Arava Divrei T’filah

July 25th, 2025

Opening Reading – Ellie, Alice. Noa, Miri

 

All: Shabbat Shalom

 

Miri: Our Middah is Rachamim

 

Alice: Rachamim means acting with your heart

 

Miri: We all show rachamim in different ways

 

Noa: Acting with your heart can be comforting a homesick friend or even as simple as getting more fries for your table for lunch.

 

Ellie: One way I show rachamim is when I cleaned the table after dinner

 

Alice: I showed rachamim by letting my friends borrow things when they need it.

 

Noa: When I use rachamim, I feel like I’m making an impact.

 

Miri: When others show rachamim towards me, I feel welcome.

 

Ellie: During this evening’s service, reflect on how you can act with your heart

 

All: Shabbat Shalom

 

Pre Barchu – Sasha, Maren, Asher, and Kagan

 

Maren: We all went double session this year

 

Asher: The Barchu is all about being prepared

 

Kagan: During intersession, we were prepared by bringing snacks for Kalahari so we weren’t hungry.

 

Sasha: We went to Target to get what we didn’t have for second session.

 

Asher: We got a good night’s sleep the night before.

 

MAren: And now we are ready to have a great second session.

 

Shasha and Maren: Knock, knock

 

Asher and Kagan: Who’s there?

 

Sasha and Maren: Bara

 

Asher and Kagan: Barachu

 

All: Please rise for the Barchu

 

Pre-Amidah: Max, Noah, Leom

 

Max: Being an individual in a community affects us in many ways. For one, we are in a community in the bunk, where we have to clean up after ourselves, respect other people’s boundaries, and we have to be kind to our fellow bunk mates

 

Noah: In the 4 years of being a camper here I’ve seen many conflicts and they don’t always reach a resolution, but as an individual in a community, if you try to help, you are helping resolve the issue and helping make the community a more welcome space.

 

Leom: in camp Harlam, being an individual in a community is clearly very important, no matter where you are, athletics, J-life or Chader- Ohel or in the bunk, you should always think before you act. Help others, cheer them on, be a good friend over all.

 

As we rise for the amidah, we invite you to reflect on how you can change the community for the better, as our ancestors did.

 

Pre-Shema – Preston, Sammy, and Ben

 

Ben: One time I should have believed in myself was when I took the swim test because I thought I couldn’t do it, but in the end, I did it!

 

Sammy: The Shema means to me being united and having a connection with the Jewish peoplehood.

 

Preston: I experienced unity in my life when there were new kids in my bunk and I welcomed them in.

 

Ben: The Shema is a very important prayer in Judaism because it reaffirms our belief in G-d.

 

Preston: The Shema is also about listening. I listen when my counselors tell me to clean during Nikayon.

 

Sammy: The Shema is all about unity, connection, Jewish peoplehood and listening and that is how it affects our lives. 

 

ALL: Please rise and join for the Shema

 

Pre-Mi Chamocha – Asher, Eli, Aaron

 

Asher: When the Israelites crossed the sea, they felt joyful and free.

 

Eli: For me an example of this was when I arrived back at camp. This made me feel very joyful.

 

Aaron: An example of this for me is that even though we may not realize it, the fact that we don’t have screens helps us take in the world around us.

 

Asher: In Arava, we have more privileges and freedom than in our younger years.

 

Eli: In Egypt, it was a miracle when the sea parted.

 

Aaron: At camp, it is a miracle to all be here with our friends.

All: Please join us in the Mi Chamocha

 

Oseh Shalom- Alec, Zachary, Mark

 

Alec: good evening camp Harlam

Mark: the next prayer coming up is Oseh shalom, this prayer is about finding peace, being calm, and having hope

 

Zachary: Camp can be chaotic so it’s important to stay calm and find peace with yourself and others

 

Alect The words of the Oseh Shalom remind us to stay hopeful for a more peaceful future,. having hope is believing in yourself and, for me,  this means that in life you have to take many chances. You miss a hundred percent off the shots you never take

 

Mark: so you have to take chances if you want to make the world more peaceful

 

Zachary: camp Harlam- we ask you to think about how you can make this world a more peaceful and prosperous place.

 

Mark: thank you for listening 

 

Together: may this Oseh Shalom bring you peace.

 

Havdalah – Hannah, Ariella, Tali, Sasha

 

Hannah: As this Shabbat comes to an end, we should think about our middah of rachamim

 

Sasha: And having an open heart and an open mind

 

Ariella: We should reflect on our week and see how we can use rachamim to make next week even better.

 

Tali: That could mean comforting a homesick friend or helping to pass and stack.

 

Hannah: This week I used rachcmim by making friends with the new double session campers.

 

Sasha: And when someone new reached out to me, it made me feel included.

 

Ariella: When we use rachamim we help others feel seen and heard

 

Tali: Which can help build community

 

All: This week we challenge you to act with your heart and use rachamim. Shavuah Tov