Shabbat Matot – Mas-ei 2017

Changing the Plan in a Holy Way

What an incredible fifth week it has been at OSRUI and first week for almost 370 campers.  After an beautiful opening day, our chanichim (campers) moved into their eidot (units) with the help of our amazing madrichim (counselors), moomchim (specialists), and segel (faculty).

After a week of climbing etgar (challenge), horseback riding, water skiing, dancing, drama, canoeing, photography, art, sports, 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 5 of Summer 2017.

Chalutzim had an incredible week that was highlighted by the annual three-day canoe trip.  For the first time this summer, our madrichim in Chalutzim broke their ivrit-only pact and spoke the to chanichim in English.  There were laughs, songs, Israeli food, bonding, and incredible experiences!  It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for not only our chanichim, but also our Israeli staff as well.

Moshavah Bet is off and running!  They prepared to depart for their first trip on Sunday with trip orientation, which includes learning to build tents, learning how to pack hiking packs, and sharing previous trip stories. They had an amazing week full of friends, fun, and teva (nature).  They selected their va’ad (committee) names, had a wonderful limud (Jewish learning) on leadership and tried new chugim (electives).

Gesher Gimmel opened with great fanfare and excitement.  Everyone was excited to see old friends and make new ones.  They tied their fears to balloons and released them into the sky during their initiation, helping Gesher campers realize and identify their fears and think about how they can conquer them.  The Gesher only chugim were announced including, but not limited to, science, meditation, exercise/workout, leadership, and reading.  They opened the session with a unit-wide Meet the Counselor and participated in a leadership escape room for tochnit boker!

Tiferet opened the second part of the summer with a question scavenger hunt. On Wednesday they headed into their studios — art, drama, dance, and music! They then participated in a song smash and human gift followed by learning about the four corners of prayer and how we connect with prayer.  They can’t wait to welcome the Sabbath bride to Tiferet and OSRUI.

In Kibbutz HaTzofim, they are 85+ chanichim strong and it shows with the cheers and songs echoing from downstairs.  They swam in the breicha (pool) and the agam (lake). They had erev ohel (tent night) where the different tents participated in and bonded over activities like climbing etgar, making friendship bracelets, a teva scavenger hunt, pontoon rides, and a trash bag fashion show!  Oconomo-stock, our second session camp-wide talent show hosted by Tzofim, was revealed to the chanichim.  Tzofim has been learning about how to be a part of a kehillah kedosha (holy community) during tochnit boker, and they have been making lots of new friends throughout their daily activities and meals.

Kallah Gimmel had an amazing first week with new friends and fun counselors.  They have already gone swimming in the agam and the breicha, gone to chugim, climbed etgar, and shopped at the chanut (canteen).  They did a scavenger hunt all over camp and are looking forward to all the fun activities they have yet to do at camp!

Tour La’Agam pushed it into high gear with daily rides to prepare for their journey around Lake Michigan.  They climbed the tower, swam in the pool, and went through extensive trip orientation learning how to build tents and pack their bikes, and sharing previous trip stories.  They passed their bicycle safety class to get their bike license, rode over sixty miles to the Trek Bicycle Factory and Mullens Dairy Bar for the first of many ice cream stops, and spent the day at Naga-Waukee Park and beach hanging out, playing Spike Ball, and getting to know each other.  They leave Sunday and we wish them nothing but safety and fun and cannot wait to hear about all their adventures and see their crazy tan lines in three weeks.

It has been an amazing and exciting opening week here at OSRUI and we can’t wait for week six.  Thank you for sharing your children with us!
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Shabbat Shalom from all of us at OSRUI!