Chavurah Divrei T’filah
July 19th, 2025
Chavurah introduction of new Middah – (Havdalah 7.12)
Stella S, Lila A, and Maya R
Maya: This year, as Chavurah campers, we were given the opportunity to create an impactful new Middah.
Stella: As a unit, we voted for Rodef Shalom, which means pursuing peace, which we found incredibly important considering the current state of the world.
Lila: Although much of the hate in the world hasn’t directly affected us, it has impacted many of the people who have shaped our camp experience over the last 8 years, including our mishlachat.
Maya: The Israeli counselors that we are so lucky to have with us each year, truly helped to make us the people we are today.
Stella: Now, these same people are across the world struggling to find peace for themselves and many others around them.
Lila: This is one of the many reasons that the act of pursuing peace is so important to us at camp.
Maya: Together, as the entire unit of Chavurah, we hope peace is found for all of those around the world pursuing it.
All: Hoo-Rah
Opening Reading – Ellie, Talia, Sadie, Maddie, Zoe, Sophie
ALL: Shabbat Shalom!
MB: This week’s middah is Rodeph Shalom, pursuing peace.
EFR: In Chavurah, we pursue peace by coming together, closer as one unit.
SR: As our village is separated from main camp, we are able to leave the real world behind and pursue greater peace together.
ZM: Outside of camp, there are many conflicts and problems around the world and in everyday life.
SK: When we come to camp, we leave those obstacles behind to grow ourselves and the peace in our communities.
TW: This summer especially, we have found it important to take a breath and capture the present moment.
MB: As our last Shabbat as campers is nearing the end, we reflect on the memories we have made over the years.
FR: Every time we come to camp we instantly feel welcomed, at home, and at peace.
SR: At camp we find peace by feeling safe and free as Jews.
ZM: Every summer, we are reminded why we come back each year, because of the joy it brings us.
SK: Camp Harlam, thank you for making these past..
ZM: 2, EFR: 5, TW+SR:7, SK+MB:8
SK: …years the best they could have been.
TW: We hope you can continue pursuing peace out in the real world just as we have here at Harlam.
ALL: Thank you Camp Harlam for everything!
Pre-Mi Chamocha – Noam, Alex, Josh, Nathan, Elijah
Noam: The Mi Chamocha is a prayer that talks about the freedom that Jews received and the miracles our people have experienced.
Elijah: In Chavurah we experience many moments of freedom such as chofesh, green time and having our own pool.
Josh: These freedoms help blossom new relationships and connections throughout the summer that we wouldn’t be able to experience in any other unit.
Alex: Relationships and connections are the building blocks of what makes camp, camp.
Nathan: The fact that we are able to be brought together in one community where every day is special is a miracle itself.
Noam: Now that our time here is coming to an end, the Mi Chamocha resonates with us more than ever.
All: Please Join us in the Mi Chamocha!
Pre-Amidah – Spencer, Sammy, Max, Asher, and Joseph
Joseph: The Amidah tells us about having a unique identity within a community. For us that means being in the RAH village, separate from main camp.
Max: Some people view the road as a wall between us and main-camp, but to us it’s a bridge.
Spencer: We have often visited the other side of the bridge, but this summer when we crossed we knew there was no going back. Now, as the session comes to a close, we look back at those who came before us.
Asher: As we lived in the RAH village this summer we learned to appreciate the history and legacy in the age of our bunks.The easiest and most common way of seeing this is by the signatures of past campers.
Sammy: We have left our legacy through some things as simple as leaving a signature, or as complicated as the bonds between us that turn friends into family.
Spencer: We push you to make the most of every moment because soon enough you’ll also be crossing that bridge to Chavurah for the last time.
All: Please rise for the Amidah
Havdalah – Lila, Liza, Julia, Liv, Stella, Rachel, Maya
All: We love camp Harlam
Maya: If you have ever met us, you have seen our love for this camp
Lila: We have made it very obvious in ways like our constant saying that a bad day at camp is better than any good day any where else
Liza: or through our year round preparation for rak dan outfits and speaking at moments like this one.
Liv: But what we haven’t made as obvious is why we love camp.
Julia: Camp is a place where we can be our true selves.
Rachel: Camp is where we learned to be confident from every counselor cheering us on.
