by Benyamin (Bruce) Herst, OSRUI song leader from 1974-1982 and currently an active musician, music teacher, performer, and song leader.  

If you’re like me and you spent years at camp you might still tell time in the summer by your unit’s daily schedule. Wake up at seven, T’fillot at seven thirty followed by breakfast and then nikayon. The rest of the day just flows naturally from there.

If you were a songleader you have that first song session of the day after breakfast before cabin cleanup. If you’re a retired (or just an old) songleader you smile when the campers go crazy over the most popular new young guys and girls standing at the front of the dining hall with a shiny guitar. What do they have you didn’t, or don’t, still have? Why are all those new songs so popular? What was wrong with Sim Shalom in A minor and elastic capo’s? What brand is that shiny new guitar of choice everyone is playing?

Bottom line: nothing is like it was.

Having lived through the revolution, I was there for the big bang when Danny and Jeff came on the scene with the clever name Kol B’seder and the great melodies and harmonies. I was there when Debbie A”H made magic happen right in front of your eyes. I can say with conviction, those were the days my friend.

Read the entire blog on eJewish Philanthropy.