SHABBAT D’VARIM 2012
It’s been a great week at OSRUI, with several all-camp events, starting with last Saturday night’s spectacular concert with Dan Nichols and his band E18hteen. We welcomed close to 300 alumni and other friends to celebrate OSRUI’s 60th Anniversary. Sunday night was the Judaica Bowl, which was a great demonstration of the Jewish knowledge of our campers. Last night our mishlachat (Israeli staff) presented FestiKayitz (Summerfest). All of the campers shared their enthusiasm about Israel with special presentations of dance and music, going through all the decades of the Jewish State. Just before the program began, we all enjoyed falafel, hummus and Israeli salad for dinner. Coming up next week is our Maccabiah (color wars), which kicks off Wednesday night with a special surprise.
Also coming up next week is Oconomostock, the all-camp talent show produced by Kibbutz HaTzofim. Tzofim campers are hard at work preparing for the show, which features acts from every unit. As always, the theme of the show is a big secret!
The theme of Kallah this session is middot (values) and this week they learned about savlanut (patience) during a special activity at the low ropes course. One of the highlights for them next week will be a hiking trip!
Moshavah campers had a great time on their trips, despite the rain. The campers were challenged physically, and they learned to step out of their comfort zones. After a restful Shabbat, they’ll be spending next week enjoying all the great in-camp activities.
Chalutzim showed off what they have learned at Festikayitz and at the Judaica Bowl, where they won for the second time this season. It’s a close race in the Chalutzim Hebrew Olympics, with every cabin competing for first place by speaking Rak Ivrit (only Hebrew).
Speaking of rain, we finally got a good soaking… we sure are lucky that all of the rain happened overnight so that very little programming was affected. We still can’t build campfires as the county has restricted them so far…maybe it will be lifted on Monday and we can reinstate the kind of great camp fires that our campers love so much.
Tiferet went on a wonderful field trip to the Milwaukee Art Museum this week. These talented campers continue working hard in their studios and are beginning to prepare for their closing program, to which parents are invited (invitations were emailed today).
Gesher campers did four different service projects this past week. In addition to having a blast in all their regular camp activities, they are preparing for an upcoming trip to Madison, where they will meet with legislators to discuss the social justice issues they’ve been learning about.
Tour La’Agam left on their 1000-mile trip last Sunday, as the entire camp came together to send them off. After six days of riding, they are settling down for a restful Shabbat in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
It is a little warm today but nothing like it has been until now. The pool and lakefront have gotten a real workout this summer keeping our campers cool and enjoying the water. Our days are filled with waterskiing and tubing, along with sailing, horseback riding, the high ropes course, and lots more.
Tonight as we begin Shabbat, OSRUI will commemorate the passing of the eleven Israeli athletes in the Munich Olympics with our own moment of silence. As you light your own Shabbat candles, please keep in mind those who gave their lives.
Have a wonderful Shabbat and we look forward to the same!
Jerry Kaye, Director Susan Alexander, Associate Director Solly Kane, Assistant Director