By Rabbi Michelle Pearlman
Camp life is full of ritual. Meals begin and end with blessing. Days and weeks are rhythmic. Start with S’morning Camp Harlam end with Evening Siyyum Ha Yom (end of day ritual). Milk squad cookies before bed please, and then…. lights out. Bunks bond with cheers, special games and songs. And of course Shabbat gleams white, smells like fresh challah, and tastes sweet like grape juice.
This session, as Director Lisa David wrote in her recent blog post, a brand new Camp Harlam ritual tradition was created. For many years counselors from URJ Camp Newman, have unfurled giant talitot over the heads of campers, asking God to shelter them with a Sukkat Shalom, a ‘tabernacle of peace’ during the recitation of the Hashkivenu prayer during Shabbat evening services.
On the first day of the season cabins were came together to create a talit unique to their bunk. A twin size sheet served as a canvas, and each bunk decorated and inscribed their names. Faculty member Ronnie Pressman, had placed button holes on each of the four corners so our week 5-6 faculty could tie the traditional fringes or tzitzit on the ends. Four corners on each talit for each of 32 Camp Harlam bunks means that we will have tied 128 of the fringes known as tzitzit. 7 followed by 8 and then 11 and 13 twists have been added on each fringe, bordered by 5 sets of double square knots. All of that twisting and tying reminded me of the importance of what camp faculty do.
In many ways, we are like those talit fringes. The pro-staff, leadership team and counselors are at the center. They keep the campers safe, give them guidance and love, and program incredible experiences to fill the session with joy. Traditionally, the fringes of the talit, remind the wearer of God’s presence, their personal connection to Judaism, and of the mitzvot to which they are obligated. In other words, wearing a talit is a reminder to be your best Jewish self. As faculty members we do the same. We enhance the organic Jewish nature of Camp Harlam and add Jewish life teaching pieces, personal reflection, prayer, tutor B’nei Mitzvah students, and otherwise support camp life in whatever way we can.
Most importantly we offer presence and Jewish context at impromptu moments as we are ‘embedded’ with our units. Even when we are not formally teaching Judaism, we spend time with campers when they are doing sports, or adventure, or art. We support the counselors, song leaders, connect with the Israeli staff. Faculty assist with opening day traffic control, health checks, scoop snow cones at the camp-wide carnival. You name it, camp faculty does it. But in each formal and more impromptu moments profound learning is possible.
There are moments to help campers to notice God’s presence on an outdoor hike, or to remind fearful adventure participants that they are working on the middah of nitzachon (facing a great challenge) when they over come their fear and finally soar on the giant swing.
Our rabbis instruct, “Turn it, turn it, turn it for everything is in it.” At camp, even the smallest conversation with a camper in the pool, is an opportunity to remind that child that they are strong, loved by God, valued and part of our larger Jewish family. Though days at camp are long, and sometimes exhausting, it is inspiring to see our counselors and staff take their place front and center in the lives of our campers. They create an atmosphere of connection, meaning and joy. Like the tzitzit on a talit, there are twist, turns, and even knots in a summer here at Camp Harlam. But our faculty joy is in lifting up the presence of God, and teaching Torah in the larger and smaller moments. In this loving context, Camp Harlam rabbis, cantors and educators relish camp life on the fringes.
Rabbi Michelle Pearlman rabbinate is focused on relationships, she loves Camp Harlam because it connects campers to nature, Judaism, God, and to one another. As Rabbi of Beth Chaim Reform Congregation, she looks forward to her third summer as a Harlam Faculty member scooping orange snow cones, swimming in the L pool, and learning and teaching Torah under the oomanut tree.