by Rabbi Melissa Simon, Tiferet Faculty

Tiferet group photo before our interactive writing and art project.

Being a rabbi at camp is a long way from being a rabbi at a synagogue in Minnesota!

Gone are formal sermons, outlook calendars and high heels! I’ve been spending my days in Tevas, running around camp with chanichim (campers) and teaching Torah on ladders, in the pool and in an outdoor sanctuary surrounded by a grove of trees.

I am spending two weeks as Segel (faculty) for Tiferet, the Arts Eidah (unit). My 48 chanichim are incredible musicians, artists, actors and dancers. They are creative, funny, insightful and full of energy. As much as I have taught them about prayer, the text of Genesis, and our theme (Midrash Rabbah), they have taught me even more.

In the past few days, we have danced our socks off with the visiting Israeli Scouts, ended Shabbat with a bonfire and folk music night, and explored the stories of the Patriarchs and Matriarchs in Genesis.

Campers from Shir Tikvah celebrate Shabbat with Rabbi Simon.

In the week ahead we have a surprise field trip, t’fillah (prayer) led by Ivrit Kitot (Hebrew classes), and an opportunity to share our creative midrashim (interpretations of Torah texts) utilizing our studio specialities (including musical compositions about Hagar, Ishmael, Abraham, Sarah, and Isaac and sculpture and paintings of Jacob wrestling with an angel).

As I begin my second week at camp, I know that the impact of my time at camp will stay with me long after my Teva-tan has faded.

Rabbi Melissa B. Simon is the Director of Lifelong Learning at Shir Tikvah in Minneapolis, MN and is serving as one of the faculty members in Tiferet Aleph.