SHABBAT D’VARIM 2014

It’s been an amazing week at OSRUI!

The week started with a visit from Pam Schuller, Advisor to NFTY-GER (Garden Empire Region, serving Jewish teens from New Jersey and parts of New York).  Pam talked with each eidah about people with special needs and how we can best understand them and reach out to them.  Pam herself has Tourette’s syndrome and explained some of the things that she learned over the years about developing relationships with peers and people who never quite understood.  Campers of all ages were deeply engaged in her presentation.

Monday night was our annual Oconomostock talent show, produced by Kibbutz HaTzofim.  This year’s theme was “Hundred Acre Woodstock,” and featured lots of characters from Winnie the Pooh.  The show also featured lots of talented campers from all our sessions and was a huge success.

Tuesday was a big day for trips out of camp.  Our Kallah campers went on a wonderful hike in the woods at Kettle Moraine.  They hiked about 2.5 miles through some beautiful teva that they don’t get to see every day.  Gesher went to the Dairy Farm, which has been a big hit with campers this summer.  It is always a memorable experience for campers to learn about and see the actual workings of a real farm. They ended the trip at Mullen’s Ice Cream shop in Watertown and got to see how ice cream is made…and enjoyed.

On Wednesday Tiferet enjoyed a wonderful and creative day in the park, where they used their new surroundings to explore their art from a whole new perspective.  Now they are focused on preparing for their final showcase for parents on August 9th.  (Tiferet parents:  If you haven’t RSVP’d yet, please do so by Monday.  If you are attending, fill out the Registration Form.  If you can’t make it, just email Becca to let her know:  osrui.tiferet@gmail.com)  

Also on Wednesday, Kitah Aleph in Chalutzim enjoyed breakfast prepared by Rabbi Steven Bob, who welcomed his class of Chalutzim Hebrew campers.  In addition, Rabbi Bob always invites previous graduates of Kitah Aleph who are still on staff, and they all explained how they have learned more Hebrew over the years and what a great experience Chalutzim was. 

Chalutzim campers served as the leaders for this week’s Maccabiah Games/Color Wars, creating cheers, playing games and helping out the younger campers – great preparation for being madrichim someday.  The games kicked off Wednesday night with a surprise appearance by the Jesse White Tumblers who came up from Chicago.  What a fabulous demonstration of what you can do if you just commit yourself to practice.  After that the whole camp gathered by team color and started to get ready for a great Thursday.  It was a day filled with fun and games, ending with which team could climb up the tower fastest.  At the end of the day the points were all tallied and the GREEN team won.

Moshavah campers have been enjoying a week in camp, reflecting on last week’s tiyuls, enjoying all the activities OSRUI has to offer, and preparing for their last trips, which leave on Sunday.

Just a little while ago, Tour La’Agam returned from their 750-mile bike trip through the Midwest around much of Lake Michigan.  They looked excited to be back and ready for a shower!

Shabbat dinner begins in a little while, followed by Shabbat Shira with lots of guests joining us.  Among them is a group of congregational leaders from around the country who are studying with our faculty to learn more about engaging in service leading back home…and tonight among our visitors is Rabbi Rachel Sabbath Beit HaLachmi who is the Director of Admissions for HUC and a Presidential Scholar at the College.

On Sunday we say l’hitraot to our Kallah Gimmel, Chalutzim, and Tour La’Agam campers.  Parents – thank you for sharing your children with us.  We’ve had an amazing time with them these past few weeks.  

Shabbat Shalom from all of us at OSRUI,

Jerry Kaye, Director    Susan Alexander, Associate Director     Max Weinberg, Assistant Director