My name is Ori Rosental. 

I’m 23 years old, originally from Kibbutz Kfar Szold in northern Israel. I study electrical engineering and physics at the ‘Technion – Israel Institute of Technology’ in Haifa. This will be my third year at Camp Harlam and my second year as the Teva supervisor.

October 7th had, and still has, a great impact on my life. I’ve experienced personal loss, my area being evacuated, and juggling being both a full-time student and a full-time IDF reservist. This has been a crazy year, and going into camp, each of us Israeli staff has different expectations and baggage.

In my opinion, and after talking to many shlichim (Israeli counselors), I think we can be sorted into three primary groups.

The first is the proactive shlichim. They come into camp seeking conversation and opportunities to share their perspective. They might even feel misunderstood by a community foreign to them.

The second group is the active shlichim. They are willing to share but aren’t actively looking for conversation. 

The third is the passive group. They are mostly looking for an escape and want to avoid possibly difficult conversations. 

However, despite the differences in mindset, all three groups chose to come to camp this summer and are looking for a safe and supportive environment within our community. I’m sure that throughout the summer, I will be able to identify with each of these groups, as the situation still evolves and mindsets change. As I see it, this diversity of thought is going to make the mishlachat (Israeli staff) stronger and create healthy conversation due to differences in perspective.

Most importantly, all three of these groups will make great counselors.

This summer will bring new challenges that will foster new opportunities. We will be more intentional as new topics will find their way into the Chadar Ochel chatter or Jewish Life programs. We will work to improve our skills when it comes to advocating for ourselves and receiving and giving support. Crisis makes a community stronger, and the beauty of camp is that new people are added to it every year, helping deepen our connections as a worldwide Jewish community.

Soon, our reality will change again. War will turn into color war and shelter will be a part of a Teva program – and yet our home will always be on our minds and in our hearts. 

In many ways, and for most of us, camp is a part of the healing process, as we’re still grieving and reflecting on the situation. 

I want to end on a different note. Each shaliach is “Olam U’mlo’o” – an entire world. Each is unique and is defined by their entire life, including more than what they experienced this past year. I believe that even now, each of us gets to choose how we go about shaping our role at camp. 

Camp is about many things, but at the end of the day, it’s about the campers. Israelis, domestic and international staff, all come to camp to provide the best experience possible for them.

I can’t wait to be back at my home away from home, working hard to help facilitate an amazing summer for all.

Wishing for better days of quiet and peace to come,

Ori