By Yonah London, Rosh Eidah of Kallah

 3. The Songs

In Kallah Aleph we sing about pretty much everything. The songs that the chanichim (campers) have learned this session range from Ivrit (Hebrew) songs from our t’filot (prayers) to silly songs about sunscreen or baby sharks. In just over a week, our song leader in Kallah, Will, has taught more than a dozen new Jewish songs which we got to sing with the entire camp during our first Shabbat Shira (Shabbat Song Session). We are also blessed this session in Kallah with a segel (faculty) member, Jay Rappaport, who writes and performs Jewish music of his own. We have had the chance to learn some of Jay’s songs including a parody of Rebecca Black’s hit “Friday” about preparing for Shabbat. We have been having a great time singing together and the energy felt in each song session is always a highlight of the day.

2. Getting to Try Everything!

Since Kallah Aleph is the entryway to OSRUI for so many chanichim, everyone gets the opportunity to do pretty much everything. Not only does every chanich/a get to go to swim in the lake and the pool, visit etgar (the high ropes course), play sports, learn Ivrit, and visit the chanut (canteen), everyone also gets to participate in chugim (electives) every day! In Kallah Aleph we rotate through the chugim so that everyone has an opportunity to try every activity. This session our chugim include cooking, teva (nature), archery, drama, and several others. By the time the chanichim leave (in less than a week!), they will have tried nearly everything that OSRUI has to offer!

1. Kehillah (community)

Kallah is a kehillah no matter what. All of the chanichim have been learning every day by living in their tzrifim (cabins) how to be a member of a kehillah. The chanichim have bonded with the members of their tzrifim through fun erev tzrif (cabin night) activities and learned to help lead with their peers through taking ownership over t’filot, with an opportunity for every tzrif  to lead. In addition to the kehillah in the tzrifim, everyone in Kallah is an important part of our eidah’s (unit) Kehillah. We have done meaningful limudim as an entire eidah on topics such as inclusion and respect, prayed together, and laughed together during all eidah programs like counselor dress up (where the chanichim get to dress their counselors up for a fashion show). The bond between the Kallah kehillah is one that can certainly be recognized by any onlooker here at camp.