Ages: 13-16
The inscription on the mirror reads, "Look around and smile to yourself." All the campers did just that. When they passed by the mirror, they looked at it, talked, and smiled. |
A senior group of campers created a unique Shabbat experience for all other campers by leading discussions on how Shabbat is different from all the other days of the week and how it is a time for reflection.
On Shabbat, the campers were asked to stop whatever they were doing and take look around; at nature, at people, at themselves, at what it means to be Jewish, and to reflect on what each of these areas mean to them.
In order to encourage this sort of reflection, the senior counselors installed a mirror at the entrance to the camp which stood in such a way that when the campers looked at themselves in the mirror, they would always see the sky and trees surrounding their reflection.
One of the highlights of camp was the arts and crafts sessions.
Children at work.
A group dynamics game is a great way to get to know one another
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"Before this camp I had never considered such deep questions about being Jewish"
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Interviews with campers:
"Hi, my name is Anastasiya Proshutin. I am 16 years old from Irkutsk, Siberia.
I debated attending the Jewish summer camp because I didn't know anything about Judaism. I'm so glad that I decided to attend this camp because I found out how interesting and special the nation to which I belong is. I learned a lot and I plan to give all the knowledge that I acquired to my parents because they should have an opportunity to know more about it."
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"I was very sad that the camp was so short and I can't wait to return here
next year."
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"I am Lyuda, Bolshedvorskaya and I am 14 years old from Irkutsk, Siberia.
This was the first time that I was in the summer camp where I received so much personal attention, learned a lot of new things and began to understand what it is to be a Jew. Now I feel that I want to spend more time familiarizing myself with Jewish tradition and history. I was very sad that the camp was so short and I can't wait to return here next year. My dream is to visit my historical homeland and see the places that I heard so much about at camp."
July 21-28, 2010 / Av 5770