Galil Blog
Shabbat Shalom, Galil families! Today, we welcomed Shabbat with joyful singing, dancing, and chanting. We started our day with delicious muffins made by our bogrimot (graduates)—our high schoolers. A new muffin flavor, Shrek flavor, emerged this week and turned out to be a crowd-pleaser. After a yummy breakfast, the chanichimot (campers) split into their avodot (jobs) to help make sure machaneh (camp) runs smoothly. Then, each kvutzah (age-group) cleaned their tzrifim (cabins) in the hopes of winning the coveted golden broom. This week the tzophimot (scouts)—our b’nei mitzvah age chanichimot—and bonimot (builders)—rising high schoolers—won the golden broom thanks to their superb cleaning skills.
After nikayon tzrif (cabin-cleaning), the chanichimot enjoyed peulot (programming) run for them by their madatz (C. I. T. s). The madatz had a special surprise in store too: Mifgash! “What is mifgash?” you may be wondering. Mifgash is a weekend when kvutzot (age-groups) from other machanot (camps) come and visit their peers. This year, the madatz kvutzah (C. I. T. age-group) from Camp Moshava in Maryland came to visit. The reunited kvutzah will spend the weekend doing fun activities together and learning about hadracha (leadership) and the national movement of Habonim Dror North America.
After Madatz Peulah, the chanichimot learned some new songs during Shabbat Shira (Shabbat Singing). Then, they munched on some pizza and grapes in Hyde Park. Hyde Park is a Galil tradition where the chanichimot are able to suggest improvements to Galil, teaching them to be vocal and involved in our community.
After a satisfying lunch, chanichimot took a dip in the pool, painted their nails, played basketball, and chatted with friends. Then, the time came for us to don our spiffiest attire and gather for mishpachot (family groups). During mishpachot, chanichimot sit in small groups with their family members, friends, and madrichimot (counselors) to reflect on the week. This week was packed with Special Day Harry Potter and a Kupah Trip, so we had a lot to discuss. During mishpachot, it started to rain, so we all moseyed on over to the Moadon for kabbalat Shabbat (welcoming Shabbat). It was the bonimot’s turn to lead kabbalat Shabbat, and they did so with great energy and enthusiasm. Next, we feasted on stir fried veggies, noodles, and Thai iced tea. Dinner was delicious and afterwards, we went outside to sing Israeli folk songs as the sun set over Galil.
Every week, one kvutzah puts on a skit about funny things that happened at camp that week. This week, the amelimot (workers)—our youngest chanichimot—graced us with a skit based on Freaky Friday. After much laughter and shenanigans, everybody hurried to the Moadon to start rikkud (Israeli dancing). To end rikkud, we feasted on watermelon. Today was a busy day filled with singing and dancing. Tomorrow will bring rest and relaxation.
Shabbat Shalom!
Amina (Amos will be back tomorrow)