by Rabbi Phyllis Sommer and Rabbi Richard Prass, Kallah Segel (Faculty)

In our home communities, tefillot (prayer services) are typically led by adults. One of the most wonderful parts of our experiences at machaneh (camp) OSRUI is that our chanichim (campers) have the opportunity to lead tefillot. In Kallah, this occurs in the evening, when each tzrif (cabin) has the chance to work both together and separately to create their own readings to add into the prayer experience.

Usually, the chanichim spend time with us, their segel (faculty), deciding on a topic that will guide their writings. This session, we’ve heard so far about Shabbat, teva (nature), and journeys, amongst other things. It is a delightful experience to hear the chanichim express their opinions and work together to choose one theme. They have some time together to write a few thoughts and then we help the chanichim to figure out who reads when, which prayers they would like to announce, and how to arrange themselves before, during, and after the tefillah.

Here are a few samples of their words from our time together so far:

Hannah: I am thankful for God, because he created the world and everything in it. The Torah says we should love everything in the world, and I love love.

Lucy: For peace everyone can have peace. Maybe someone is mean to you, but you can still have peace with them. Friendship can lead to peace. Remember to always be friendly.

Joey: My journey is very important because it makes me a better person.  Now when I say it makes me better, I mean in mind and in heart. My journey though ten years of life is difficult.  It pushes me to my limits, but with friends and family it makes me better as a person.

Eden: I’m excited for my first Shabbat at OSRUI.  I’ve heard a lot about the Shabbatot here and I’m excited to experience the Shabbat here myself.

Most of our chanichim participate in prayer services often at home. Whether on Shabbat or in their Religious Schools, we’re so thrilled to see how comfortable they are with the siddurim (prayerbooks), the music, and the overall idea of prayer. The joy that they express at the privilege of leading their whole eidah (unit), however, demonstrates to us, once again, the special power of camp. Placing the sacred responsibility for leading their peers into their own hands gives our chanichim the deeper understanding that they are owners and agents in their own prayer lives, that a Jewish prayer service is so much more than a rote recitation of Hebrew, and that we all have a role to play in the bigger ideas of Jewish life.

Rabbi Phyllis Sommer is Director of Congregational Learning at Am Shalom in Glencoe, IL. Rabbi Richard Prass is Rabbi Educator at Congregation Beth Am in Buffalo Grove, IL.