By Rabbi Amy Memis-Foler, Rabbi at Temple Judea Mizpah in Skokie, IL and Moshavah Segel
On the last night of the Rock Climbing tiyul (trip) in Moshavah, we sat around the campfire and played “Highs, Lows and Heroes.” It’s an exercise in which each person shares with the group his or her highest and lowest moments of the tiyul, along with naming someone in the group who stood out as a hero. This summer our limud (study) theme is “Leadership.” So when we mentioned our heroes, we were to choose a person or people who we thought to be heroes because of the leadership traits they displayed.
Highs around the circle included comments about succeeding in making certain climbs that had been otherwise challenging. For some trying something new, like rappelling or belaying, was the high point. For others it was overcoming fears such as a fear of heights. Still others indicated their high point was making new friends and bonding with others on the tiyul.
As for the lows, coincidentally there were several comments made about the creatures we encountered. For some it was the daddy long-legs inside the tents. Others were saddened when the raccoons came around at night and carried away bags of gorp left out on the tables when we left the campsite for a short walk. Still others recall the loud cackling noises of the great blue herons sitting atop the campsite’s tall trees that kept them from falling asleep.
It was wonderful to hear the chanichim (campers) describe their heroes. One person mentioned her heroes were the people who helped lead her up the rock as she climbed. They were sitting below her, encouraging her to continue up the rock and offering her suggestions as to where she might find her next foot hold or hand grip. They supported her and directed her. Listening to them helped her persevere.
When I participated in Highs, Lows and Heroes on that last night, I didn’t realize that my High and Heroes of the tiyul were going to happen the next day. (My low remained the same—sore muscles that I haven’t used for a long time appearing and enduring over the course of the tiyul.) The high was tied to my heroes. Although it was my sixth time participating on the Rock Climbing tiyul, I had never belayed—been the person who secures the climber to the rope, pulls the slack from the rope of the climber, and keeps the climber from falling. Perhaps in the past I had been too tentative to take on such a responsibility, but this time I was determined to try this new task. When I was belaying my second person on a very challenging climb, another chanicha (camper) asked me if I had ever done an “assist belay.” Being my second belay of the day, let alone in my life, I had not. This chanicha taught me, and she led me through the steps I needed to take to assist the climber. On the count of 1-2-3, the climber, this chanicha and I made our moves and successfully helped the climber get past that spot where he had been stuck for some time—and then he made it to the top(!) as I continued to belay. I felt such a sense of accomplishment, as if I had made the climb myself. Thanks to those two heroes, who led me, that belay was my high of the Rock Climbing Tiyul.