Dear Friends of Jewish Camp:
On Monday, Aug. 2, as a result of the vision and funding of Randy Shiff and UJA Federation of Greater Toronto, more than 200 teens and staff members from Camps George, Ramah, and Moshava gathered at Camp Ramah for “Yom Klal Yisrael” – a full day of activities in which staff from the Reform, Conservative, and Orthodox camps used sports
and arts as vehicles for teaching Jewish values, understanding diverse Jewish practice, and educating campers about Jewish unity. Appropriately, the theme of the day was “Play.Learn.Unite.” Topics explored included Kehilla (Community), Kavod (Respect), B’chira (Choice), Halacha (Laws) v. Minhag (Customs and Traditions), and Tikkum Olam (Fixing the World).
A Camp Ramah parent wrote: “I picked up my daughter Rachel today from camp. On the way home she told me about Yom Klal Yisrael. I don't know whose idea it was to have this event but each of you deserve congratulations for putting together a day where the focus was on what our children have in common - not the differences that they may have in terms of halachic observance…Rachel knew
virtually everyone from Moshava who
Counselors from Camps George, Ramah, and Moshava who collaborated in planning Yom Klal Yisrael |
came to the event and has also made good friends over the years at Camp Ramah, but now she also learned about the children at Camp George and was able to see first hand that there was much that all of them share...As we know, every Jew is unique both as an individual and within the steam of Judaism that he/she follows. But that does not - nor should it - prevent a gathering of Jews like yesterday where the emphasis was on what we share as Jews and not the differences in our davening or dress. One can be strong in his/her Jewish beliefs and observances without necessarily being judgmental of others…Congratulations from the parent of a camper at a "conservative" camp, a "modern orthodox" day school student but first and foremost - a Jew.”
Well said! Kol HaKavod Camps George, Ramah, and Moshava on a job well done!
A Camper's Perspective
Three Camps, Three Backgrounds, One Religion
By: Zeva Young, Nachshonim
On August 2nd, Nachshonim had visitors from
Camp George and Camp Moshava for an
experiment known as Unity Day. This day gave
the campers and staff the opportunity to learn
about different camps and different sects of
Judaism; George being reform, Ramah
conservative, and Moshava orthodox.
At the beginning of the day, all of the camps
arrived at the migrash sporting this year’s
camp shirt. The campers were divided into six
girl groups and six boy groups, then sent off to
various peulot and ice breaker games.
Baseball, amanut, and Tikkun Olam were a few
of the many activities planned. As the day went
along questions and answers were exchanged
between camps asking about the differences
between everything extending from a normal
day to how we pray.
After eating lunch outside as a community, a
storm hit, sending the participating campers
from their designated place around camp to
the Beit-Am-Gadol. This gave each individual
camp the chance to show how much ruach they
have. Kids were cheering, smiling and singing
all around.
Mincha time came about and three separate
services were held; a reform, an egalitarian
and an orthodox. Everyone was encouraged to
attended a service that they might not
necessarily go to or get at home. Many people
obliged and attended different services, yet
others decided to stay where they were most
comfortable and teach the newcomers their
ways of praying.
As the day ended, everyone changed out of
camp shirts and put on the same Unity Day
shirts. This symbolized that we came from three
different camps, three different backgrounds, yet
we all spent the day together as Jews and
understanding our differences. Sitting together
and singing songs we all knew, we concluded
our day.
This day was a unique change for everyone
involved to learn and experience Judaism in
ways many people will never get the
opportunity to. It is not everyday that the
communities of our three camps get to spend
time together in this setting, but it was for this
day, Unity day.
A special thank you to the Shiff Family for
generously making this day possible.