Stella: Camp is where we learned to deepen our connections with our Judaism and grow as a Jewish community.
Maya: But most importantly, camp is where we met our best friends, each other.
Lila: Thanks to camp, not a day goes by where we don’t talk , text, or call each other.
Liza: We have learned how to help each other from miles away
Liv: From New York to New Jersey, to Philly, to Maryland, it all leads back to this special place, Kunkletown.
Julia: You may not know your best friends now. But when you make it to your last summer, you will have your people, like we have each other.
Rachel: They are not only your camp friends, but your forever friends.
Stella: Shavua Tov, Camp Harlam, thank you for the best summer of our lives.
Pre-Shema – Zoey, Mikayla, Talya, Talia, Aliyah, Erin
TS: The Shema is all about unity, connection, and listening to one another, and Camp Harlam is a place where you can find all of that and so much more.
Z: It’s the place that gave me the confidence to connect with so many others.
A: The place that helped me discover my Jewish identity.
TK: The place that made me appreciate the moments of connection and appreciate the time we have.
E: The place where I united with my friends who became family.
M: The place where I found my lifelong community.
TS: The Shema is also about believing in something. When I came to camp as a Carmel camper, I never could have believed the impact camp would have on me. Now that it’s my last summer as a camper, while I’m unsure I will ever feel this way again, I know that my camp journey is not over yet.
Z: Confidence wasn’t something I’ve always had, but with the support of all of those around me, I’ve gained the courage to try new things, and I’m not sure this would have been possible without the connections I’ve made here.
A: As a Jewish girl with an Israeli dad, I’m often asked questions that I wouldn’t necessarily know now to answer without my camp community, who also have helped me understand what it means to be Jewish. I didn’t realize what it meant to believe in something bigger than myself, but by listening to the prayers and being surrounded by this community, I now find myself even more connected to my Judaism.
M: The connections we make at camp last a lifetime. I had no idea that one of my life-long friends was sitting in the bed beside me the first summer I came to camp, but here we are today, standing side by side, remembering that moment and realizing we’ll be connected forever.
TK: During the Shema, we are present in the moment, and here at our home away from home, we have learned that being present in the moment is so important because if you aren’t, you’ll miss what’s happening around you. We cherish each and every moment even more now as Chavurah campers because we know fast things move. We encourage all of you to be present in the moment.
E: On this last Shabbat, we look back at our community and reflect on how camp has changed us.
All: Na Lakum, please rise for the Shema
Pre-Yismechu – Alex, Mikai, Banana, Ezra, Hoff
Alex: The Yismechu is about the meaning of Shabbat and reminds us about the community we have at camp.
Mikai: Each of us started camp in Kineret and now, as Rah campers we look back at the community we created.
Banana: The Yismechu also talks about preparing for the next week, but for many of us, as campers, there is not a next week at camp for us.
Ezra: We aren’t sure when we’ll all be together again and be in our community.
Hoff: From Maccabiah, to the swing, to zumba, to Rak Dan, our memories as campers are like no other and will live in our memories forever.
Ezra: At our last Sicha time, we talked about how we can stay in the moment for this last week of the session.
Mikai: For everyone here who have more years as campers to come, it is so important to appreciate the joy in all the moments.
Alex: You can even find joy in the moments that aren’t so great. Eventually you’ll look back and even appreciate those memories.
Banana: In our community, no time is wasted.
Hoff: Each week ushers in new moments of joy, just as the Yismechu references.
All: Thank you Camp Harlam for all the moments of joy, and please join us in the Yismechu.
Mourner’s Kaddish – Danny
While shabbat is a time of celebration and happiness, it’s important to recognize, remember, and carry on the memory and tradition of those that have passed. We also keep close to our hearts those who we are mourning.
Camp is a place where everyone regardless of age feels everything, including loss. Last summer, I lost my dad. Tomorrow marks the one year anniversary. While being so far apart, being at camp pulls us so much closer together. Allowing for both a well deserved distraction as well as a safe space for mourning and remembrance of all lost. Whether you are observing the first week of mourning, the first month, an anniversary of a loss, or whether you are keeping the name of someone close to your heart, we all support one another as we rise together for the Mourner’s Kaddish.