A Week at Camp: Maccabiah Day 1.
My first full day at camp was very long and busy, but it went well. I met and had conversations with a few of the other adult staff members (thank you, Lord!) and I learned how to get into the dining hall a few minutes early to get a seat at the grown-up table. In the morning I sorted the camp's incoming mail, and in the afternoon I drove around in the golf cart picking up and sorting the outgoing mail from each cabin. I love cruising around in that golf cart! It's the perfect way to see all the sights of camp without getting sweaty and exhausted!
All of the buildings have beautiful stained-glass signs in front of them, with both their Hebrew and English names.
This morning started the Maccabiah Games, a camp contest where the kids are divided into four different color-coded teams, Kachol, Adom, Tsahov, Yarok. It is a big, noisy deal. (One of the other staff members told me that the adults hate it, but the kids love it.) After dinner, we all packed into the camp's performing arts center, where each team competed in stuff like original song and interpretive dance. I know it sounds corny, but it was fun. Since I'm on the staff, I got to be one of the judges. It lasted a long time -- I only just got back to my room -- so breakfast will be a half-hour later tomorrow morning! Yay!
Every meal here is followed by a session of songs/chants. Here's Team Adom standing on their chairs, singing "Hebrew Warriors" with hand motions.
This evening, we also took a break for prayer services in the camp's amazing outdoor temple. It's right on the shore of the lake, under the pine trees. Services were held just as the sun was setting, and it was so beautiful and peaceful. Three camp counselors served as the lay leaders, and they did a great job. They led us in a beautiful version of "Hinei Mah Tov" mixed with "All You Need Is Love." I was sitting next to a visiting rabbi from Metairie, who teared up. I think Shabbat services will be held there on Friday evening, and I will try to take more pictures then.
Singing together at evening prayer services.
Another new song I've heard here that I love is this one that the campers sang during dinner:
Give me freedom, give me fire, give me reason, take me higher
See the champions take the field now, unify us, make us feel proud
All around our hands are lifting as we lose our inhibitions
Celebration, it surrounds us, every nation, all around us
Singin' forever young, singin' songs beneath the sun
Let's rejoice in the beautiful game, and at the end of the day we say
When I get older, I will be stronger
They'll call me freedom, just like a wavin' flag
I love it. I can still hear the campers outside singing it right now, as they head back to their cabins. What a great place.
All of the buildings have beautiful stained-glass signs in front of them, with both their Hebrew and English names.
This morning started the Maccabiah Games, a camp contest where the kids are divided into four different color-coded teams, Kachol, Adom, Tsahov, Yarok. It is a big, noisy deal. (One of the other staff members told me that the adults hate it, but the kids love it.) After dinner, we all packed into the camp's performing arts center, where each team competed in stuff like original song and interpretive dance. I know it sounds corny, but it was fun. Since I'm on the staff, I got to be one of the judges. It lasted a long time -- I only just got back to my room -- so breakfast will be a half-hour later tomorrow morning! Yay!
Every meal here is followed by a session of songs/chants. Here's Team Adom standing on their chairs, singing "Hebrew Warriors" with hand motions.
This evening, we also took a break for prayer services in the camp's amazing outdoor temple. It's right on the shore of the lake, under the pine trees. Services were held just as the sun was setting, and it was so beautiful and peaceful. Three camp counselors served as the lay leaders, and they did a great job. They led us in a beautiful version of "Hinei Mah Tov" mixed with "All You Need Is Love." I was sitting next to a visiting rabbi from Metairie, who teared up. I think Shabbat services will be held there on Friday evening, and I will try to take more pictures then.
Singing together at evening prayer services.
Another new song I've heard here that I love is this one that the campers sang during dinner:
Give me freedom, give me fire, give me reason, take me higher
See the champions take the field now, unify us, make us feel proud
All around our hands are lifting as we lose our inhibitions
Celebration, it surrounds us, every nation, all around us
Singin' forever young, singin' songs beneath the sun
Let's rejoice in the beautiful game, and at the end of the day we say
When I get older, I will be stronger
They'll call me freedom, just like a wavin' flag
I love it. I can still hear the campers outside singing it right now, as they head back to their cabins. What a great place.