By Jeremy Wasserman

In the Torah there is a story about heaven and hell.  Get a big Torah, one that doesn’t leave out any of the words, you will find this story in there somewhere.  The story is told that a group of Rabbis were shown Heaven and Hell.  First they went to Hell.  There they saw row upon row of long tables filled with platters of delicious food.  However, the people sitting at the tables were thin, sick, and hungry.  As the Rabbis got closer to the tables, they could see that everyone sitting there held long spoons that would reach the food, but also that everyone had wooden splints tied to each of their arms so they could not bend their elbows. This meant that even though they could get to the food, they could not get the food to their mouths to eat.  This was truly Hell.

Then the Rabbis ascended to Heaven.  When they got to Heaven they saw the same tables fully laden with food, people sitting around the tables with the same wooden splints on their arms so that they could not bend their elbows, and the same long wooden spoons.  However, these people were happy, healthy, and quite well nourished.  How could this be the Rabbis wondered?  Then they saw one of the people reach onto a platter, get some food on the spoon, and feed the person sitting across the table.  That person was grateful and returned the kindness by feeding the first person from their own spoon. Everyone was feeding each other, and everyone was nourished.  This was truly Heaven.

This week at camp we learn from the portion of the Torah called R’eih, and practice Acharayut, thinking about others.  R’eih is the portion of the Torah that gives us the rules around keeping kosher.  You know the ones that say you can’t eat a cheeseburger, or bacon, or heaven forbid, a bacon cheeseburger.  Again, get a big Torah, one that does not leave out any words or the specific mention of bacon cheeseburgers.  It also tells us that we should not eat shellfish.  Why anyone would want to eat oysters in the desert before the invention of refrigeration is beyond me, but again, read the Torah, it says you shouldn’t do that.   In addition to instructing us on what we can and can’t eat, the Torah also instructs us on how to eat.  We are taught that we should not neglect those among us who don’t have anything of their own to eat.  In feeding those members of our community that are hungry, we become nourished ourselves.

I cook a lot at home, and sometimes you will find me here in Bubbio’s Kitchen cooking and taking care of my S’MESH.  I enjoy cooking many different types of foods from many different cultures.  One of my favorite things to cook is a dish called Maqluba.  In Arabic, Maqluba means “Upside Down”.  In a pot you layer chicken first, then vegetables, and then top everything with rice.  However, instead of scooping the finished dish out of the pot, you turn the whole pot upside down on a large platter and then lift the pot so you have the different layers with the rice on the bottom, the vegetables in the middle and the chicken on top.  This is a dish meant for sharing, and since I never learned to make one serving of anything, it feeds a crowd. By thinking about and feeding those around me, I am nourished.

As we enter into Shabbat, I would encourage all of us to think about ways to help others.  How can you help nourish those around you that may have less than you?  Can you practice and teach Acharayut, in either a physical or spiritual sense, with our friends around us? I can give you one hint and suggestion – as you enter the Chadar Ochel tomorrow morning for breakfast take one bagel, one pastry (either a donut or a muffin), and only one cream cheese.  Doing this will ensure that there is enough left for our friends who come to breakfast after you.  Thank our friends who get to breakfast before you for doing the same thing so that there is enough for you when you get there.  While we are at it, let’s also remember to think about others by washing our hands, and using the tongs, not your fingers.

Jeremy Wasserman has been with Camp Harlam since 2014. Along with being the Business Manager he is also the proud parent of 2 former campers. HIs youngest child completed her CIT summer this year.