My First Camp Shabbat
I spent this past Shabbat (or Friday night of it, at least) at Goldman Union Camp Institute in Zionsville, Indiana. GUCI is part of the URJ camp system and is the regional camp that kids from my temple attend. My rabbi has been either a camper or a staff member there for a good chunk of his life and many of my friends are alums of either GUCI or other Jewish camps. Having not grown up Jewish I had never been to a Jewish summer camp, much less a summer camp in general, so my familiarity with the camp atmosphere is really from stories that I’ve been told. Last week my rabbi decided he wanted me to experience a Shabbat at GUCI and invited me up for this past weekend. He arranged a ride for me and let me know a few other friends would be visiting for the weekend as well, so I wouldn’t be on my own. It was an incredibly nice thing to do, mostly because I don’t think other temple members unconnected with the camp are usually invited up for Shabbat.
For those who have never attended a Jewish summer camp, I would suggest trying, at some point, to get invited for Shabbat. The atmosphere there is unlike any synagogue I have ever attended, and better yet the energy is coming from the kids. I’ve never seen teenagers so excited for Shabbat, much less 4th graders. I understand that part of it has to do with them being with their friends, but it was obvious that for most of them it was about Shabbat and connecting to their Judaism and to the community around them. Each cabin takes turns leading services and the only “adults” involved are the song leaders, not quite adults themselves; the adult staff and faculty simply sat in the congregation and prayed with their campers. Everyone was quiet and respectful when they should be, and loud and boisterous when it was called for.
One of the neat things was the pre-Shabbat walk. Beginning up at the staff quarters all of the staff and guests gathered and the camp director blew the shofar with his granddaughter in his arms. There was a sense of anticipation and excitement even among these adults, though it seemed many were camp alumns who were back for a visit or a reunion. We all waked, en masse, to the first set of cabins, for the Avodah group (the working year), singing along with the song leaders the entire time. When Avodah had joined the crowd we headed down the hill and through the woods to the girls cabins; when we reached the clearing I saw that the entire population of girls was there waiting, scrubbed and in their Shabbat finest (or at least, their finest by camp standards). One of the song leaders took a turn blowing the shofar again, holding the note as long as she could. And then we headed off to the boys cabins, where the entire scene was repeated. It was great to see the kids greeting each other and the staff with smiles and hugs and shouts of “Shabbat Shalom!” From the boys cabin we headed to the outdoor sanctuary.
I will admit that I’ve been to an outdoor service a couple of times (and I don’t really count the rushed prayers around the camp fire for Sukkot at my temple), but never in a place as beautiful as GUCI. It was warm, yes, but there was a nice breeze, and the sun was filtering through the trees in an almost magical way. It was a wonderful way to begin Shabbat, a great place to pray and to sing, to feel a connection to nature that is usually absent as I sit inside my temple at home.
After praying we headed inside to eat dinner and for the song session. The song session was great, alternating between periods of jumping and dancing and singing loudly to great Jewish music and sitting quietly, but still singing. The evening ended (for me) with the lights turned off and only candles glowing as a few final songs were sung. It was beautiful and touching and I was happy to experience it.
I was left with a sense of joy mingled with a sense of longing, for I would never experience this as an “insider,” as a kid coming to camp and connecting to their Judaism in this intense and exciting way. I think as converts this is one of the greatest things we miss out on and that we won’t be able to experience completely as our own; we may visit, or have children who attend, but it won’t ever be the same. I can truly appreciate what he says when my rabbi proclaims his love of summer camp, of GUCI, and of the pride in their Judaism it gives to the kids. If nothing else I will support Jewish camping, and maybe, just maybe, get to experience a camp Shabbat once again.
Hi D’varim,
This was such a great post. I, as you might know, am a Jew by birth. I too attended Jewish summer camp for a few summers. It is one of my joys and fondest memories of my childhood. I don’t keep in touch with anybody from those camp days but those memories are near and dear. The events, the songs, the campfires, the traditions; they are all fresh in my memory. I definitely believe that one of the reasons I am more observant than my siblings is BECAUSE I went to a Jewish camp. I am a BIG camp supporter.
I just saw an add in our local Jewish paper from my camp announcing a reunion. I was happy when my husband said, “I’d go to something like that with you”. I think it would be a ton of fun to go back to my old camp.
I think your experience sounds lovely. Your rabbi is a smart person! What a great think for converts to do. ESPECIALLY if they have kids who themselves will be at a Jewish camp someday. It’s a wonderful way for you to connect with what your Jewish children will share and something you hadn’t known about.
Your post also reminds me that someone who is involved with Camp Ramah invited us to the camp this summer. I’m going to ask my husband to look further into it because doing a Shabbat there would be really lovely.
Thanks so much for sharing…I for one think you described it quite well, especially the way the camp begins Shabbat.
I’ve been a part of summer camps before, but obviously not a Jewish summer camp. Jenny, I understand what you mean about that longing to have been able to experience something like that as a child. I hope my children will be able to have that memory the way you do, Tamara.
What a beautiful way to spend Shabbat!
Hi d’varim,
Thank you so much for sharing your Shabbat story, it was beautiful. I completely understand and feel what you’re saying when you say that we, as converts, miss out on stuff like this.
