Together, they went to the grocery store and experimented with whether they could purchase what is needed for a family of four to live for a week with $25.  There in the grocery store they were faced with the realities few of them understood beforehand…that most of us live fairly privileged lives and don’t have to think about where our food or toothpaste or toilet paper is coming from.  From the grocery store, our bus headed over to the local food bank where we toured the facility and learned about how those in the community who live with food insecurity are supported by acts of tzedakah such as Gesher’s food donations.  No doubt this experience left a lasting impression on these campers.  Please ask them about it when they come home.

 

In addition to building a Gesher to the outside world, there is a Gesher being built in the Jewish world through our campers.  Two of the Gesher Madrichim (counselors) are here this summer from Uganda.  Samson and Isaak are here to help care for and teach our campers this summer and they have added so much to what we are doing.  They have helped our campers grow in their leadership as they teach them that there are Jews everywhere in the world who live with different circumstances and realities, but all are connected throughTorah.  It has been wonderful learning their music and hearing about their Jewish lives on the other side of the world.

All the world is a Gesher…and looking through the eyes of these young people…it is not a narrow bridge but a wide one full of opportunity and growth.  We are having a great session in Gesher!