Every closing day at OSRUI brings a wide range of emotions. There are tears of joy when some chanichim (campers) see their family and get to share their endless memories from their amazing summer. There are tears of sadness when chanichim have to say l’hitraot (not goodbye, but see you soon) to their new lifelong friends that they have made at camp. There are tears of exhaustion from our tzevet (staff) who have given everything they have, their mind, body, soul, and sleep to ensure our chanichim have nothing short of memorable and remarkable “summer of fun, and a lifetime of friends”. There are tears of stress and confusion from our rashei eidot (unit heads) as they scramble to re-organize their tzevet to reset the unit and do it all over again the next day with a new crop of chanichim and segel (faculty) yet with the same level of excitement and enthusiasm as they had given not just two or four weeks earlier for opening day.
But what are the directors thinking when the chanichim leave? What is going through Susan, Albert, and Jerry’s mind as the minivans head back out Ski Slide Road, past the giant green gate with the yellow writing, and out the giant green gate as the campers head home?
The best and only way to describe our thoughts and feelings about the chanichim leaving camp are through the OSRUI Director Team’s version of the song “You’ll Be Back” from the smash Broadway hit Hamilton from the genius mind of Lin Manuel-Miranda
You’ll Be Back…at OSRUI
Some might say “this is my last summer. So sorry if that’s a total bummer”
Or they’ll cry giant, heartfelt tears when they hear all their camp friends go “Bye!”
Why so sad?
Remember you made an arrangement with them when you left this place
Don’t make those camp friends mad
You’ll remember we’re your summer home, and they’re your summer family!
You’ll be back
Soon you’ll see
You’ll remember you belong at OSRUI
You’ll be back
Time will tell
You’ll remember your tzrif and ohel
Memories will rise, Tears will fall
Remember we have seen it all
And when push comes to shove,
We will come to your synagouge to remind you of our love
Da dada da da
Da dadada dayada
Dada da da dayada
Da dada da da
Da dadada dayada
Dada da da da
You say your love of camp is draining and you can’t go on
Next summer, you’ll be at the gate for opening day before dawn
And, no, don’t change the subject
‘Cause we’re your favorite subject
While you’re in school studying whatever subject
OSRUI is your favorite subject
Forever and ever and ever and ever and ever
You’ll be back
Like before
Even in Avodah with endless chores
And you’ll be back
We’re the hottest craze
And you’ll love us even more during your staff days
When you’re gone, we go mad
So don’t throw away this thing we had
‘Cause when push comes to shove
Olin-Sang-Ruby Union Institute is your one true love
Da dada da da
Da dadada dayada
Dada da da dayada
Da dada da da
Da dadada dayada
Dada da
Everybody!
Da dada da da
Da dadada dayada
Dada da da dayada
Da dada da da
Da dadada dayada
Dadada da da dayada
Respectfully submitted with undying love for Olin-Sang-Ruby Union Institute by Albert Marks, Senior Assistant Director.
