An ancient talmudic tradition says: "Shabbat may-ein olam ha-bah (Shabbat is a taste of the world to come). Three things characterize Shabbat at Camp Harlam: Song (Shira), Spirit (Ruach), and Sweetness (Metukah).
The Torah's description of creation says that before everything, "ruach elohim merachefet al pnai hamayim - Divine spirit hovered over the surface of the waters." When Moses passed the leadership mantle to Joshua, the Torah says that the "ruach (spirit)" passed to Joshua. Throughout our tradition, there is a sense that Shabbat taps into that primordial spirit and renews the spirit within us. The spirit of Shabbat at camp is sometimes contemplative and sometimes raucous but always strong and meaningful. The song session at Friday night dinner best exemplified the energetic and exciting spirit that (literally) screams, "Am Yisrael Chai - The Jewish People are ALIVE with pride, love, joy, and community!" This video says it all:
The Torah's description of creation says that before everything, "ruach elohim merachefet al pnai hamayim - Divine spirit hovered over the surface of the waters." When Moses passed the leadership mantle to Joshua, the Torah says that the "ruach (spirit)" passed to Joshua. Throughout our tradition, there is a sense that Shabbat taps into that primordial spirit and renews the spirit within us. The spirit of Shabbat at camp is sometimes contemplative and sometimes raucous but always strong and meaningful. The song session at Friday night dinner best exemplified the energetic and exciting spirit that (literally) screams, "Am Yisrael Chai - The Jewish People are ALIVE with pride, love, joy, and community!" This video says it all:
I am so proud to have four MRT campers here to share this experience, proud that MRT supports them with scholarships and my presence here, and proud of my colleagues and all the college aged staffers who work tirelessly to build a strong Jewish future. Am Yisrael Chai!
Rabbi Roos with tonight's havdallah song leaders for the Galil group (Rabbi Doug Sagal of Westfield, NJ is just behind us with helmet and bike). You can see more photos of camp in my camp photo album.
Looks like so much fun! Dave and I wish we were there!
ReplyDeleteah...shabbat at camp. it is second only to being in israel. and sometimes...i think it's first.
ReplyDeleteGreat photos. Thank you. Bob G
ReplyDelete