by Rabbi Amy Memis-Foler, the senior rabbi at Temple Judea Mitzpah in Skokie, IL, and Mosh Bet Segel

Rock Climbing is a Team Sport

“Can I trust you?” This is a question that chanichim (campers) on the Moshavah Rock Climbing Tiyul (trip) asked of one another aloud –if not to themselves–as they ventured up the rocks.

When the chanichim of Moshavah go on tiyulim many of them are challenged to do things outside of their comfort zone. Several aspects of the Rock Climbing tiyul can be intimidating:

* climbing for the first time or climbing a new, more difficult part of the face of the bluff

* overcoming a fear of heights

* rappelling over the top of the cliff, heading 80 feet or more straight down the vertical face of the rock

* learning to how to belay (keeping the rope taught for the climber)

* scrambling over the boulder field

* hiking up the steep trail to get to the climbing area

* sleeping in a tent with three or four others

* eating trip food (though some say these are the best meals all summer)

Some of these fears are allayed with the help, support and trust of others on the tiyul.

The climber learns to trust the person who is doing the belaying that he/she will keep the rope taut as the climber climbs. The belayers have the help of a person serving as the back-up belayer, who also has a hand on the rope and an eye on the climber. Also important is the role of those who are watching the climber ascend/rappeller descend/belayer belay. They serve as cheerleaders on the side. They cheer on the climbers to forge ahead when they might have felt stuck, encourage the rappellers to feel at ease as there is nowhere to go but down, and back the belayers to stay focused as they communicate with their climbers. When we climb the steep trail to get to the climbing area, or scramble over the boulder field, the communication of the person in the front to the person behind, “be careful; this rock is slippery” or “step here; it’s a good route” is part of the necessary conversation that builds and maintains trust within the group.

One of my favorite parts of the tiyul comes toward the end when chanichim share with one another their feelings of accomplishment on the trip. This year some chanichim spoke of how they felt a sense of accomplishment learning how to belay for the first time. Others spoke of the challenging climbs they completed. Still others shared how at the beginning of the trip they were not interested in climbing nor rappelling, but having tried both now find that they like it.

One girl told the story of how she almost quit climbing a route. Just as she was ready to lower, a group of people below encouraged her to continue. They cheered her on, giving her pointers as to what part of the rock she could grab or get a foothold. They encouraged her to keep going. The belayer assured her he had a tight hold of the rope. With this support, she persevered, and she reached the top. Highlights like this one and others like it happen only with the help of at least one other person, and more often with the trust, support and encouragement of many more on the team. Rock Climbing is a team sport.