By Becca Levy, Rosh Eidah of Tiferet

We have had a fantastic first week here in Tiferet! The chanichim (campers) have already begun to show us and each other their amazing talents both in and out of studio!

In Tiferet, we begin or day by joining together for t’filot (services) in our outdoor Beit T’flilah (sanctuary). The Tiferet Beit T’filah is particularly beautiful in the morning as we face east and see the sun rise while we are surrounded by nature!

From there we go to breakfast, and after breakfast the chanichim go to studio where they work in one of our five specialty areas: drama, dance, music, visual art, and digital arts! While the five studios are certainly different artistic mediums they all share a common theme, which unites the projects that the chanichim are working on. The limud (Jewish study) theme of Tiferet Aleph is Genisis Midrash Rabah, which includes the story of creation and the varying commentaries on it. Each studio approaches the limud topic from a different angle, but they are all focusing on learning about the many processes of creation.

From studio, the chanichim swim at the lake or the pool where they have swim lessons, free swim, and different waterfront activities such as tubing, pontooning, and canoeing! The rest of our day includes showers, lunch, menucha (rest time), Ivrit Kitot (Hebrew classes), and then more studio! The chanichim have also chosen an additional chug (elective); among those are horseback riding, teva (nature), waterskiing, musical theatre and so much more! After talking with many chanichim it seems that almost everyone’s favorite part of the day is studio. They are having a great time learning from the moomchim (specialists) and improving on their already outstanding artistic talents!

Today is an extra special day at OSRUI, because tonight is our first Shabbat as a kehila (community). The chanichim can’t wait for all the special activities that we do only on Shabbat. In Tiferet, we offer chugim meyuchadim (special electives) that the madrichim and moomchim run for one day only such as yoga, tap dancing, kayaking, and juggling. The chanichim also can’t wait for our Shabbat evening filled with song, food, and fun!

The Tiferet chanichim are having a phenomenal start to the summer, and I look forward to experiencing all of camp and Tiferet with them this session!