Galil Divrei T’filah
July 5th, 2025
OPENING – Olive, Eliza, Harley, Talia, Izzie
ALL: Shabbat Shalom, Camp Harlam!
Izzie: Galil’s middah is Achrayut, thinking about others. When living in a bunk, it’s important to not only think about yourself, but making sure everyone feels welcome and seen.
Talia: Some ways we show achrayut well at camp are: cueing a song you know your friend likes,
Eliza: …making someone’s bed for them if they’re busy doing their job during nikayon,
Izzie: … french braiding your friend’s hair when they don’t know how
Olive: … lending someone a pair of shoes when theirs are wet.
Harley: … and always having an open closet.
Eliza: When we show achrayut, we form a holy community. Thinking about others at camp is part of what makes it so special.
Olive: To us, Camp Harlam is a kehillah kedosha, a holy community. This is because everyone cares for each other.
Pre- Bar’chu – Nathaniel, Victor, Ben, Michael, and Lucas
Nate: To me, Bar’chu means coming together. At camp we come together in many different ways, whether it’s the whole camp coming together for Shabbat, or the unit coming together for Siyyum L’yom each night.
Michael: To me, the Bar’chu means being prepared, whether it’s making sure I bring a water bottle on a hot day, or wearing a hat when it’s sunny.
Ben: To me, it means welcoming anyone, whether you know them or not. This is my first year, but I felt welcomed after the first day.
Victor: To me, it means being part of a community and being welcomed. This is my first year at camp and I already feel part of this community.
Lucas: From the first day I arrived at camp, I already felt welcomed. Though it was hard coming into a new place where everyone already had connections, there was a space created where I could fit in. At camp, no matter how different you are, you can always fit in. Please rise for the Bar’chu.
Pre- Shema –Olivia G., Callie C., Sophia S., Arielle G., Masha Z.
E: The Shema is about unity, connection to g-d, listening, and believing.”
M: At Camp Harlam, there are many ways we can practice these values, like coming together on Saturdays for Shabbat to sing prayers and listen to people’s beliefs.
E: Or, even just spending time with your friends in the bunk.
S: People interpret the meaning of the Shema in multiple different ways. Some people might feel that the Shema is about uniting and connecting with your friends.
O: While others feel it is listening and believing in g-d and each other’s feelings, so there is no one right meaning for the Shema.
E: Na Lakum, please rise for the Shema.
Pre- Chamocha – Elianna, Maya M, Naomi N, Sophia P, Alana
Elianna: Our middah, Achrayut, talks about caring for others.
Alana: Throughout the past year, most of us have had the opportunity to either celebrate our own b’nei mitzvah or join others in their special day.
Naomi: Celebrating our own B’nei Mitzvah has introduced more freedom and responsibility.
Maya: This connects to the prayer Mi Chamocha, a prayer focusing on freedom and miracles.
Sophia: When I celebrate becoming Bat Mitzvah, I look forward to all the new privileges and responsibilities of being seen as an adult in the eyes of the Jewish people.
Alana: Similar to Sophia, I look forward to being a mature role model for younger generations.
Maya: As I become Bat Mitzvah I look forward to finding more meaning in Jewish traditions and being more independent as an individual.
Naomi: As I reflect on my Bat Mitzvah, I remember feeling relieved and proud of myself, for pushing through all the challenges of becoming bat mitzvah.
Elianna: I feel accomplished and more confident in myself when I did something new that I thought would be scary and difficult.
Sophia: Overall, we all have felt – or will feel – a sense of accomplishment, independence, and freedom after our B’nei Mitzvah.
ALL: Please join us in Mi Chamocha.
Pre- Amida – Josie, Gali, Sara, Paige, Nina
Josie: The next prayer is the Amida.
Gali: This prayer covers topics like legacy, personal connection to prayers, and individuality.
Josie: In the Amida it says names like Abraham, Isaac, Rebekah, Rachel, Jacob, and Leah. These are the names of some of our ancestors written in the Torah. It is important to honor these people during prayer to show our gratitude for the actions they took to provide us with the lives we have today.
Gali: This prayer talks about legacy. My dad was at camp, and me being here is carrying on a legacy. I am able to continue tradition and experience camp knowing that my dad did too. The Amida allows us to recognize the fact that we are a part of something bigger than ourselves.
Sara: For me, prayer is less about the words and more about the people I’m standing with and the experience. Services allow me to connect with my friends and recite the prayers together.
Paige: The Amida is about God hearing our prayers. We must open our lips and say what must be heard, knowing that God is understanding. It’s about not withholding information and being able to praise the power above– God.
Nina: This prayer also talks about being an individual in the community. This idea is important because if everyone was exactly alike, a community would not be able to function. If everyone at camp was all the same it would be so boring, which is why it’s important to have individuality and be yourself.
ALL: Na lakoom, please rise, as you are able, for the Amida.
Pre- Yism’chu – Layla, Becca, Livi, Dani
- Yismechu is the meaning of Shabbat prayer. Shabbat to us is about community, coming together on Friday nights and Saturday mornings to pray and sing.
D – Something special about Shabbat at camp is we have a designated day to rest and prepare for a new fulfilling week.
R – The Yismechu is about thinking about the community. By thinking about the community we can help our friends too.
P – Cleaning someone’s area when they’re overwhelmed.
R – Making space for someone at song session.
L – Letting someone borrow your toothpaste when they can’t find theirs.
LV – Or filling up someone’s water bottle.
LV – Overall the Yismechu is about finding joy in Shabbat. For example, I find joy and gratitude in the time here at camp.
L – Taking the extra step for one of your friends is a way of showing community.
LV – This week we want you to not only think about others but be grateful for our time at camp.
All – LESS OY MORE JOY
HAVDALAH – Jonah, Ezra, Lev, Jacob, Jacob
Lev: Havdalah marks the end of Shabbat, and a bridge to the next week.
Jonah: Our middah is Achrayut, helping others. Havdalah and Achrayut go hand in hand, as we think about others in the coming week. Showing that you care about a friend may make their week much better.
Kaplan: And it’ll make your week better. This week, I thought about others by sharing food at meals, including my friends in sports activities, and getting a bandaid for my friend.
Grumbacher: This week, we will continue to model achrayut by caring about bunkmates, counselors, and everyone else.
ALL: Shavua Tov, may this be a week of Achrayut.