Just a couple of days ago, as myself and my OSRUI childhood friend, Evan Richter, sat together in our room for the summer, it couldn’t feel anything but surreal. You see, the other night, Evan and I decided that we were so excited for camp to begin the next day that we would drive up a night early. We were teeming with excitement all week, but it boiled over that night. The drive was short, and before we knew it, we were driving through the familiar gates of OSRUI. You probably are wondering why I was so excited to arrive this summer. Well, OSRUI and Oconomowoc are a second home to me as I have spent the last 13 summers here. Tzofim specifically has been the place where I have made lifelong memories as I have been a part of the unit for 8 summers! Whether it be relaxing around a campfire, preparing for Oconomostock (the all camp talent show), or eating a meal in the shulchanot (tables) amid the craziness that 100 campers bring, I have nothing but fond memories. As for me, just a month ago, I graduated from the University of Minnesota where I studied Business and Marketing Education and Jewish Studies. I was very active in the Hillel there, culminating with my presidency this past year. I will also be continuing the work in a Hillel next year in Bloomington, Indiana. I cannot wait to see familiar smiling faces and meet some new ones in just a couple weeks!
Dylan is thrilled to be coming back to OSRUI this summer as the Rosh Eidah of Kibbutz HaTzofim! Dylan grew up in Deerfield, Illinois and is an alum of the University of Minnesota in the Twin Cities. This May, Dylan graduated with degrees in Business and Marketing Education, Jewish Studies, and Hebrew! Dylan also had the amazing opportunity to study at Hebrew University in Jerusalem as part of the Nachshon Project. In his free time, he loves to read books, surround himself with teva (nature) and relax with his friends. This will be Dylan’s 12th summer at OSRUI, and his 7th summer being in Tzofim. After graduating, Dylan wants to work in the Jewish Community.
Dylan cannot wait to get back downstairs to Tzofim and enjoy the ohelim (tents), picnic tables, refet (farm) and gan (garden)! Some of his favorite parts about camp are swimming in the breicha (pool), getting the entire camp together for Shabbat, and Oconomostock – the all-camp talent show put on by Tzofim! As the summer keeps getting closer, Dylan is getting excited to sit around the campfires and roast s’mores, share old memories and make new ones, and get to meet all the new faces which will be joining the Tzofim community this summer while reconnecting with familiar faces. He cannot wait to get this summer started!
