By Rabbi Jill Crimmings, Rabbi Educator at Bet Shalom Congregation in Minnetonka, MN, and Tzofim Segel
One of the things I love about camp is being able to escape the noise of society in favor of engrossing myself in the lives of our chanichim (campers) and madrichim (counselors). Keeping up with the joys and concerns of the camp community takes precedence over keeping up with what is happening back home and in the world. This summer, however, it has been increasingly difficult, if not impossible, to stop thinking and reading about what is happening in Israel.
In many ways, being at camp has heightened my awareness and concern for Israel. I am surrounded by an incredible group of Israeli staff members who are serving as the mishlachat here at camp. Living amongst Israelis and hearing the way they are each affected by the matzav, the situation, can’t help but make me feel more personally connected to what is happening. Their presence brings me back to all the time I’ve spent in Israel and the love I have for the country and the people.
In addition to this, the eidah (unit) I am working with, Tzofim, spends a portion of every day at camp learning and talking about Israel. The fact that Tzofim is focusing on Israel this summer is random, but I believe the rotation couldn’t have come at a better time. We all need to be talking and learning about Israel right now. What is striking about the sessions we have had so far is that while we spend some time talking about the situation, it is not the focus and it does not overshadow our conversations and activities. Israel education does not stop just because Israel is at war.
The other day, our limud (learning session) explored Israel’s involvement with space travel. We talked about Ilan Ramon and the significance of the Torah Scroll he brought with him on the Columbia Space Shuttle in 2003. We also talked about Team SpaceIL and their attempt to win the Google Lunar X Prize and become the first Israeli spacecraft to land on the moon. We discussed the significance of technology and entrepreneurship in Israeli society and asked campers to think about what they might bring to the moon to represent their Jewish identity. For the culminating activity, campers taped their list of items to the side of a soda bottle and then shot them off like rockets through an amazing science experiment that involved the mixing of Mentos and Coca Cola (don’t try this at home!) As you can see, the campers loved it.
The irony of doing a session about Israel and rockets was not lost in our community. One of our Israeli madrichim even joked that he would serve as the Iron Dome, intercepting the soda before our campers could catch it in their mouths (see picture). It was refreshing to for once talk about rockets in a way that celebrates innovation and creativity, as opposed to describing destruction and fear. It was an important reminder that we can and must find a balance between talking about the current situation and teaching generally about the role Israel plays in our lives as American Jews. Every day, we will be both praying for peace and also continuing to do the work of teaching and celebrating Israel with our youth.