kress is entering her fourth summer as Assistant Director and sixth summer on staff at Camp Harlam. This year she is overseeing Senior Camp as well as Camp K’ton and Communications.