by Cantor Jennifer Frost & Rabbi Adam Stock Spilker, Tiferet Segel (Faculty)
It has been an extraordinary two weeks in Tiferet Bet! Our chanichim (campers) come to immerse themselves in omanut (art) and in Judaism and to constantly discover how the two are intertwined. Each of the chanichim come to work either in visual arts, music, or drama. In just two short weeks they have delved into their limud (Jewish learning) theme, Psalms. They have created group psalms; psalms of praise, psalms of lament, both communal and personal, and psalms of gratitude. They have studied the character of King David through the psalms, they have looked at nature and metaphor in the psalms and the wide range of emotions found throughout the psalms and how they relate to and are reflected in their own lives and in their art.
Our chanichim have brought the words of the Siddur to life through the psalms, discovering new and rediscovering familiar texts and melodies. The group of moomchim (specialists) and chanichim are fabulous. They challenge; they question; they are passionate about their art and their Judaism. They are able to see Judaism in their art and art as a means to express their Judaism.
Last week’s Torah portion, V’etchanan, is very much related to the artistic journey that our Tiferet Bet campers began just two weeks ago. Just as Moses reminds the Israelites to be in relationship with God and with the community of Israel, so too are our chanichim cultivating relationships with each other, with psalms and with their own artistic process. In Tiferet the emphasis is placed on their process rather than their final product; it is not about the destination, but about the journey, and based on their initial exploration, this group of chanichim is destined
to create something extraordinary.
There is nothing quite like Tiferet. It is a magical and awe-filled place and we are privileged to share this journey with them!
Cantor Jennifer Frost serves as Cantor at Congregation BJBE in Deerfield, IL. Rabbi Adam Stock Spilker serves as Senior Rabbi at Mount Zion Temple in St. Paul, MN.