A Camp for All

posted by on Aug 4, 2017

Written by: Michael M. and Daniel M.

 

One of the reasons I love camp is because despite the diversity of adherence to religion, camp manages to accommodate nonreligious, secular, and orthodox Jews—not a simple task. On Monday and Tuesday of this week fell Tisha B’Av, the saddest day of the Jewish calendar, and although the three languages spoken at camp (English, Hebrew, Russian) and large amount of nonreligious chanichim (campers) posed a diversity barrier to observing the solemn day, camp was able to provide a tekes (ceremony) that provided meaning to all. In addition, camp always keeps kosher and provides orthodox services on Shabbat for those who need them, alternative services for secular chanichim and tzevet (staff), and follows orthodox restrictions on other unavoidable everyday situations, like turning on lights. Camp’s accommodation of everyone makes it meaningful for all, and it’s done so well that it’s surprisingly easy to overlook.