Shabbat Pinchas 2017
“We must check ourselves from making assumptions by association. On the one hand, we know that we are influenced by the people around us. On the other hand, the way to know a person’s character is to get to know the person.”
Rabbi Vered Harris
What an incredible fourth week it has been at OSRUI. We cannot believe that we are half way through the summer
After a week of limud (learning), omanut (art), water slides, tubing, wilderness trips, ivrit (Hebrew), field trips to the zoo, movies, art museums, evening programs, Yom Yisrael, Festikayitz, Mesibah, and so much more, Shabbat is here, a sacred and beloved time at camp.
Before we get clean and we put on our Friday night best, before we join together in prayer, before we tune our guitar strings and warm up our voices, before we prepare to rest, we take a look back at the incredible week that was week four of Summer 2017.
Chalutzim continued their ivrit immersion in their various kitot (classes). Chalutzim led all camp in an incredible program called Festikayitz where the chanichim (campers) taught everyone about various parts of eretz Yisrael (the Land of Israel). They reenacted the British Haganah with horses, golf carts, and water balloons and attended an amazing lecture by David Lepofsky, an inspirational lawyer who fights for human rights in Israel, and they practiced for Yom Horim (parents visiting day) this Sunday.
Moshavah completed their third and final trip. Everyone is back at camp safe, happy, and clean! Mosh enjoyed a much deserved sleep-in on Thursday. As a Mosh tradition, everyone enjoyed Culver’s frozen custard to celebrate the end of the final trip and were excited to learn more about Israel during Festikayitz and Yom Yisrael. The campers are very sad that it is their last Shabbat but they are happy to be together one last time in their moshav.
Gesher Bet went on their first tiyul (trip) to Madison to learn about the Hillel roof top garden and do a scavenger hunt around the town culminating with Slushees on 7/11 day! They had an awesome erev Tzrif that consisted of s’mores, a ride on the pontoon boat, a spa night, and Shakshuka taste test. They played Sing Down for evening program where they had to pick a word and come up with as many songs as they could think of with that word. Gesher had an amazing tochnit boker in the garden with fire building, bracelet making, and survival chug activities. Leadership chug lead a program about inclusion and how we create an inclusive community at camp. This weekend will be bittersweet as they will hold their Beit Café and celebrate their final Shabbat together.
Tiferet’s final week was one for the ages. They began the week by holding the first camp-wide talent show of the summer, “Minion-sibah”. There were songs and dances, comedy and gymnastics, magic and original music, pianos and violins, and so much more! They had fun in the sun at a pool party and a final erev tzrif where they “pranked” Mosh, took a pontoon ride, had a thanksgiving feast, and had a night of fun at Susan’s. They learned about the Israel trail during erev Yisrael and enjoyed an amazing Human Library program. Friday will be culmination day where Tiferet Aleph will present their work to the unit. Saturday night will see many laughs and tears during the final Havdallah.
In Kibbutz HaTzofim they took a fun field trip to the Logic Museum and enjoyed ice cream and fun in the sun at a local park! They entered the Shark Tank during tochnit boker and presented ideas to Susan and Albert on how to improve camp, like with downstairs showers, an expanded refet (farm), filtered water, and larger rain flaps for the ohelim (tents). Their final erev ohel (tent night) was epic, with a night climb on etgar and a scavenger hunt. They are sad to say goodbye on Sunday but very excited to return back to the “downstairs zone” next summer.
Kallah had an amazing week. They discovered all that there is to be discovered at the Discovery World in Milwaukee! During erev tzrif (cabin night) they went out on boats, climbed etgar, made teva tea, hung out with Susan, and enjoyed a bonfire with s’mores. Wednesday was Yom Wet, where everything was water based including a water balloon fight, water slide races, slip ‘n slides, tubing, and a pool party to beat the heat! Tie-Dye Thursday was epic as they got to customize their Kallah Bet 2017 shirts and cannot wait to show them off on Sunday!
It has been an exciting second week here at OSRUI! Sadly, this Sunday is closing day for Tzofim, Kallah, and Gesher Bet sessions, Tiferet, Mosh, and Avodah Aleph sessions. We had an incredible time having you at camp, getting to know you, and showing you all the amazing things we do here at 600 Lac La Belle Drive! This is not goodbye, but l’hitraot, see you next time, at OSRUI 2018!
Read more about all the exciting things that happened this week on our blog.
Shabbat Shalom from all of us at OSRUI!
Jerry Kaye, Director Susan Alexander, Associate Director
Albert Marks, Senior Assistant Director