Opening Words
Elena G., Lucy P., Sophie L., Julia K. (all KN 1)
Together: Shabbat Shalom camp Harlam
Elena: The middah we’ll be speaking about this week is Bina, or Seeking meaning.
Lucy: As campers, Bina can look like many different things, whether its finding the values in ourselves or in those around us, Bina can be different fro everyone
Sophie: For me, I find deeper meaning in spending time in the bunk with all of my friends
Julia: Bina can also be found in the village where we come together as a unit
Elena: I find it in waking up and starting each day with breakfast in the Ulam
Lucy: We are always curious and ready to ask questions, which can help us lean and discover a deeper connection to the world around is
Julia: As Kfar campers, we know our time at Harlam is coming to an end.
Elena: with Chavurah around the corner, we are reminded to not take the little things for granted
Sophie: Bina means to live each minute to the fullest and not letting the time slip through our fingers in this magical place.
Pre-Barchu
Kate K., Sari H., Ella R., Becca K. (all KN 1)
Kate: Coming together can be different for everyone.
Sari: Sometimes when a friend needs a hand in nikayon, rating someone’s dives, or pulling somebody up the swing.
Ella: When we unite as one, we motivate people to do their best.
Becca: Being prepared can look different as well, like putting on your bathing suit for ke b’mayim, even if you don’t know if you want to go in.
Kate: Being ready can look good, but also feel good, even though you might have your least favorite job at nikayon, it will benefit the whole bunk because you’re ready to get a 10!
Sari: Standing up for something is important too.
Ella: I stand for respecting everybody no matter how different they are.
Becca: Taking a stand can also be, going to the tower when the rest of your group wants to go to the zipline in camper free choice.
(Sari nudges Kate and Kate overdramatically falls on rocks)
Sari: Kate, you have to stand for the Barchu
(Sari helps Kate up)
Becca and Ella: Na Lakum, please rise for the Barchu
Pre-Shema
Alexa B., Sadie S., Sasha J. (all KN 1)
Sadie: We have been going to camp for many years and we hope for many more. In our many years, we have realized how important being open minded is and a way to do so is by listening to others and their opinions.
Alexa: This year we have a lot more perspectives than previous years, having international campers as well as counselors. But that isn’t the only difference between senior camp and junior camp. It’s not only having 2 working toilets for over 40 people or avoiding skunks, but bigger changes too. Like having more freedom which comes with more responsibility. It’s looking out for many more campers than previous years, and fending for yourself in the Ulam breakfast.
Sasha: Camp is such a special place not only because of our belief in Judaism, but our love and spirit for camp. The village really shows how connected we all are no matter which bunk you’re in. This week, try to go out of your way and make connections with people, no matter if they’re in your bunk or not. The Shema is about listening and at camp that seems like something we do a lot. But listening to each other is what makes this place magical.
Na Lakum, please rise for the Shema
Pre-Mi Chamocha
Haley R., Lily A., Shai F., Ella B. (all KN 1)
Haley: The Mi Chamocha was sung by Moses after the miraculous parting of the Red Sea, giving freedom to the Israelites.
Lily: Freedom for me is the ability to come to Harlam all the way from Israel, create new memories and meet new people.
Shai: Freedom for me is to be able to express myself freely, and be my true self.
Haley: Freedom for me is to be able to learn and grow with my friends
Ella: Freedom for me is having the ability to be with my family, sleep in my bed, and eat 3 meals a day.
For us as Israelis, and for the Jewish community, it can be hard to talk about freedom during this period of time.
Shai: Not all of our people are free. We hold in our hearts the 50 hostages currently held in Gaza. This reminds us to appreciate the freedom we have today.
Haley: Being here today singing and praying as a Jewish community is a miracle.
Lily: The Mi Chamocha is about our ancestors’ freedom and miracle.
All: May the hostages gain freedom and return home safely.
Lily: Please join us for the Mi Chamocha
Pre-Amidah
Jack L., Jackson M., Chase W., Gabe L-M. (all KN 2)
Jack: Dear Carmel me
Gabe and Chase: Dear Sharon me
Jackson: Dear Arava me, do you remember the first time you drove through the gates?
Chase: How about the first friend you made?
Gabe: These are all core memories of our camp experience.
Jack: A core memory of entering senior camp and walking into the bottom of the Ulam and seeing all the signatures for the first time.
Chase: The core of our Shabbat service today is the Amidah, which is all about remembering those who came before us.
Gabe: Whether it’s people from the Torah, or campers who came before you, it’s important to remember the legacy of those who came first.
All: Sincerely, your Kfar self
Jackson: Please rise for the Amidah
Pre-Yismechu
Ellis W., Zeke D., Jonah K., Bryce A. (all KN 2)
Ellis: sha
Zeke: bat
Jonah: sha
Bryce: lom
Ellis: We came together to say Shabbat shalom, just like the whole camp comes together each Sabbath,
Zeke: in Kfar we come together as one unit instead of multiple bunks
Jonah: This helps us build stronger bond with people we may not have bonded with otherwise
Bryce: As a double session camper, I have the privilege of making long lasting connections with people from both sessions
Ellis: On Shabbat we come together by:
Zeke: banging on the tables during song session
Jonah: Moshing together at Rak-Dan
Brice: and singing with our arms around each other at the chapel
(Jonah taps Bryce)
Bryce: Who was that?
Jonah: Bro- it was “Yisme”
Bryce: Yisme- who
Everyone: please come together in joining us for Yismechu!
Havdalah
Liv L., Caroline B., and Sam S. (all KN 1)
Liv: This week’s middah is Binha, seeking meaning.
Caroline: Throughoutt this week, we have found meaning in many different activities.
Sam: Like during camper free, when we can talk to new people.
Liv: Trying new activities
Caroline; Or even just chill around camp
Sam: Now that we’re in senior camp, we learn to seek meaning even in situations where it may be hard to do so.
Liv: It is important to reflect and seek meaning in your everyday life.
Caroline: We encourage you, in the following week, to take a moment and…
All: Seek meaning
Blog Post
Atticus L., Eli W., Ethan D., Micah C, Josh Z. (all KN 2)
We seek meaning (Binah) by finding the small details every day.
We found meaning when we got our Kineret buddies.
We found meaning when we do Kef B’Mayim.
We found meaning when we help lead Shabbat services.
We found meaning when teaching younger campers the Harlam traditions.