By Laura Siegel-Perpinyal, Director of Congregational Learning at Temple Chai in Long Grove, IL and Tzofim Segel

Monday night was one of my favorite nights at camp. It was a culmination of a lot of hard work, creativity and fun. Monday evening was Oconomostock, the all camp talent show hosted by Tzofim!! But in addition to the incredible talent showcased by our chanichim (campers), its also an opportunity to honor the madrichim (counselors) who have been on staff for 5 years or more.

The “5 year sweatshirts” as they are known, are coveted, the 10 and 15 year jackets that much more so!

There were an unprecedented number of madrichim that received their 5 year sweatshirts last night, 16 in total!! There were another 5 staff members that received their 10 year jackets. The sweatshirts and jackets are a way for camp to honor these leaders for their dedication and for campers to cheer with pride as their counselors model their passion for OSRUI.  Its a tradition that on Oconomostock every other staff member that has also received their 5 year sweatshirt wears it that night.

Wearing my own 5 year sweatshirt and looking around the bitan (pavillion), its incredible to see the years of camp experience represented. Many of my former chanichim received their sweatshirts last night and at the same time, I saw my former madrichim wearing them too. L’dor v’dor, from generation to generation, is inspiring to see in action!

This year’s Oconomostock was also the 40th anniversary of this all camp talent show tradition! Each year Tzofim picks a theme for the show, keeping it a secret as they learn the songs and dances. Its a special way to bond the eidah (unit) around a goal, something they spend a lot of time planning and practicing for. In keeping with the traditions of the evening, chanichim from every eidah participate in showcasing their talents – many chanichim doing something like this for the very first time, and each eidah “dresses up” in special identifying clothes; showing both their pride for their eidah, and silliness for something that is uniquely a shared camp experience.

But my favorite part of Oconomostock, or any all camp program for that matter, is the way it ends; always with the entire camp singing the camp song! There is something comforting in the words, but also that hundreds of Jewish chanichim, madrichim, segel, and staff are joining together, arm in arm, in this special camp ritual. Furthering that feeling of l’dor v’dor, knowing that thousands of Jewish chanichim, madrichim, segel, have sang these same words, with the same intention of creating a special moment in time – the memory of which lasts a life time!