Morning Tefillah: Holy Time, Holy Place

Morning Tefillah: Holy Time, Holy Place

By Rabbi Lisa Bellows, Senior Rabbi at Beth Am Congregation in Buffalo Grove IL, and Tiferet Segel At 7:30 in the morning we welcome Tiferet campers to the outdoor tefillah (prayer) space.  The chairs in the Tiferet Beit Tefillah [sanctuary] are tree stumps, and in...
Festikayitz – What an Amazing Night!

Festikayitz – What an Amazing Night!

By Micah Brandhandler, Rosh Eidah of Chalutzim We have had a wonderful time in Chalutzim this week!  We started off by attending the Star Spangled Mesibah (an all camp talent show) in which Julian, Seth, Simon, Ayelet, and Danie all performed.  They were all so great...
Kallah: From Ellis Island to Today

Kallah: From Ellis Island to Today

By Ana Apter, Interim Religious School Director at Mt Zion Temple in St Paul, Minnesota and Rabbi Phyllis Sommer, Am Shalom, Glencoe, Illinois This week in Kallah, our chanichim (campers) have been learning about the North American Jewish Experience, from entering the...
Save the Best for Last!

Save the Best for Last!

By Danny Altkorn, Rosh Eidah of Moshavah   We just finished our third and final tiyul (trip) in Moshavah and now we can look back on the summer and reflect on what a wonderful success it’s been. As usual, the chanichim (campers) traversed the Kettle Moraine State...
Holy Cow!

Holy Cow!

By Aliza Ainis, Rosh Eidah of Tzofim Yesterday was an amazing day in Tzofim! In the morning, we hopped on the bus and went to a dairy farm and it was spectacular. We got there around 11:30am and we ate lunch and met some of the farmers who were going to give us tours....
Creating Jewish Identity at Camp

Creating Jewish Identity at Camp

By Rabbi Frederick Reeves, Rabbi at KAM Isaiah Israel in Chicago IL, and Tzofim Segel I write this having completed my first week of Jewish camp. Not only my first week at OSRUI, not only my first week as faculty, but my first week ever at a Jewish camp. When one goes...