I’ve stayed at Camp Ramah in Wisconsin for a couple nights each of the past two years and will be going up again in a few days for this year’s visit. My younger son has always stayed with me but this year he is at camp himself so it will just be me. What I like best at camp is davening by the lake early in the morning while listening to the kids davening not far away. Sometimes I join them, but other times I like to just have them be the background noise for my davening along with the sounds from the lake. When I think of camp, this is the image that first comes to mind.
It is the best thing I ever did, sending my kids to Ramah for the summer. I’m a single parent, I could use the money I contribute, on top of the scholarships we receive, for other things, but it is money well invested in my kids’ Jewish lives. I wish they had summer camp for grownups!
Tamara,
I’m glad my post brought up good memories for you; you should totally try and get to camp–if for nothing else to be inspired by the dedication and soulfulness of the younger generation. I agree that my rabbi is a smart person, and incredibly thoughtful. I look at that as one of the perks of belonging to such a small congregation–being able to have a close relationship with my rabbi means that he looks out for me in ways that he may not know to otherwise.
Rivkah and Mark,
I try to stay positive at the very least about what I missed out on as a convert, and I take the opportunities when they come my way. If either of you ever get a chance-go. It’s great.
Nice post! BTW sorry it took me so long to get around to commenting.
I like to hear/read stories about Jewish first times and how they can have long lasting effects on JBC’s. What I’m most curious about is what does this mean for you personally (if anything), moving forward with your own Shabbat observance? Has this experience changed the way you see this holiday and if so will this change the way you observe Shabbat on a regular basis?
I only ask because I have had similar experiences (albeit never at camp) and know that others have as well. Speaking for myself these experiences (on more than one occasion) have really changed the way I do things on a regular basis and so I’m wondering, if it’s the same for you?
Thanks again for sharing this story.
Avi,
I’ve always felt very connected to Shabbat, to the idea of rest and study and worship. In fact I feel like my week just isn’t complete if I for some reason need to miss services and Torah study Friday night or Saturday morning (which is rare, actually). As a single person, however, one of the few things that I have connected with is the communal dinner, the sharing of warmth and togetherness that either precedes Friday night services or comes after. After experiencing such a great example of this at camp a couple of weeks ago I really would like to try and incorporate it more into my Shabbat celebration. This past Friday since our services were earlier in the evening than usual I went out dinner afterwards with some friends and it really enhanced my enjoyment of Shabbat. It was especially good since I was observing a yahrzeit and it’s always nice to be around people you care about during those times.
Over the past year I’ve really tried to examine my idea of rest and sanctification of Shabbat; it doesn’t come necessarily from the traditional prohibitions or observances, but I feel that in my own way I honor God and Shabbat. Along with temple services and Torah study I usually try to take a nice long afternoon nap, something that I can never indulge in during the week and something that really helps me re-charge as I don’t usually get enough sleep otherwise. I read for pleasure, either at home or in a coffee shop, and sometimes this is Jewishly centered, and sometimes it isn’t. A couple of weeks ago I picked up a new mystery novel by one of my favorite authors and spent the day reading it from cover to cover. My Shabbat observances have been very much about me, as an individual, reconnecting with things, and with God. Experiencing Shabbat at camp made me realize that it is also incredibly rewarding to extend your communal celebration past services and temple. I’ve gone out with friends after services before, or met up with people Saturday afternoon, but not usually with the idea that this was an extension of my Shabbat celebration. Now I think I’m going to be more aware of trying to keep that celebration going with all activities.
I have to say also that having the past couple of Fridays off work have spoiled me a bit; it is such a pleasure to be leisurely about preparing for Shabbat and to truly be able to anticipate it. I remember when I was at the Biennial this past December in San Diego, there was a palpable feeling throughout the convention center, a great anticipation of Shabbat (and another place where the celebration carried into the evening and early morning hours). While it isn’t always possible for me to have Fridays or even Friday afternoons off of work, it’s something I definitely will appreciate when I do. Shabbat feels so much sweeter when that anticipation can grow.
Though it is too late for this summer, there is a wonderful program (basically a camp) for young adults, age 18-26, located in Simi Valley (near LA) called the Brandeis-Bardin Collegiate Institute, or BCI. I did this program in the mid-90s when I was becoming more interested in Yahadut, and it really opened my eyes and gave me a lot to think about. Back then they had two sessions a summer, but it looks like now they only do one, so one would need to wait for next year. But for any readers who are in the target age range I would highly recommend this program — especially JBCers or latecomers to Judaism who might not have had camp experiences as a child. The program itself is about as “big tent” as you can get. When I was there there were scholars in residence who were Reform, Reconstructionist, Conservative, and Orthodox.
I will admit, as I kid I went to Jewish camps for a few summers, but never really connected like it sounds like Tamara did — the experience of BCI as a young adult was much deeper and more powerful than any I had when I was a kid.
I completely empathize with knowing I’ll never be the child experiencing camp as a child. Not only with Judaism - the only “camp” I went to as a child was a science camp in elementary school that was far from enjoyable, and with no crafts.
Now that I work for a day-camp, I get to do the crafts and games with the children - it encourages their participation - and I have thought about seeing if I can get a job or do volunteer work with a Jewish day-camp to try to get some of the experience, but it’s not the same - a different kind of fun, helping the children out with their crafts or learning games and songs. But I know when I have children I will want them to have the experience of going to camps with other children. As a convert-to-be, one of the fun things I imagine my future including is someday letting my kids go to Jewish camps and learning Jewish songs or doing Jewish crafts that they can bring home.