Carmel Divrei T’filah

July 18th, 2025

Opening Reading – Nora, Emma, Carmel, Arin

 

All: Shabbat Shalom. This week’s middah is nitzachon which means pushing through a challenge. 

 

Arin: I pushed through a challenge when i hurt my ankle last week. It was hard for me to do a lot of activities, but my friends helped me out. That’s how I pushed through a challenge. 

 

Nora: How I pushed through a challenge was when I hurt my throat. I got a cut in my mouth and I couldn’t do much, but I did all the activities that my bunk did. It hurt, but I pushed through it and here I am now on the bimah.

 

Carmel: I pushed through a challenge by being homesick almost every night. Even though I was homesick, I distracted myself by hanging out with my friends. 

 

Emma: This week I pushed through a challenge when I got an ear infection. I tried to ignore it, which helped me have fun with my friends. 

 

All: In the next two days we challenge you to push through a challenge by stepping outside your comfort zone. 

 

Pre-Barchu – Nate, Buddy, Samson

 

Buddy: One way I pushed through a challenge is when I couldn’t do the monkey bars. I kept trying and trying and I didn’t give up. One day I finally made it across.

 

Nate: Another way of pushing through a challenge is if you are scared, you can ask a friend to do something with you. Once I pushed through a challenge by going on the tower for the first time. My friend encouraged me to go on the tower.

 

Samson: I pushed through a challenge when I was scared to go on the tower and one of my friends helped me gain the courage to go on. He was ready and prepared to help me. 

 

All: We are now all ready and prepared. Na Lakoom, please rise for the Barchu. 

Pre-Shema – Louise, Emme, Lilah

 

Lilah: When I first came to camp, I didn’t know anyone, but immediately felt welcomed. 

 

Emme: Connection means including everyone. I feel connected when I play alone on the playground at school and someone else lets me join. I know I would do that if the situation was reversed. This is connection doing its job.

 

Louise: The Shema is all about unity, connection, and believing in G-d. For instance, I feel connected to my bunk when we have similar interests and we try them out together. 

 

Lilah: I feel connected knowing that my dad went here. I also feel connected when I’m hanging out with my friends.

 

Emme: I feel connected to the Harlam community when me and my bunkmates share clothes or trade jibbitzs together. I feel connected thinking about all the generations that enjoyed camp before me.

 

Louise: I’m a third generation camper, and I feel very connected to Harlam knowing that my family created a legacy here. Just like how I feel connected to camp, I know that the 6 points on the star of David are a symbol of the Jewish community. 

 

All: Na Lakoom, please rise for the Shema. 

Pre-Mi Chamocha – Dov, Cyrus, Jonah

 

All: Mi Chamocha is about freedom, awe, and miracles. 

 

Jonah: One time I felt freedom when I finished instructional swim and I left to go to the bunk.

 

Dov: One time I felt awe was when it was my turn to climb the tower. I ended up on the hard line and I was in awe when I made it to the top.

 

Cylus: One time I felt a miracle was when I was homesick and I was sobbing. My friends told my counselor and he helped me. I was so happy he was there for me. Anytime I’m homesick, I have someone to talk to. 

 

All: Please join us for the Mi Chamocha

Pre-Amidah – Simona

 

My legacy is starting at Camp Harlam. I’m the only one in my family who has come to Camp Harlam so far. Being the only one to come here to camp means that I can have my space and learn things that my family may not know. Each person has their own life and when you listen to each other, it makes everyone happy. No matter what you wear or how you act, you will always be your own special self.

 

Please rise for the Amidah.

Prayer for Peace – Rebecca, Charlie, Adira, Talia

 

Charlie: The prayer for peace is about peacefulness, calmness, and hope. I showed peace when I helped cleaned my friend’s area during Nikayon.

 

Rebecca: I showed I am calm when I don’t rush to Smorning because I don’t want to get pushed around.’

 

Adira: I show hope when I hope to have social flashlight time so I can hang out with my friends. 

 

Talia: This all connects to kindness and friendship which is one of the ideas in the prayer for peace.

 

All: Please join us in Oseh Shalom.