Hello friends of Camp Galil,
Today was an exciting day for machaneh (camp). Aside from the consistent balagan (craziness) we like to partake in, some of our young warriors for justice went out into society today in the hopes of helping to build a better world. Every year we take our campers out to do tikkun olam (healing the world). In the past we have partnered with the Jewish Relief Agency, the Abramson Center, and other local community organizations. Tikkun olam is an incredibly important tenet of Judaism and we feel it is vital to incorporate it into Galil's Jewish programming.
At ten in the morning our Amelim (post 3rd and 4th graders) and Sayarim (post 6th graders) took a ride to an urban farm in Philadelphia run by an organization called Urban Tree Connection. Urban Tree Connection takes vacant lots and helps the community turn them into gardens. Members of the community joined our chanichim (campers) in weeding, mulching, and planting in the garden. After a good bout of hard work, we sat back, reapplied sunscreen, ate some soynut butter and jelly sandwiches, and bathed in the natural beauty, this oasis of an organic garden hidden away in the concrete jungle of Philadelphia. It was good.
Not to worry if your camper did not do tikkun olam today! In order to make sure there would be enough meaningful work for each camper, we are going in three shifts throughout the summer. After getting such a great review from the Amelim and Sayarim, all of the other chanichim (campers) are excited to go, too!
Back at machaneh (camp), the world continued to turn. The Bogrim (post 9th graders) had a special day which included but was not limited to: some deep ideological discussion of tikkun olam and their responsibility as a shicvah (age group) to the world around them, a sleep in, and an ice cream Sunday fight.
We were happy to be reintroducing a little diddy that we like to call Habonim Dror Olami (Worldwide Habonim Dror) to our day with a brief exploration into what Habonim Dror is like Uruguay.
Finally, tonight is movie night! The whole camp will come together to watch the classic "Remember The Titans."
Hoora!
Shiah